M Focus on: Municipal Management
Sister Cities form special relationship
By BETH ANNE BRINK-COX | The Municipal
What does the term “Sister City” mean to you? Sistercity.org defines it as a broad-based, long-term partnership between two communities. They promote peace through people-to-people relationships, sharing research and developing projects between the two cities. The two cities of Tuskegee, Ala., and South Berwick, Maine, are shining examples of a successful program known as Common Ground Sister City. Their purpose is beautifully clear: The mission of the American Sister City Project is to afford the opportunity for the citizens of two communities, one predominantly Black and the other predominantly White, to talk with each other, listen to each other and share with each other, to broaden understanding between people. Massive racial turmoil occurred in 2016, speeding the efforts already being made in the South Berwick library programming 22 THE MUNICIPAL | DECEMBER 2021
regarding race in America. The topics being discussed, such as “Why should South Berwick care about race?” and “How do we talk to our children about race?,” led to the realization that African American voices were not being heard and the idea to form a relationship with a city that mirrored South Berwick — planning on a cultural exchange of sorts — developed. David McDermott said, “Our initial response that included the library series was to the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson, Mo. This really started the entire discussion about the need for some racial awareness.
ABOVE: Representatives from Tuskegee and South Berwick pose in front of Great Works School’s sign in South Berwick, serving as the living image of the Sister City program and the friendships forged through it. (Photo provided)
The incredible coming out of white racial hatred encouraged by the 2016 election and its aftermath solidified for many of us the absolute and immediate need for Common Ground.” A census search led them to Tuskegee, and a letter was sent in 2017 asking to form this special relationship. “The goal was to help members of our community understand, as a White community, our historical place in the country’s racial legacy and our modern-day responsibilities to be part of healing the divide that still tears our country apart. An idea that grew out of this effort was the concept of joining with a predominantly Black community of similar
