What is the Sister Cities Commission?

The Portsmouth Sister Cities Commission is one of three commissions comprised of volunteers appointed by the Mayor. Portsmouth's Sister Cities Commission is affiliated with Sister Cities International, an organization that links local jurisdictions from around the United States with communities around the globe.

The sister cities program began in 1956 from an idea by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The president proposed a people-to-people citizen diplomacy program. His idea was to involve people and organizations at all levels in personal diplomacy.

What is the Sister Cities Commission? The Sister Cities program is an initiative to promote peace and goodwill between citizens of the United States and the citizens of other nations around the world.

The first step in establishing such relationships involves city government. The two communities, one in America and the other in a foreign country, must receive approval from their respective governing bodies before they can formally enter into this relationship. In most cities, a volunteer organization is then established for the purpose of sharing information and ideas between the two cities. In Portsmouth, this body is called the Sister Cities Commission.