This June Arlington and Aachen High School Exchange students visited the Dreilandenpunt or Three Country Point where the national boarders of Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands meet. | |
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Daphne Lathouras was elected Chair of the Arlington Sister City Association in June, 2023.
Daphne is a marketing professional whose career and volunteer efforts have focused on non-profit management, fundraising and public relations. "I feel very fortunate to have been introduced to ASCA by participating in the ASCA 5th Grade Aachen Exchange Program. I've served on the board for eight years, including serving as Secretary of the Board. I'm also the Local Coordinator for ASCA's High School Home Stay Program, which brings high school students from our sister cities to live with an Arlington family and attend high school for a semester or a year. I'm excited to work with the amazing volunteers and partners who make ASCA programs engaging and educational for all Arlington citizens."
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Sister City Committee News & Events | |
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Applications are now being accepted for the
2024 Arlington-Aachen
High School Exchange Program!
Application deadline extended to Monday, November 20, 2023
Tentative program dates are:
* Arlington students in Aachen, Germany: July 1-17, 2024
* Aachen students in Arlington, VA: October 9-21, 2024
For more information or to apply click here.
Or email the Aachen High School Exchange Coordinator
A Student's Perspective...
ASCA often hears from its student exchange participants. Students love to share about their international experiences and we thought you'd like to read one, too! Ivana participated in the 2023 Aachen High School Exchange and here is her story:
I wanted to go because I always desired to visit other countries and learn about new cultures. My favorite activity was the bike tour in Berlin. It was so amazing! My experience living with a host family was nice. They have other customs and sometimes I had to adapt to them. I grew up as a result of this program because I learned to be responsible for myself and more independent. Absolutely I recommend this program because it makes you realize that in every country, they have a different culture than yours and many times it can be surprising. Definitely, I will do it again!
Ivana and the Arlington and Aachen High School Exchange participants are pictured in the photo at the top of the newsletter.
Click here for information about the 2024 Aachen/Arlington High School Exchange Program.
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30th Anniversary Festivities Begin with Celebrations in Aachen | |
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This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Arlington-Aachen Sister City Partnership, and to commemorate the occasion, the city of Aachen held a ceremony at the Coronation Hall on October 14th, 2023.
Over the past thirty years, the two cities have supported government exchanges and discussions on public works, fire departments, and other challenges that the cities of Arlington and Aachen face today. Aacheners and Arlingtonians have shared arts and culture through programs and exhibitions on visual and performing arts. Elementary and high school exchanges have provided opportunities to experience life and culture from a student point of view and show how a sister city partnership can enrich the lives of citizens across generations within our communities. With Arlington Sister Cities Association and the Aachen Committee, the government, schools, and citizens, we can enrich and share our knowledge and experiences and make new lasting memories.
Special thanks to the official Arlington delegation of Takis Karantonis, Arlington County Board Member; Reid Goldstein, Arlington Public School Board Member; Captain Rich Shupe, Arlington County Fire Department; and Hanna Eun, President of the Aachen Committee, for attending the celebrations; and to the Mayor of Aachen, Norbert Plum, Dr. Traudl Koester, Chair of the Aachen Sister City Committee, and the Aachen Sister City Committee for hosting the celebrations. We look forward to celebrating the anniversary of the partnership here in Arlington in April 2024.
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Aachen and Ivano-Frankivsk Committees Joint Program | |
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A Discussion of the Charlemagne Prize
ASCA’s Aachen and Ivano-Frankivsk Committees co-hosted an event at Marymount University last February entitled "The Charlemagne Prize in Germany." The International Charlemagne Prize is awarded annually in Aachen, Germany to recognize exceptional work done for European unity. Panelists discussed the three Belarusian democracy activists who won the 2022 prize (Maria Kalesnikava, Svietlana Tsikhanouskaya, and Veronica Tsepkalo), as well as the announced winners of the this year's prize which was awarded in May: H.E. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and the People of Ukraine. Lars Geismann representing the German Embassy discussed the purpose and history of the esteemed prize and Arlington County Board Vice Chair, Libby Garvey, discussed her experiences attending past prize ceremonies. Ivano-Frankivsk Committee President, Sophia Tailor, also spoke about the connection between the Belarusian pro-democracy movement and the Ukrainian fight for freedom. Hanna Eun, President of the Aachen Sister City Committee, moderated the very informative panel.
