SCI 2021 ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS LIVE!

Sister Cities International is excited to announce our 2021 Virtual Annual Conference! This year’s theme is “Building Stronger Ties for an Interconnected World” and will take place on Thursday, July 15th and Friday, July 16th.  Visit this page often to stay up to date on the latest speakers, featured breakout sessions, and more!

REGISTER

Sponsorship Opportunities

Our impactful sponsorship opportunities offer unique opportunities for corporate and individual recognition in front of a dynamic global audience. 

Download our 2021 Annual Meeting & Conference Sponsorship Opportunities by clicking the button below. 

Please contact us for a customized sponsorship package and additional branding opportunities.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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Schedule
All times listed for the Annual Conference apply to Eastern Daylight Time (ET). Please plan your attendance accordingly.

Day 1: Thursday, July 15, 2021 (EDT)

1:00PM

Opening Remarks

1:03PM

VIP Welcome Remarks

1:06PM

Welcome Message from our Chair

1:17PM

Education Panel – The Future is Now: Adapting Technology for Education and Youth Exchanges

1:57PM

Education Breakout Rooms

There will be 11 concurrent breakout sessions following the Education panel. Please see below for the breakout room titles.

Please note that only one breakout room can be chosen per session.

2:18PM

Musical Performance from pianist Leonardo Colafelice

Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 “Heroic” Composed by Frederic Chopin

2:26PM

Annual Award Winners Announced

2:33PM

Coffee Break & YAAS Gallery

2:49PM

Economic Panel – Goods & Movement: Where We Were, Where We’re Going, and How We’re Connected

3:29PM

Economic Breakout Sessions

There will be 12 concurrent breakout sessions following the Economic panel. Please see below for the breakout room titles.

Please note that only one breakout room can be chosen per session.

3:56PM

Keynote Speaker, Rick Steves on “How to Travel Again”

4:36PM

Breakout-Palooza

These breakout rooms will enable you to connect and network by regional interest on a more personal level.

Day 2: Friday, July 16, 2021 (EDT)

1:00PM

Welcome Remarks from our Chair

1:06PM

Announcement of Annual Award Winners

1:17PM

Presentation of Ruth Hashimoto Award

1:26PM

Sports & Diplomacy Panel – Goal! Winning Strategies for Diplomacy through Sport

2:06PM

Sports & Diplomacy Breakout Sessions

There will be 12 concurrent breakout sessions following the Sports & Diplomacy panel. Please see below for the breakout room titles.

Be sure to note that only one breakout room can be chosen per session.

2:27PM

Musical Performance by MBAW, “We Shall Overcome”

2:44PM

Coffee Break & YAAS Gallery

2:55PM

Humanitarian Panel – Conflict, Dislocation, and Hope: Responses to the Global Migrant Crisis from NGOs and Citizen Diplomats

3:35PM

Humanitarian Breakout Sessions

There will be 9 concurrent breakout sessions following the Humanitarian panel. Please see below for the breakout room titles.

Be sure to note that only one breakout room can be chosen per session.

3:55PM

Break: Chair Yoga Session led by Suhail Arastu

4:11PM

Annual Meeting

Breakout Sessions

Thursday, July 15, 2021 (EDT)

Education Breakout Rooms

The Education panel titled “The Future is Now: Adapting Technology for Education and Youth Exchanges” will focus on how technology is transforming educational and youth exchanges across the world. This panel will allow attendees to learn from students and industry leaders on leveraging technology to connect and empower youth in their respective fields. These breakout rooms will be focused on specific aspects of education, according to their titles and descriptions.

Please be reminded that all of these breakout rooms will be held simultaneously, so only one breakout room can be selected.

Economic Breakout Rooms

These breakout rooms will correspond with our panel on Economic Activity, titled “Goods & Movement: Where We Are, Where We’re Going, and How We’re Connected.” As this panel will focus on listening to industry experts and officials about how goods are moved across the world to your home, as well as how those relationships provide unique opportunities for our sister cities network, these breakout rooms will be more focused on specific aspects of trade and economic activity, according to their titles and descriptions.

Please be reminded that all of these breakout rooms will be held simultaneously, so only one breakout room can be selected.

Palooza Breakout Rooms

These breakouts will enable members and participants to connect and network by regional interest on a more personal level. 

Please be reminded that all of these breakout rooms will be held simultaneously, so only one breakout room can be selected.

Friday, July 16, 2021 (EDT)

Sports Breakout Rooms

In “Goal! Winning Strategies for Diplomacy Through Sport,” the panel will discuss how Sports have always played a role in bringing people and nations together. As it explores ways that local communities and sister cities organizations can harness the power of sports federations, athletes, and city planning to create lasting local infrastructure and youth development programs, attend these breakout sessions to discuss more specific aspect of sports and diplomacy.

Please be reminded that all of these breakout rooms will be held simultaneously, so only one breakout room can be selected.

Humanitarian Breakout Rooms

The panel on Humanitarian issues titled “Conflict, Dislocation, and Hope: Responses to the Global Migrant Crisis from NGOs and Citizen Diplomats” will discuss humanitarian crises and displaced populations. This panel will feature experts in the fields of migration and humanitarian aid and how they are responding to challenges near and far. Join these breakout rooms to discuss specific aspects of Humanitarian issues.

Please be reminded that all of these breakout rooms will be held simultaneously, so only one breakout room can be selected.