FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 21, 2025

Morgantown Sister Cities Commission to Host Open Meeting August 28

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The Morgantown Sister Cities Commission will hold an open meeting on Thursday, August 28, at 6:00 p.m. at the Morgantown Public Library. The event is open to the public and will offer an opportunity to learn about the Commission’s recent activities and future plans involving Morgantown’s sister cities: Xuzhou, China, and Guanajuato, Mexico.

Fred Blanton, Sister Cities International’s representative for Virginia and West Virginia, will be a featured guest. Blanton will speak about the history and mission of Sister Cities International, which was founded in 1956 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration to promote citizen diplomacy and foster global relationships between communities.

The Commission will highlight past and ongoing initiatives, including:

• High school student exchanges with Guanajuato
• Student art exchanges with Xuzhou
• A current video exchange project with Xuzhou
• Sister school connections with Xuzhou

Over the years, the Commission has hosted delegations from China, Mexico, and Ukraine, introducing international visitors to Morgantown’s culture and community.

Residents interested in learning more or getting involved with the Commission are encouraged to attend. For more details about the meeting, visit the event posting on Facebook.

For additional questions, contact Liz Finklea, Sister Cities Commission Chair, at liz.finklea@gmail.com or 304-685-8312.

###