Why I Am Running for the Board of Directors

I am running for the Board of Directors because I believe deeply in the mission and future of Sister Cities International. In a time of rising polarization and geopolitical uncertainty, city-to-city connections offer a powerful, people-centered approach to diplomacy. These relationships foster mutual understanding, elevate youth voices, and create space for cultural exchange that transcends national divides.

Having spent years involved in sister city work, I know how these programs change lives. They changed mine. Whether visiting my host family again after five years or helping students connect virtually across the Pacific during the pandemic, I’ve seen firsthand the lifelong friendships and global awareness that sister cities make possible.

As a young leader, I bring both experience and fresh perspective to the table. I want to ensure that sister cities remain vibrant, and facing the future. To me, this means supporting youth programming, elevating successful local stories, and ensuring this institution continues to grow and adapt. I am running to give back to the institution that helped shape who I am, and to help support the next generation of citizen diplomats who will build our shared future.

Bio

My name is Tommis Meyer, and I am a soon-to-be graduate of American University’s Joint Degree Program in Global International Relations with Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. As a Japanese American raised in Portland, Oregon, I was deeply shaped by the city’s Japanese Magnet Program, where I studied the language for 12 years and participated in multiple student exchanges — including one to Sapporo, Portland’s sister city. The experience sparked a lasting commitment to people-to-people exchange, which led me to join the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association (PSSCA) as a Youth Representative in 2019.

In the years since, I’ve remained actively involved in PSSCA, including helping the organization pivot to virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic. I helped design and lead several rounds of online exchanges, and later returned to Sapporo as a university student to organize a language workshop that deepened Portland-Sapporo ties. I also mentored students through the Japan America Academic Center, supporting cross-cultural learning and confidence-building.

Currently, I serve as an intern with the East-West Center in Washington, DC, where I research and write about grassroots international partnerships. My “Sister City Series” spotlights the educational, economic, and cultural benefits of these ties — from diaspora engagement to youth empowerment.

My lived experience has taught me that sister cities are not just symbolic — they are powerful, evolving platforms for diplomacy, community, and connection. I am eager to bring my passion and perspective to the Board and help amplify the stories and people who drive these partnerships forward.