Pune Is Austin's New Official Sister City

The official signing ceremony launching the Austin-Pune Sister City relationship took place on July 24, 2019 at Austin City Hall. Pune is the eighth largest city in India with a population of 4 million.  Austin and Pune’s economies rely heavily on the IT and manufacturing sectors.  Additionally, Pune is considered the cultural capital of the state of Maharastra and the education capital of India or “the Oxford of the East.”

The Honorable Mayor Mrs. Mukta Shailesh Tilak was welcomed by the Honorable Mayor Steve Adler.

Pune-Signing

2019 Young Artists and Authors Showcase - GLOBAL CITIZENS: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

2019 Young Artists and Authors Showcase - GLOBAL CITIZENS: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES

The Young Artists and Authors Showcase (YAAS) is an annual contest that encourages youth worldwide to express the mission of Sister Cities International through original artwork, literature, and photography.

Submissions are centered around an annual theme and judged based on originality, composition, and theme interpretation.

Austin-Oita (Japan) at the Austin Marathon

AUSTIN MARATHON WATER STATION VOLUNTEERS
Calling all volunteers!  Join AOSCC for a fun community event.  Practice your Japanese.  Get to know people who are also interested in Japan.  The event is supporting a Water Station for the Austin Marathon on Sunday, February 17.

GREAT event for kids who need volunteer hours.  Share this with kid's school.  Kids under 12 need a parent to volunteer with them.  We will have lots of fun again.  Food provided.  You will learn some Japanese to cheer on the runners!
The location is easy to get to: Aid Station Mile 18 at the Dean Keeton / Dancy Bus Stop just east of UT at I-35.  There is a parking lot.
The hours are 7 am - 1 pm on Sunday, February 17.  You will be released early if the runners have finished early.  You will be given training on site at 7 am.
You will receive an Austin Marathon t-shirt when you register via this link.

AUSTIN MARATHON WALKERS AND RUNNERS FOR TEAM JAPAN
Do you know runners or walkers?  We are recruiting runners and walkers for the upcoming February 2019 Austin Marathon and 5K.  Tell your friends to sign up for Team Japan!!!  
We are thrilled to announce that Honorable Consul Fukushima and Honorable Vice Consul Sugiura of the Houston Japanese Consulate will be running on Team Japan.  We will be co-hosting a lunch for walkers and runners on Team Japan with the Consulate and the Austin Japanese Community (AJC) on February 16, 2-5 pm.  If you are walking or running with Team Japan, you will be invited to the event!

Team Japan, AOSCC and ASCI are officially raising funds via Team Japan for Asian Family Support Services of Austin (AFSSA).  If you are on Team Japan, please link your registration with this CrowdRise page.  If you are not walking or running, you can donate directly via this page:
https://www.crowdrise.com/austin-oita-sister-city-committee2 

BIG INDIE MAKES BIG NIGHTS AND BIG MEMORIES HAPPEN WITH RECURRING LOCAL SHOWCASE

BIG INDIE MAKES BIG NIGHTS AND BIG MEMORIES HAPPEN WITH RECURRING LOCAL SHOWCASE

Austin nightlife just got a little bigger–and a little brighter. Fresh off a luminous label showcase series in London, Austin-based record label Big Indie is set to make a splash on their side of the pond with the Dec. 16 debut of Big Nights: a recurring event where the local label shows off their biggest, brightest talents, and does what they do best: provide a stage to artists powering Texas.

ASCI Elections 2019 Executive Board Members - Call for Application

ASCI Elections 2019 Executive Board Members - Call for Application

Austin Sister Cities (ASCI) is a volunteer-driven local 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that thrives on dedicated members. The Executive Board  consists of five Officers: the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communication Director, along with Chairs of individual sister cities committees and at-large members.

ASCI presents Passport to the World Family-Friendly Festival on 11.3.18

Austin Sister Cities International & The ACC Global Learning Institute present

3rd Annual Family-Friendly Fall Festival

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD

Saturday, November 3, 2018 | 12-4PM

Austin Community College Eastview Campus | 3401 Webberville; Building 8500

Free Event | Kid-Friendly Activities, Face Painting & Performances

Welcome Presentation by Austin Mayor Steve Adler

And introducing ASCI’s quarterly, international music program:

ASCI NIGHTS

Saturday, November 3, 2018 | 8PM-2AM

Stay Gold | 1910 East Cesar Chavez

21+ | $5 Cover | Music & Dance Performances by Austin & International Artists


Wednesday, October 17, 2018 (Austin, TX) - Austin Sister Cities International (ASCI) and The Austin Community College Global Learning Institute proudly present the 3rd Annual Family-Friendly Fall Festival, Passport To The World on Saturday, November 3, 2018, and the launch of ASCI NIGHTS -- a quarterly international musical program.

