Aurora Sister Cities International

Background Statement

In 2013, in response to a significant increase in immigrants and refugees living in the community, Aurora’s city leaders created an “Internationalization Task Force Initiative” to lay the groundwork for an intentional and strategic process to develop cross-cultural skills, increase cross-cultural engagement, and integrate and elevate Aurora, Colorado’s highly diverse residents. As a result of the task force’s work, the city of Aurora created an Office of International and Immigrant Affairs and re-launched Aurora’s ’s Sister Cities program as a stand alone 501c3 nonprofit organization.

With the city’s support, Aurora Sister Cities International (ASCI) was incorporated in March of 2014 and charged with strengthening the city’s international ties and improving its immigrant and refugee integration efforts, thereby acknowledging the value of investing in Aurora’s diverse human capital to grow the economy, livability, and reputation of the most diverse city in Colorado.

According to Brown University research, Aurora is the 10th most integrated city out of the top 100 most populous cities in the United States and in 2023, more than 20% of the Aurora population is foreign-born, with a 6% increase in the foreign-born population between 2010 and 2014. This population is also the youngest and has more children than other city populations.

Over the past 9 years, ASCI has responded to Aurora’s need for immigrant and refugee engagement and integration by: 1. developing the city’s sister cities program, 2. launching youth civic engagement and leadership development programming for diverse Aurora youth, 3. hosting special events showcasing the rich cultures of our immigrant communities, and 4. facilitating business and municipal best practices exchanges with and for city officials, local entrepreneurs and business leaders. In other words, ASCI has not only developed long-term global partnerships that create cultural and educational exchange opportunities with our sister communities abroad, but also promoted arts, culture, volunteerism and civic engagement locally with a special emphasis on immigrant integration and youth leadership development (for immigrant, refugee and other diverse youth).

Every activity ASCI undertakes to achieve our mission and values considers that, in a rapidly globalizing world, our diverse and often at-risk residents are the key to successfully grow Aurora’s community health, wellbeing, reputation, stature and economy.

What are Sister Cities?

Sister cities are a form of legal and social agreement between towns, cities, provinces, regions, states and even countries in geographically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties. In the United States, President Dwight D. Eisenhower first championed the concept of “sister cities” which he envisioned as a network of citizen diplomats who would foster friendship and understanding between different cultures and former foes as an act of peace and reconciliation, and to encourage trade and tourism, Aurora Sister Cities International defines “sister cities” as strategic relationships between the city of Aurora and other global and local partners which may result in formal Sister City relationships and which are closely tied to local community efforts to integrate and serve the increasingly diversified population with its growing number of immigrants and refugees.

ASCI’s Current Programs

Global Youth Leaders Pipeline Program

ASCI’s Global Youth Leaders Pipeline program (GYLP) is an out-of-school-time, youth-focused program that uses a pipeline strategy to engage students between the ages of 12 and 19 in a series of programs, workshops, experiences and service activities that advance social emotional wellness and self-esteem, promote peer-to-peer connection, encourage civic engagement and introduce career pathways. The program was launched in 2017 as the result of a community needs assessment that identified the desire of Aurora community members for more youth leadership development activities for Aurora’s diverse youth. We define the program as a “pipeline” because we work with cohorts of students repeatedly throughout their middle- and high school careers, developing with them a set of competencies that will better prepare them for their college or occupational education, successful careers, and community leadership in a city that is increasingly more diverse and international. Therefore, we focus not only on future college and career success for our students, but also on exposing them to an enriching array of local, national and global experiences. The program is free, and generally meals and transportation are provided for all workshops, service activities and meetings.

Other youth and education programs we offer include:

1. Asia Pacific Youth Leadership Conference

2. Youth Expedition to Costa Rica

3. Virtual high school exchange program in partnership with our sister city in Seongnam City, South Korea

4. Sister Cities International Youth Leadership Summit

5. Young Artists & Authors Showcase

6. Youth Exchange Scholarship Program

Sister City Working Groups

A core component of our organization are the working groups that drive projects and initiatives directly related to our global partnerships. Currently, Aurora Sister Cities International hosts 5 active sister or friendship city working groups—Mexico, Korea, Ethiopia, El Salvador and Costa Rica. Through the city working groups, ASCI has completed a number of highly successful projects including trade, tourism, and governmental exchange missions; a city employee exchange program; student exchanges and internships; city of Aurora participation in an international SMART Cities Conference, and the launch of a project aimed at uplifting Korean-owned small businesses and marketing Aurora as Colorado’s own “Korea Town.”

Through our Sister City Working Groups, Aurora Sister Cities International has been successful at engaging local immigrants from Mexico, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Korea because the sister city working groups have proved a useful tool for furthering deeper ties between Aurora and local immigrant’s countries and communities of origin.

The sister cities working groups have also been a source for recruitment for ASCI’s Global Youth Leaders Pipeline program of first-generation immigrant and refugee youth as the sister city working group members have reached into their communities to recommend the program.

Cultural Showcases and other Arts & Culture Programming

ASCI partners with community-based organizations to engage in cultural activities aimed at educating our community about Aurora’s sister cities. Since 2015, and together with its core of committed working group volunteers, ASCI has participated annually in the city of Aurora’s Global Fest; hosted an annual celebration featuring food, beverage and entertainment representing the cultures of our sister cities; helped launch the city of Aurora History Museum’s “A Mosaic of Cultures” which features the cultures and contributions of Aurora’s immigrants and refugees; hosted visiting artists; and participated in local fairs and festivals helping to coordinate cultural showcases from immigrant and refugee dancers, musicians and artists. Our focus is on providing authentic, culturally relevant experiences that elevate the voice of our immigrant and refugee community members.

Youth, Business and Best Practices Exchange

An incredibly valuable outcome of sister and friendship city relationships are the exchanges of learning and Best Practices between community members, city officials and business leaders. Since 2015, Aurora Sister Cities has facilitated a number of exchanges for our youth, and for city and business leaders. These exchanges are private pay and scholarship dollars for youth come from private donors, not foundation support.