Mirabal Sisters' Monument

HISTORY
The Sister City relationship between Atlanta and Salcedo was inspired by the memory of remarkable leaders who fought for equal and civil rights, justice and freedom. These leaders were Martin Luther King Jr., from Atlanta, Georgia and the Mirabal sisters, Patria, Minerva and Maria Teresa, from Salcedo, the Dominican Republic.

The formal presentation of the resolution by the Atlanta City Council establishing the Sister City relationship was made to the President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernandez in April 1997 in Atlanta. These Sister City relationship is the first between Atlanta and a Spanish-speaking nation.

The Atlanta-Salcedo sister City program is an affiliation of Sister Cities International (SCI). Founded in 1956 by U. S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, SCI has a mission of involving people and organizations at all levels of society in citizen diplomacy.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Atlanta-Salcedo Sister City Program is to promote exchange and cooperation between the citizens of Atlanta, Georgia in the United States of America, and Salcedo, the Dominican Republic. These relationship will focus on three areas:

• Educational Exchange
• Cultural Exchange
• Economical Exchange

ATLANTA-SALCEDO SISTER CITY COMMITTEE

Chairman	Victor Ramirez
Co-Founders	Esther Davis Rachel Tobin
Honorary Members:	Julia Alvarez. Author Rafael Belliard Atlanta Braves Baseball Player Councilmember Mary Davis, City of Atlanta Horace Sibley, Esq., Honorary Consul to the Dominican Republic
Members	Jose Luis Aybar, Architect Sidney Davis, Ph. D. PE Molly Embree, Graduate Student, Emory University Leonor Johnson, President, Dominican Association of Georgia Ally Lada, Director of Corporate Development Olga Peruchini, Regional Director, Girl Scouts Susan Walker, Former Chair Atlanta Sister Cities Commission Rebeca Wilson, Teacher

EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE

• To inspire the youth of Atlanta and Salcedo with the teachings of Martin Luther King and the Mirabal sisters so that these leaders' lives will continue to influence others to work towards a just, free, and progressive society.

• To create opportunities for citizens of both cities to learn and experience their two languages: Spanish and English.

• To establish a permanent bridge between institutions of higher learning (including technical, professional and scientific schools), and to use these ties for the mutual benefit of both communities.

• To provide opportunities for secondary students to work on social projects that improve the quality of life for both Atlanta and Salcedo.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

To maintain an open dialogue between Atlanta and Salcedo for the mutual exchange of all aspects of cultural expression, including:

• Folk Art and Artisan Exchanges
• Athletics and Sporting Events
• Music Festivals
• Traditional Dance Presentations
• Theatre Productions
• Visual Art Presentations: Paintings and Photography
• Literary Club Exchanges
• Media Arts and Mass Communication: Press, Radio and Television
• Culinary Arts
• Celebrating Important Historic Events

ECONOMIC EXCHANGE

The development of economic ties, including international trade, between two countries is linked to both the knowledge each have of the other, as well as through the personal relationships upon which lasting business relationships are built. Atlanta and Salcedo have begun a partnership through the Sister Cites Program that sets the stage for the commercial and financial strengths of Atlanta to be joined with the vigorous business potential of Salcedo so that both communities benefit.

Potential trade products:

• Textiles
• Poultry
• Dairy
• Coffee

Contact Name	Address	Phone Number
Victor Ramirez Chairman	P.O.Box 29906 Atlanta, GA 30359	(770) 279-2240
Date Sister City relationship was established:		April 24,1997