Duluth Sister Cities International

Once you understand how we’re different, you see how we’re the same. True understanding between people and nations begins with individual involvement..and it’s as easy as learning more about others! Since 1986 this program has been strengthening relationships worldwide.

Duluth, Minnesota is a beautiful, world seaport with an international airport and a diverse population, yet most of us never get a chance to meet people from foreign countries or enjoy their cultures. We seldom get to see up-close that despite living continents apart, we all want similar things for our families, our friends and our world.

But now we have greater opportunities than ever for global understanding, because Duluth Sister Cities International helps bridge the oceans by bringing many of the world’s traditions, cultures and languages right to us, and by taking us to their countries.

Thunder Bay, Canada. Isumi-shi, Japan. Petrozavodsk, Russia. Växjö, Sweden. All are Sister Cities of Duluth, enriching our residents and theirs.

Taste a krumkaka. Strum a balalaika. Do you know what’s humorous in Russia? Or delicious in Japan? You will when you take part in various Sister Cities activities in Duluth. You will soon realize that the interpreter is no longer needed, as your gestures and smiles speak louder than words with your new friends from around the world.

Dear Friends:

Thank you to everyone for your concern and thoughts for our friends in Isumi-shi. There have been many inquiries via email and telephone from Duluthians asking about friends in Isumi-shi.

The Isumi-shi Committee met this morning with the focus of the meeting being discussion on what we can do to show our support for our sister city. We had a great discussion and were happy to have with us Kim Habig, representing Superior (Wisconsin) Sister City Commission as they too have a Sister City in Japan.

The Superior Sister City Commission is working on several events/programs that we will collaboratively promote. Once we have the details from them, we will send them out.

The Isumi-shi Committee is working on the following projects:

Wednesday, March 30 (Date change from March 24) 11am - 1pm; Card & Crane making – Duluth Sister Cities office, 301 West 1st St., Suite 308 (Board of Trade building)
Homemade cards/pictures & letters to be sent collectively to Isumi-shi. Please bring/send cards to DSCI office or the benefit concert by Friday, April 8.

Mailing address:
DSCI
301 West 1st Street, Suite 308
Duluth, MN 55802
(Board of Trade building) or call 218-727-8375.

Friday, April 8th, 7-9pm: Benefit concert for Japan with local musicians at Sacred Heart Music Center, 301 W. 4th St., Duluth. This will be a good will offering. Sasha Chernyshev and Betsy Husby will arrange for a group of musicians to perform classical music. We are also looking for other musicians of different genres to perform. Details to follow.

List of talent includes:

• String Quartet consisting of: Rudy Perrault, violin; Erin Aldridge, violin, Kevin Hoeschen, viola, Betsy Husby, cello
• Duo consisting of: Alexander Chernyshev, piano, Betsy Husby, cello
• Two or three Suzuki string groups performing several numbers
• Seulgee Lee, piano, playing Chopin Scherzo
• Duo consisting of: Seulgee Lee, piano, Raina Ryu, violin
• Elizabeth Nordell, wife of Rudy Perrault, storyteller.
• Kathleen Abel - Superior Sax and piano - plays blues, pop, 40's jazz, classical
• Echoes of Peace Choir

Japanese Sister City Awareness Idea: Read “The Peace Bell” during your church’s service/children’s time or youth activity. Suggest that the kids in your church’s youth group/Sunday school or children’s elementary class make cards for kids in Isumi-shi

Saturday, April 9th, 12 - 3pm: UW-Superior World Student Association International Cooking Demo:at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 820 Belkap Street in Superior (next to the Burger King). Try different foods from around the world, including Japan! There will be a bon dance performance, and an opportunity to try on a kimono or yukata. Freewill offerings of a canned food item for the food shelf, or a donation for earthquake relief in Japan will be gratefully accepted. All money collected will be donated to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

North Country Quilters, “Japanese Service Project” – Mary Bunker, Hope Methodist Church 38” x 48” quilt . Photos and written message to be included.

Information will be coming soon of programs to help benefit the Japanese relief effort.

The purpose of the project is to raise the environmental awareness of our communities as four different families in Duluth and Thunder Bay accept challenges and examine their climate impacts in four different areas (Energy, Food, Lifestyle, and Transportation). After completing their period of challenges, the families may go on to coach future families, spreading knowledge about climate-friendly living within the community. A website tracks the families’ journey throughout the process. In Duluth, a broadcast company will help with publicity through public service announcements and project and family updates. Community members are encouraged to “shadow” the Climate Idols through the website as well. This exposure will give community members ideas on ways they can use utility conservation programs, eco driving, public buses, food and consumption choices, etc. to mitigate their impact on climate change, adopt sustainable practices, and conserve on or eliminate fossil fuels. They can see how much control they have over their own greenhouse gas emissions and learn they don’t have to wait for others to make decisions before taking action to reduce their contribution to climate change. To learn more about that project click here.

The objectives and mission of this project will be similar to Climate Pilots in many ways but modified to accommodate the lifestyles of people living in the Northland.

Help to encourage the sustainable movement in our community and become a Climate Idol! If you are interested please contact our office at 727-8375 or e-mail carol.brekke@duluthmnsistercities.org

The Isumi-shi Student Delegation has started collecting shiny paper as a fundraiser. 1,000 pounds earns them $200. Drop off site is: 2712 Getchell Rd. A pallet has been set up in the metal storage shelter by the back garage (dark brown one). Please leave the paper there. If you can't figure it out, leave it on the desk and they will take care of it. The Wright's house is at the intersection of Getchell and St. Louis River Roads. It map quests very well. If you take the I-35 40th Avenue West exit, go up 40th to Skyline, then West 1 1/2 miles, you'll be at Skyline and St. Louis River Road, they own the 10 acres on the upper side and the house is a tiny bit west of Skyline. It will help greatly if the papers are bundled using thin rope or string. Thank you.

Duluth Sister Cities International promotes global understanding through mutual respect and cooperation with cultural, economic and educational endeavors.

It is the goal that these relationships will create opportunities for grass roots citizen participants to experience and explore other cultures and generate an atmosphere of exchange through which economic development, trade, tourism, education, art, history, foreign languages, international relations and global understanding may be stimulated.