Sister Cities . . . In The WorldThe Sister Cities movement was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on September 11, 1956. His vision was to involve citizens of the world in a grass-roots effort to promote peace through mutual understanding and respect. This initial act of "sistering" led in 1967 to Sister Cities International (SCI), which now unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in 570 member communities with over 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries on six continents.
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Sister Cities . . . In Our CityIn 1981, Mayor Andy Damiani and the Suffolk City Council signed our first sister city relationship with the County of Suffolk, England. Our second sister city affiliation, with Oderzo, Italy, began in 1995 because of Amedeo Obici, an immigrant from Oderzo who founded Planters Nut and Chocolate Company and Obici Hospital in Suffolk. Today, Suffolk Sister Cities International (SSCI) consists of Commissioners appointed by City Council, a Board of Directors, Friends of SSC, and Suffolk International Youth Association (SIYA), all of whom oversee the development and implementation of programs, cultural/social events, and exchanges.
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As a 501c(3) non-profit organization, SSCI is supported by the City of Suffolk, community organizations, businesses, and foundations. Its membership is open to all who are interested in fostering the goals
of the organization. Please see our Membership page for more details about joining us! Download our Suffolk Sister Cities brochure here! |
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Copyright 2026 | Suffolk, Virginia Sister Cities International
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