Sister Act

A 2ND ACT

{survivors giving back}

SISTER ACT

Finding purpose in unexpected places

Some second acts are created from the ground up. Others develop from an existing passion and take on an entirely new purpose. The latter was the case with Cheryl Laflen.

In 1956, after the horror of World War II, President Dwight Eisenhower created a program that would make the world a better place by connecting American cities with their counterparts around the world. Called Sister Cities, the program’s mission was to build friendships and a path to peace, one relationship at a time. Paired cities from around the globe share skills and knowledge across a wide spectrum of categories: humanitarian, cultural, economic, educational and even among first responders.

In 2000, Laflen and her husband, Milt, were invited to join the Mesa Sister Cities program. At that time, the Mesa chapter had five Sister Cities, one each in Mexico, Peru, Canada, China and New Zealand. The vision and mission of the program captured their hearts, and they jumped in with both feet.