Sister Cities Association of Sarasota Inc. is a federally registered 501(c)(3) public charity organization.
Our Tax ID is 65-0178684
Our Mission
Citizen Diplomats—Carving a Path toward Peace
The mission of Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Inc. (SCAS) is to foster international relationships between Sarasota and our Friendship and Sister Cities overseas by creating exchanges in the areas of culture, education, tourism, business and government.
Sister Cities Association of Sarasota is an all-volunteer citizen diplomacy organization. We believe that all people can help create understanding between nations and promote world peace. Each year, more than 100 local citizen diplomats from our Cultural Coast travel to our sister cities in the name of friendship, world peace, and global prosperity. A like number of citizens from our international sister cities visit Sarasota.
Building Global Community Partnerships
Following the lead of our membership organization, Sister Cities International, SCAS’s objective is to develop respect, understanding and cooperation between the United States and other countries through citizen diplomacy.
Working outside the realm of government, but with its support, we encourage and facilitate cultural and educational exchanges, business opportunities and increased tourism.
Sister Cities is unique in that it officially links municipalities from the United States with foreign cities through sister city agreements signed by the respective mayor of each city and ratified by each city council, or its equivalent. To be official, a sister city relationship must have the endorsement of the local authorities, who support the efforts of community volunteers. This dynamic process empowers all sectors of a community to participate constructively in the global arena, thus unleashing citizen diplomacy at the grassroots level.
Sister Cities Members
Meet interesting, well-traveled Sarasotans, many with multilingual skills, who share similar interests in our community and our community partners.
Become part of the official community effort to broaden world peace through one-on-one friendships with community leaders and local citizens in our sister cities.
Participate in the exchange and sharing of sports, music, art, language, medical, and educational programs.
Develop potential trade relationships with other countries.
Meet and host international visitors, providing a gateway to open doors to an international network of cultural and economic opportunities