Council Bluffs Sister Cities Given 2018 State Department Citizen Diplomacy Award

​UNDER SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS STEVE GOLDSTEIN PRESENTS CITIZEN DIPLOMACY AWARD TO COUNCIL BLUFFS SISTER CITIES ASSOCIATION

WASHINGTON, DC (January 24, 2018) – Sister Cities International congratulates one of its members, the Council Bluffs Sister Cities Association, on receiving the Bureau of Public Affair’s annual Citizen Diplomacy award. Steve Goldstein, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, will present the award at a ceremony to be held at 4pm on Monday, January 29, 2018, at the U.S. Department of State. The Citizen Diplomacy Award was created in recognition of American citizens and organizations engaged in international work that furthers U.S. foreign policy objectives and strengthens important relationships around the globe.

The Council Bluffs Sister Cities Association (CBSCA) has fostered over 30 years of citizen diplomacy, with four sister cities on three contents. CBSCA has collaborated with its respective sister cities on initiatives such as humanitarian assistance, language development, professional education, and the celebration of culture for better understanding between communities. The Council Bluffs Sister Cities Association serves as an effective ambassador for U.S. values on a global stage and as a bridge to U.S. innovation, investment, support, and resources for its sister cities.

The awards presentation will be open to the press. For the ceremony, pre-set time for cameras is 3:15 p.m. from the C Street entrance. Media representatives may attend these events upon presentation of one of the following: (1) A U.S. Government-issued identification card (Department of State, White House, Congress, Department of Defense or Foreign Press Center), (2) a media-issued photo identification card, or (3) a letter from their employer on letterhead verifying their employment as a journalist, accompanied by an official photo identification card (driver's license, passport).

For more information, please contact Irina Karmanova at [email protected].

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About Sister Cities International
Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization sister city programs in over 500 communities, with relationships in 2,000 communities in 145 countries. This sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, economic and sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance.

Facebook: SisterCitiesInternational; CBSisterCities1
Twitter: @SisterCitieslnt; Instagram: @SisterCitiesInt;
Website: www.sistercities.org 

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