Sister Cities of Durham

10/14/2026

Today marks the end of Hispanic Heritage Month The observance began as a week-long celebration under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, and was expanded to a 30-day period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Visit the Museum of the American Latino to learn more.

Join our Celaya and Tilaran City committees. Design programs that help Durham learn about our friends in Celaya, Mexico and Tilaran, Costa Rica and plan visits between Durham and each of these cities. email [email protected] with your interest in joining.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. Learn why we celebrate and how you can too!

10/01/2026

Discover something new this Saturday at the Taste of Asia event! Enjoy a fun-filled day celebrating Asian culture, delicious food, art, and traditions!

🎉 The Taste of Asia Raleigh 2026 Stage Performance Schedule is officially out!

Join us on Saturday, October 3 at Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh for a full day celebrating the incredible diversity of Asian cultures through food, music, dance, martial arts, and community.

This year’s stage will feature 40+ performances from cultural groups and artists across North Carolina, including dragon and lion dance, traditional and contemporary dance, live music, martial arts, cultural showcases, and more.

🌏 Don’t miss our Parade of Culture at 1:00 PM, followed by the 2026 NC Top 10 Asian Restaurants & Signature Dishes Awards at 3:00 PM.

📅 Saturday, October 3, 2026
🕚 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
📍 Moore Square, Downtown Raleigh
🎟️ Free Admission | Family Friendly

Bring your family, invite your friends, come hungry, and enjoy a day filled with culture, cuisine, and community!

Culture · Cuisine · Community

10/01/2026

Sign up your spot today! Registration preferred by visiting DurhamCountyLibrary.org/events & searching "Japanese Paper Arts" Discover Durham

Explore Japanese paper arts with two same-day sessions at Durham County Library!

These FREE events are designed for parents and children to explore paper arts together, but all are welcome! Attend one or both.

To be held on Friday, October 9 inside Durham County Main Library's MakerLab (300 N. Roxboro St.)

• Session 1: Somegami (Fold & Dye Paper), 10:30 a.m.
• Session 2: Chiri-e (Torn Paper Art), 11:30 a.m.

Presented with Japan-America Society, JOI Program, UNC Wilmington, and Tenma Tabi Japan.

Registration preferred by visiting DurhamCountyLibrary.org/events & searching "Japanese Paper Arts"

09/29/2026

On Sunday, October 18th, the City of Durham is bringing together community leaders, organizations, residents, and key partners to raise awareness around food insecurity and highlight the collaborative work already underway throughout the City of Durham. The Together Table event will serve as an opportunity to:
Bring greater awareness to food insecurity and its impact on Durham residents;
Highlight the work of local organizations and community partners addressing food access;
Connect residents with resources and services available throughout the community; and
Foster meaningful conversations around how we can continue working together to build a healthier and more food-secure Durham.

This event is made possible from the $175,000 grant awarded through the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America.
City of Durham, NC Government

09/25/2026

🎉 It was a special reunion dinner filled with pride, gratitude, and a little karaoke, too🎤, as we celebrated the incredible journey of the 2026 Teach-in-China Program this summer! One of Parents said, "The teaching trip is life changing"

Students, parents, the program director from the thousand mile initiative , and members of Sister Cities of Durham's Zhuzhou Committee (with a special shoutout to Mark and Luisa) came together to reflect on the high school students' journey to Zhuzhou. Members from the Arusha and Celaya committees also joined the celebration, showing the true spirit of Durham's sister cities network.

Congratulations to all our students for representing Durham so well, and thank you to every family, mentor, supporter, and committee member who made this program possible. Here's to friendship, leadership, and discovery across the miles 🇺🇸🇨🇳.

09/21/2026

Today is the World Day of Peace. Looking for a way to make a difference? Volunteer with us - email [email protected]. Join a Sister City Team; help plan fun and engaging programs to help Durham learn about our friends in our sister cities. Plan visits to and from our sister cities. Host a visitor like our Japanese students coming in late February. Volunteer for a specific project like our International Women's Day event or our participation in the Durham Holiday Parade. Make a difference by serving on a Committee of the Board such as Marketing, Finance, or Governance.

08/13/2026

70 Years of Connecting Communities Around the World!
Celebrating Sister Cities International’s (SCI) 70th Anniversary and the power of people-to-people diplomacy!

We are proud to recognize Ronda Pierce, Chair of the Arusha Committee of Sister Cities of Durham and SCI Representative for Africa, who presented at the event on SCI’s work across Africa.

As the SCI Representative for Africa, Ronda supports communities in developing new sister city partnerships and strengthening ongoing relationships between sister cities across the continent.

Gwendolyn M. Bookman, Co-Chair of the Arusha Committee, also joined the celebration, highlighting Durham’s continued commitment to strengthening its relationship with Arusha, Tanzania, and around the world.

Sister city partnerships bring people together through cultural exchange, education, youth engagement, economic development, and friendship.

Learn more about SCI’s 70th Anniversary:
https://sistercities.org/latest-news/sister-cities-international-celebrates-70-years/

07/16/2026

Our Celaya, Mexico City team could use your help...

This summer, the Build Your Smile Dental Foundation, in partnership with the Inter-University Alliance for Global Oral Health, and with suport from Sister Cities of Durham, will provide free dental care and oral health education to children and families in underserved communities in parts of Mexico including in our Sister City, Celaya!

Based on the number of patients we expect to serve during our 2026 outreach programs, our goal is to prepare and distribute 1,000 Smile Pouches to children participating in our community clinics.

Average total cost per Smile Pouch: approximately $4.75
We invite you to sponsor one Smile Pouch for $5, making it easy to support a child while helping cover packaging, transportation, and program logistics.


Each Smile Pouch Includes:

• 🪥 Child-sized toothbrush
• 🦷 Travel-size toothpaste
• 🎨 Box of colored pencils
• ✨ Educational stickers
• 🩹 Fun eraser
• 🧸 Small plush toy
• 🎁 Smile Pouch bag
• 🪪 Oral health educational card

link for donations https://tinyurl.com/5t5dhjh4

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06/26/2026

🇺🇸🇬🇧🍺This Friday, mix and mingle and meet others who wanna know more about the other Durham “across the pond”! With the World Cup bringing us closer together, there’s no better time to embrace our sister city of Durham, UK. So stop in this Friday at 6pm!

06/19/2026

Join us for global connection as we spotlight our special relationship with “the other Durham” across the pond. Mix, mingle, and learn about the history, culture, and ongoing partnerships between Durham, North Carolina and Durham, United Kingdom.

Registration optional but all those registering are entered into a drawing for a free beverage!
Register to Win a Beverage link is here: https://shorturl.at/snuwN

Friday, June 26th 6:00 PM at The Glass Jug, Downtown Durham

Hosted by Sister Cities of Durham’s Durham UK Committee

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