Personal Statement
Sister Cities changed the trajectory of my life. My first trip to Italy as a high school student ignited a passion for global affairs, inspiring me to study Japanese in college. Living abroad in Japan and Mexico in my twenties showed me firsthand the power of people-to-people diplomacy. Moreover, I realized that people tend to fear that which they do not understand, which drives me to encourage others to immerse themselves in other countries, cultures, and languages.
On a national level, I plan to develop a strong pipeline of young professionals to safeguard the future of our organization. Additionally, it is critical our organization stays financially healthy while continuing its focus on diversity, equity and inclusion to ensure that we all have a seat at the table.
Finally, I’d like to see us tell our stories better. We have some remarkable examples of the “Sister Cities Effect”, how city-to-city relationships have led to innovation, jobs, and huge economic impact (e.g., San Antonio-Kumamoto, Phoenix-Suwon, Indianapolis-Hyderabad, Tacoma-Fuzhou, Miami-Capetown, San Jose-Dublin, etc.) By spotlighting these examples, we can make a more compelling case for the benefits of other cities to join the Sister Cities network. Even economic diplomacy first begins with a handshake and a friendship.