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Thank you for your interest in the Islamic Partnership Initiative. Below you will find information and resources for setting up a new Sister City relationship in the Muslim world, as well as ideas about other ways you can become involved in this historic effort to build friendships and understanding between U.S. communities and communities in the Muslim world.
Making a Match
Not ready for a partnership, but still want to get involved?
Making a Match
Are you ready to begin establishing a long-lasting and
rewarding partnership with a community in the Muslim world?
1. Begin by reading through the How to Find a Sister City
portion of the website. This will provide you with a step-by-step checklist for
establishing a new Sister
City relationship.
3. If you cannot find a match for your community on the Cities Seeking Cities portion of the website, contact Jennifer Oliver, Islamic Partnership Initiative Program Manager, to discuss other options. If you have a particular community or country in mind, we can help you establish contacts. We can also help you research community profiles so you can find a good match for your city.
4. Gathering strong community support is critical for
creating a lasting and meaningful partnership. Don't forget to involve groups such as your Rotary club,
Chamber of Commerce, churches, mosques, hospitals, schools, or your local government, for example. You should also try to involve people in your community who have connections in the Sister City country. Try contacting: local immigrant groups, nonprofits or institutes that do work in the Sister City country, and universities with relevent departments (Middle East Studies, Eurasian Studies, etc.). You can also try connecting with foreign students from the country who are studying at a local university or college.
5. To gather broad-based community support for the relationship, consider hosting a community dialogue on Islam or Muslim culture. Bringing members of the community together for an open and honest discussion about Islam is a good way to develop support for the partnership. Attendees can have the chance to ask questions, listen to experts and discuss their opinions and thoughts with their fellow citizens.
6. When you have identified a Muslim community to partner
with, present them with an official packet of information about your community.
The packet should include a formal letter from your top-elected official
requesting the partnership, promotional materials and pictures about your
community, and an overview of the type of partnership you are seeking. It is
important to be clear about your goals for the partnership from the start since
cities can have differing and conflicting goals about the partnership. You can find sample letters and agreements here.
7. Check back soon for a list of program models and ideas that you can use in your new partnership!
Not ready for a partnership, but still want to get involved?
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There are several ways that communities and individuals can get
involved in the Islamic Partnership Initiative without setting up a formal
Sister Cities relationship.
2. Plan a community dialogue about Islam or a related issue. Invite Muslims in your community to participate. Toolkits for dialogues can be found on our website.
3. Launch a fundraising project to aid a Muslim community in need. Other U.S. communities have fundraised for Wheelchairs For Peace, Operation Iraqi Children, and American Corners.
5. Email Jennifer Oliver to get on the Islamic Partnership Initiative mailing list. Learn about programs in other communities and Sister Cities International projects relating to the Islamic Partnership Initiative.
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