Chandler Sister Cities, shown here participating in a 2023 event, is an initiative meant to help grow not only cultural understanding, but also economic development and tourism, according to presenters at an Aug. 14 work session.
An Aug. 14 Chandler City Council work session had a more friendly flavor than most similar meetings — until the last five minutes.
The city’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Niki Tapia, along with Chandler Sister Cities Board of Directors President Mahfam Moeeni-Alarcon, presented on the recent past and future plans of sister-cities projects.
After partnering with its initial sister city, Tullamore, Ireland, in 2009, the organization added Tainan, Taiwan was added as a “friendship city” in 2016. Like many volunteer groups, COVID-19 slowed the meetings and activities of Chandler Sister Cities.
By 2023, aided greatly by the enthusiasm and commitment of Moeeni-Alarcon, who agreed to chair the board, the city resumed support in the form of funding and staff.
Tapia and Moeeni-Alarcon both explained how the sister and friendship partnerships are meant to do more than foster international goodwill and peace and to expand global awareness and cultural understanding.
Goals also include providing Chandler residents, especially younger ones, with opportunities to engage globally, and also to promote economic development and tourism.
Chandler’s Asian population, according to one recent study, is 11.73% of its 282,000 residents. Arizona, with about 3% of the state’s population of Asian descent, is the 20th-most Asian state by percentage.
Tapia said the main support the Chandler City Council can provide is to provide funding, especially for outreach. One board member learned about the Sister Cities organization from seeing a booth at a city event, she said.
Mayor Kevin Hartke said he loves the program and has seen its benefits, though he wants all outreach to keep expectations cautious and realistic.
Vice Mayor Christine Ellis urged Tapia and the board to do very careful vetting of any potential friendship or sister city to ensure everything matches up, including the type of city and how it compares with Chandler and how organized and energized its partnering committee or board turns out to be.
Chandler resident Brook Beal spoke at the work session. He said vetting which cities are partners should be done diligently, pointing to a recent pet slaughtering scandal.
Anyone who wants to learn more about Chandler’s program can click here.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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