Herat-Council Bluffs Sister Cities Partnership Wins Sister Cities International’s Innovation Award For Arts And Culture
COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA – The Herat (Afghanistan) – Council Bluffs Sister Cities Partnership has won the Sister Cities International (SCI) 2017 Innovation Award for Arts and Culture. This award recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding community and individual sister city programs that promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation.
In July 2016, Council Bluffs hosted a US Embassy-Kabul-supported delegation from Herat, Afghanistan that included Herat Mayor Farhad Niayesh; Herat Provincial Council member and Herat Sister Cities Committee Chair, Somaia Ramish; and Embassy representative, Zalmai Attarpoor. During their time in Council Bluffs the two sister cities committees signed a partnership agreement.
Herat and Council Bluffs commemorated their new sister cities partnership with a simultaneous and joint exhibition of women’s photography from both Herat and Council Bluffs launched on International Women’s Day. The juried selection of 30 photographs from each city compared and contrasted each city’s culture and daily life. This exhibition, hosted at Herat University and Iowa Western Community College’s Performing Arts Center, established Herat’s and Council Bluffs’ intent to develop a strong and long-term relationship while recognizing, honoring, and sharing the contributions of women from both communities through the lens of art.
This project would not have been possible without the support, commitment, and encouragement of U.S. Embassy – Kabul, Afghanistan; New Century Art Guild; Karadah Project International; and Veterans for American Ideals.
American perceptions of Afghanistan, generally, and Herat specifically, have been jaded by pictures of war. These images ignore the beauty of Herat’s rich culture, architecture, and history. In addition to our photography exhibition, the partnership has also begun online discussions between Herat and Council Bluffs high school students and libraries. Other projects will continue to build important civic relationships between our cities that will enrich our understanding and appreciation of the other. The partnership signed between Herat and Council Bluffs represents the very best in citizen diplomacy.
SCI’s Annual Awards are awarded in several categories including Best Overall, Innovation (Arts and Culture, Economic Development, Humanitarian Assistance, and Youth and Education), and Volunteer of the Year. Award winners will be honored at the Lou Wozar Diplomatic Awards Dinner on Saturday, July 15 during SCI’s 61st Annual Conference in Virginia Beach, VA.
SCI’s 61st Annual Conference events, which include a Youth Leadership Summit and a U.S.-Russia Mayors’ Summit, will take place in Virginia Beach, VA from July 12-16, 2017. The events will bring together hundreds of municipal officials, business leaders, youth delegates, and citizen diplomats will discuss this year’s theme “Global Communities for World Peace,” building on President Eisenhower’s initial vision of creating a more peaceful world by building global relationships through communities.
About Sister Cities International
Founded as a Presidential Initiative by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 500 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in 145 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through economic development, youth and education, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance.
In July 2016, Council Bluffs hosted a US Embassy-Kabul-supported delegation from Herat, Afghanistan that included Herat Mayor Farhad Niayesh; Herat Provincial Council member and Herat Sister Cities Committee Chair, Somaia Ramish; and Embassy representative, Zalmai Attarpoor. During their time in Council Bluffs the two sister cities committees signed a partnership agreement.
Herat and Council Bluffs commemorated their new sister cities partnership with a simultaneous and joint exhibition of women’s photography from both Herat and Council Bluffs launched on International Women’s Day. The juried selection of 30 photographs from each city compared and contrasted each city’s culture and daily life. This exhibition, hosted at Herat University and Iowa Western Community College’s Performing Arts Center, established Herat’s and Council Bluffs’ intent to develop a strong and long-term relationship while recognizing, honoring, and sharing the contributions of women from both communities through the lens of art.
This project would not have been possible without the support, commitment, and encouragement of U.S. Embassy – Kabul, Afghanistan; New Century Art Guild; Karadah Project International; and Veterans for American Ideals.
American perceptions of Afghanistan, generally, and Herat specifically, have been jaded by pictures of war. These images ignore the beauty of Herat’s rich culture, architecture, and history. In addition to our photography exhibition, the partnership has also begun online discussions between Herat and Council Bluffs high school students and libraries. Other projects will continue to build important civic relationships between our cities that will enrich our understanding and appreciation of the other. The partnership signed between Herat and Council Bluffs represents the very best in citizen diplomacy.
SCI’s Annual Awards are awarded in several categories including Best Overall, Innovation (Arts and Culture, Economic Development, Humanitarian Assistance, and Youth and Education), and Volunteer of the Year. Award winners will be honored at the Lou Wozar Diplomatic Awards Dinner on Saturday, July 15 during SCI’s 61st Annual Conference in Virginia Beach, VA.
SCI’s 61st Annual Conference events, which include a Youth Leadership Summit and a U.S.-Russia Mayors’ Summit, will take place in Virginia Beach, VA from July 12-16, 2017. The events will bring together hundreds of municipal officials, business leaders, youth delegates, and citizen diplomats will discuss this year’s theme “Global Communities for World Peace,” building on President Eisenhower’s initial vision of creating a more peaceful world by building global relationships through communities.
About Sister Cities International
Founded as a Presidential Initiative by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International serves as the national membership organization for 500 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in 145 countries on six continents. The sister city network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to promote the organizations’ mission of creating world peace and understanding through economic development, youth and education, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance.