Dear TSCI Stakeholders,

As I reflect on the past few months, I find myself thinking less about the events themselves and more about the friendships that have grown from them. International friendship is not built through agreements or ceremonies alone. It is built through shared meals, open homes, thoughtful conversations, and the simple willingness to learn from one another.

This summer has been a beautiful reminder of the power of people-to-people connections. Whether welcoming friends from Ghana to Tuscaloosa, celebrating forty years of friendship with Narashino, or watching students and community members experience another culture firsthand, we have seen how hospitality and shared experiences can bridge differences and create lasting relationships.

The work of Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International has always been about more than travel or cultural events. It is about creating opportunities for ordinary people to become ambassadors of goodwill, representing our community while discovering the richness of another. Every exchange, every conversation, and every act of kindness strengthens the ties that connect our cities and reminds us that we have far more in common than what separates us.

As you read the stories in this newsletter, I hope you see more than a collection of events. I hope you see friendships taking root, cultures being shared, and lives being enriched through the simple act of spending time together. This summer has reminded us that the strongest bridges between nations are built not of steel or stone, but of friendship, hospitality, and shared experiences. Thank you for helping Tuscaloosa continue to build those bridges, one connection at a time.

In friendship and partnership,

Shelley Dorrill

Executive Director, TSCI

In May, Tuscaloosa had the privilege of welcoming distinguished guests from Ghana as we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our sister city partnership with Sunyani-Techiman. Led by Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the delegation's visit highlighted both the strength of our partnership and the friendships that have sustained it over the past fifteen years.

Throughout the week, our Ghanaian guests experienced many facets of life in West Alabama—from local schools and the University of Alabama to agriculture, city infrastructure, tourism, and community organizations. Along the way, they exchanged ideas, shared perspectives, and learned more about the people and institutions that help shape our community. Just as importantly, our community had the opportunity to learn from our visitors, strengthening the mutual understanding that lies at the heart of every sister city relationship.

Yet, as with so many international exchanges, some of the most meaningful moments happened away from the scheduled agenda. They happened around family dinner tables, while exploring Tuscaloosa together, and during conversations that transformed new acquaintances into lasting friends. These people-to-people connections are the foundation of citizen diplomacy and the reason partnerships like ours continue to flourish fifteen years after they began.

The visit concluded with a special anniversary dinner celebrating the history of the Tuscaloosa–Sunyani-Techiman partnership and reaffirming a shared commitment to its future. Joined by Mayor Walt Maddox, community leaders, host families, and friends, the evening reflected the steadfast support that the City of Tuscaloosa has provided to this partnership for the past fifteen years. The celebration also recognized the many individuals whose dedication has sustained this relationship over the years, including Mr. Daniel Owusu McDaniels, Coordinator for the Tuscaloosa Sister City Relations in Sunyani, Lisa Keyes, former Executive Director of Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International, and Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku, whose leadership, collaboration, and unwavering commitment have helped steward this partnership through fifteen years of friendship, collaboration, and mutual respect.

This milestone celebration was made possible through the extraordinary collaboration of partners across Tuscaloosa. TSCI extends its heartfelt gratitude to the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa City Schools, The University of Alabama, Alabama Extension, SouthFresh Feed Mill, Elysian Catfish Farm, Ingram Farms, Visit Tuscaloosa, The House Tuscaloosa, the Federal Courthouse, and the many businesses, volunteers, and organizations that welcomed our guests with warmth and generosity throughout the week.

Most importantly, we thank our incredible host families for opening their homes and sharing their lives with our visitors. Their generosity transformed this visit from a series of meetings into a true cultural exchange, creating friendships and memories that will endure long after the delegation returned home.

TSCI also extends special appreciation to the entire TSCI Board of Directors for the countless hours of planning and coordination that made this anniversary celebration possible. Their dedication helped create an experience that honored fifteen years of partnership while laying the foundation for many more years of collaboration and friendship.

As our Ghanaian friends returned home, the goodbyes were not easy. That may be the truest measure of a successful exchange. Sister city relationships are not measured by miles traveled or meetings held, but by the friendships formed, the hospitality shared, and the understanding that grows when people come together as neighbors across cultures.

This June, Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International partnered with Tuscaloosa City Schools to bring the world into the classroom through the TCS Summer Learning Program, introducing elementary students to the cultures of Japan and Germany through interactive lessons designed to spark curiosity and inspire global understanding.

Led by TSCI Executive Director Shelley Dorrill, former Executive Director Lisa Keyes, TSCI Board member Yukiko Gilbert, and supported by TCS teacher chaperones Shanda Hart and Ben Grover, the program transformed classrooms into windows to the world. Students explored history, traditions, language, music, geography, and daily life while participating in hands-on activities that encouraged them to experience each culture in meaningful and memorable ways.

Young learners created passports, learned greetings in new languages, folded origami, explored German traditions and landmarks, discovered Japanese customs, and enjoyed activities that encouraged them to see both the unique qualities and shared values found across cultures. Their excitement, thoughtful questions, and eagerness to participate served as a reminder that global education can begin at any age.

Adding to the experience, several members of the 2026 TSCI/TCS Student Delegation to Narashino joined the presentations, sharing their enthusiasm as they prepared for their own exchange to Japan. For many of the elementary students, meeting older student ambassadors made the possibility of one day representing Tuscaloosa abroad feel both exciting and attainable.

At Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International, we believe that international understanding begins with education. By introducing young people to cultures beyond their own community, we help foster curiosity, empathy, and a lifelong appreciation for the diverse world around them.

TSCI extends its sincere appreciation to Tuscaloosa City Schools for partnering with us to provide these meaningful learning experiences. Together, we are helping inspire the next generation of globally engaged citizens—one classroom, one lesson, and one connection at a time.

In June, Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International celebrated a historic milestone as student and community delegations traveled to Japan to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the sister city partnership between Tuscaloosa and Narashino.

The celebration began as the TSCI/Tuscaloosa City Schools Student Delegation departed on June 16 for a two-week cultural exchange experience. A few days later, representatives from the City of Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa City Schools, The University of Alabama, and the TSCI Board of Directors joined them as part of the Community Delegation to celebrate four decades of friendship, collaboration, and people-to-people connections.

Since 1986, the relationship between Tuscaloosa and Narashino has grown far beyond an agreement between two cities. It has become a living partnership built by generations of students, families, educators, community leaders, and volunteers who believe that understanding begins when people come together and share their lives with one another.

Throughout their time in Japan, delegates experienced the incredible hospitality and cultural traditions that make this partnership so meaningful. Students stayed with host families, attended Japanese schools, learned traditional customs, explored historic landmarks, and experienced everyday life in Narashino. From visiting Mt. Fuji and Kyoto to sharing meals, learning new traditions, and spending evenings with their host families, students discovered that friendship can grow quickly when people are willing to learn from each other.

One of the most powerful moments of the exchange occurred at Chiba Prefectural Tsudanuma High School, where Tuscaloosa and Narashino students connected through the universal language of music. After being paired together to learn a song titled “My Home,” students from both countries performed side by side—a beautiful reminder that some of the strongest connections are built through shared experiences.

The Community Delegation also experienced the rich history, culture, and innovation of Japan through visits to schools, city facilities, historic sites, and cultural landmarks. Delegates exchanged ideas, strengthened institutional partnerships, and gained a deeper appreciation for the community that has welcomed Tuscaloosa residents for four decades.

The highlight of the visit was the official 40th Anniversary Celebration, where leaders from Tuscaloosa and Narashino gathered to honor the past and look toward the future. Through the exchange of gifts, reflections on the history of the partnership, and a renewed commitment to continued friendship, both cities celebrated not only what has been accomplished over forty years, but the relationships that will continue for generations to come. TSCI extends sincere appreciation to the Narashino International Association, Mayor Taisuke Miyamoto, and the City of Narashino for hosting such a beautiful anniversary dinner and for the warmth, generosity, and hospitality shown to the Tuscaloosa delegation throughout this special celebration.

The anniversary visit also provided a special opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the many individuals who have shaped this partnership. During a homecoming celebration hosted by the Narashino International Association at its headquarters, former exchange students, NIA members, and longtime friends gathered to reconnect and celebrate four decades of friendship between Tuscaloosa and Narashino. The evening included a heartfelt tribute to former TSCI Executive Director Lisa Keyes, recognizing her 23 years of leadership and dedication to strengthening this relationship.

As the celebration honored the past, it also looked toward the future, with NIA Chairman Kazunari Yoshimura inviting new TSCI Executive Director Shelley Dorrill to share her vision for continuing to grow and strengthen the partnership for future generations. The gathering was a powerful reminder that the success of sister city relationships is built not only through official agreements, but through the people who dedicate themselves to carrying these friendships forward.

Perhaps the most meaningful moments came during the final days of the student exchange. At the farewell celebration hosted by the Narashino International Association, students dressed in traditional yukata, shared memories in Japanese, thanked their host families, and reflected on the friendships they had formed. What began as an introduction between strangers had become something much deeper—a connection between families and friends across the world.

TSCI extends heartfelt appreciation to the Narashino International Association, the City of Narashino, Mayor and city officials, host families, schools, and countless volunteers whose generosity and hospitality made this anniversary exchange unforgettable. Their dedication continues to demonstrate the true spirit of the sister cities movement.

As the delegation returned home, they carried much more than souvenirs and photographs. They carried new friendships, greater understanding, and a place in a story that began forty years ago.

The Tuscaloosa–Narashino partnership reminds us that friendship between nations is built one student, one family, and one shared experience at a time. After forty years, the bridge between our communities has never been stronger.