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Ivano-Frankivsk Committee | |
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Celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day
On August 24, members of the I-F Committee commemorated Ukraine’s 32nd year of independence by participating in various celebrations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including the "Independence Day Social" at DC’s Ukraine House and the Independence Day Mass Rally and March from the White House to the Taras Shevchenko Memorial, hosted by the DC-based nonprofit U.S.-Ukrainian Activists.
Washington Ukrainian Festival
The 20th Annual Ukrainian Festival took place at the St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, Maryland the weekend of September 15-16-17. ASCA members joined the festivities which included performances by Ukrainian artists and dancers, concerts, vendors, crafts, children’s activities, traditional Ukrainian food, and a Kozak beer garden! A portion of the ticket proceeds went to humanitarian efforts for Ukraine.
United Help Ukraine Halloween Candy Collection
United Help Ukraine ("UHU," a nonprofit whose mission is to support Ukraine through rebuilding efforts) collected leftover Halloween candy at locations in Maryland and Virginia to send to children in Ukraine. Members of the I-F Committee participated in the drive and UHU collected many bags of candy!
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Reims Committee Hosts Two French Educators to Visit Arlington Schools
The Reims Committee spent the summer planning for the September visit of two teachers from Reims: Julie Lebarbey and Sinda Ben Hassine (pictured above with members of the Reims Committee). The educators from France received a grant to observe classes and study instructional methods in several Arlington Public School locations. Setting up this visit proved challenging and involved the cooperation of multiple administrators, teachers, and staff at several Arlington high schools, as well as committee members who showed the teachers important sites in the area and helped them travel to the schools. Thanks go to the committee members who worked hard to ensure the educators from Reims had a productive visit to APS sites and enjoyed their stay in Arlington.
New Reims Committee Leadership Elected
During its October meeting, the Reims Committee elected new leadership. The new officers are: Kevin Newak, President; Anne-Marie Daris, Vice President; and Virginie Vaselopulos, Secretary. A big thanks to former Reims Committee President, Elizabeth "Libby" Schollaert, for all of her work to advance relations between Reims and Arlington during her many years as President!
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Javier Zamora Book Event Kicks Off
Hispanic Heritage Month at Arlington Central Library
The San Miguel Committee along with the Arlington Public Library and community members gathered on September 14 to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month. The event featured an author chat with Salvadoran poet Javier Zamora. Zamora’s memoir, "Solito: Home, Identity, and the Immigrant Experience" details his migration journey from El Salvador to the U.S. and his crossing as an unaccompanied nine-year-old through the harsh terrain of the Sonoran Desert. The event was well attended and gave the San Miguel Committee the opportunity to highlight their sister city story.
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Artwork from the film "Sueños Ilegales" Presented at Arlington Central Library
The San Miguel committee hosted a presentation of the artwork used in the film "Sueños Ilegales" at Central Library in July. The film follows two brothers from El Salvador dreaming of a better life. Both cross the border but from there their paths diverge, one leading to success and the other to tragedy. Special guests included Sra. Jeannette Noltenius, Director of Casa de la Cultura El Salvador, and musicians Kevin and Marvin Banegas. Featured artists included Glory Paredes, Marvin Iraid Martinez, Rafael Rodriguez, and Marvin Banegas. Pictured above are Lily Caballero-Torres (l), San Miguel Committee member, and Orlando Gammora, Chair of the San Miguel Committee (r) and several of the special guests.
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Save-the-Date for ASCA's 30th Anniversary Celebration | |
The Arlington Sister City Association will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of ASCA and the first Arlington, Virginia Sister City relationship with Aachen, Germany. More details to come; but, mark your calendars now to join the festivities over the weekend of April 11-14, 2024! | |
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Arlington Sister City Association ("ASCA") is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization affiliated with Arlington County, Virginia. Established in 1993, ASCA supports and coordinates the activities of Arlington County’s five Sister Cities: Aachen, Germany; Coyoacán, Mexico (emeritus); Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine; Reims, France; and San Miguel, El Salvador (emeritus).
ASCA works to enhance and promote Arlington’s international profile and to foster productive exchanges through arts and cultural partnerships, business development, educational and professional exchanges, as well as government relationships. ASCA helps the people of Arlington form long-lasting relationships and friendships with the people of its Sister Cities and beyond through its many activities and programs.
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On Tuesday, November 28, please remember to make a generous contribution to ASCA so we can continue to fulfill our mission.
Please make a contribution or
renew your membership today.
ASCA is a 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Thank you for your support!
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