The Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission is a non-profit organization with the goal of connecting Lansing to the rest of the world through a global citizen diplomacy network. The sister city approach to international exchanges is personalized, inclusive, and centered on citizen-to-citizen diplomacy. We develop and sustain programs aimed at strengthening global linkages. The LRSCC is affiliated with Sister Cities International, founded in 1956 by U.S. Eisenhower, as the People to People program. The sister cities programs help foster increased international understanding. Lansing’s first Sister City relationship was formed in 1968, with Otsu, Japan. Saltillo, Mexico was added in 1994, Sanming, China in 1997 and Akuapim South District, Ghana in 1997. Asan, South Korea was added as a Sister City in 2008. During 2000, a special tie of friendship was acknowledged and endorsed by the LRSCC Board of Directors between Lansing and the community of Cosenza, Italy. In addition, a friendship tie was formed with the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam in 2005. The LRSCC works to bring about a deepened appreciation in our community for the beauty and unique strengths of the world’s myriad cultures.