The 3rd Annual Passport to the World event is ASCI’s family-friendly fall festival featuring diverse international music & dance programming from Austin’s sister cities from around the globe! From 12-4pm on Saturday, November 3rd, kids from all ages can enjoy international crafts, face painting, food vendors, engaging live performances, and a special presentation from Austin Mayor Steve Adler. The event is free, open to the public, and proudly co-presented by the Austin Community College Global Learning Institute and ACC Eastview Campus. Experience the romantic dances of Gwangnyeong, South Korea, Techno Prince Nezha (電音三太子) of Taichung, Taiwan, traditional chansons from Angers, France, Taiko drumming from Oita, Japan, cultural demonstrations, kids activities, a Sister City selfie station, face painting and so much more!

For full event details and updates for Passport to the World, ASCI’s 3rd Annual Family Festival, at ACC Eastview Campus from 12-4PM on Sat. November 3rd, please visit our Facebook event, here. The event is held in ACC Eastview Campus Room 8500 (located inside Building 8000. Parking in lots G [facing Webberville Rd],  E or F [facing Govalle Rd]; campus map here).

EVENING PROGRAMMING

For Austinites looking to carry their international music experience into the night, Austin Sister Cities International is proud to launch their new quarterly music program: ASCI Nights! After the family-friendly activities of Passport to the World in the afternoon, we invite all to attend our evening programming at Stay Gold (1910 E Cesar Chavez) beginning at 8PM. Austin Taiko will kick off the evening followed by Corps Multiple, an Austin-based, French music & dance company, Cherry Plum from Austin’s Sister City of Angers, and internationally-influenced (but Austin-based) musicians Atlas Maior fresh off several international tours to China, Spain and France round out the programming. Attendees to ASCI Nights must be 21+. A $5 cover directly supports the performing artists.

For full event details and updates for ASCI Nights at Stay Gold from 8PM-2AM on Sat. November 3rd, please visit our Facebook event, here.

VOLUNTEERING

Would you like to volunteer with ASCI at Passport to the World? We’re looking for friendly faces to assist with activities, set-up and tear-down, and helping our Fall Festival run smoothly for our attending families -- a certificate of volunteer service will be provided! Please apply here.

ABOUT GLOBAL LEARNING INSTITUTE

The Global Learning curriculum relates directly to home country areas of study and expands students' knowledge of regional and national history and current events with special attention to cultural awareness and social adaptation. This combination creates a customized learning opportunity across school specific interests within the Greater Austin area that is broad in scope, but targeted in delivery. The objective of the Global Learning Institute is to offer students a minimum two-week program to enrich their cultural, technical, and academic experience within the State of Texas and overseas. Learn more about ACC Global Learning Institute here: http://continue.austincc.edu/corporate/global

ABOUT AUSTIN SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL

Austin Sister Cities International aims to promote international understanding in our fast-paced, globalized world. Together with representatives from our sister cities, we are facilitating a wide range of opportunities to participate in international educational, community, cultural and business exchanges.

Austin Sister Cities International organizes, hosts and welcomes multiple international delegations every year. As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization we are committed to including local artists, business leaders, city administration and community members in all of our trips abroad. The topics of focus on the delegation trips vary, depending on each delegation's agenda and committee aims. However, all ASCI delegations represent an international and diverse Austin, seeking to promote international understanding, cooperation and respect. Learn more at www.austinsistercities.com/what-we-do


For additional information regarding Austin Sister Cities International, please contact our Executive Board here. For additional information regarding ACC Global Learning Institute, please contact Global Learning Coordinator Brain Bilich here. For additional information regarding sponsorship, support or programming at either Passport to the World or ASCI Nights on Saturday, November 3rd, please contact ASCI Fall Festival Committee Co-Chair Samantha Phelps at 512-297-8208 or samanthacphelps@gmail.com.

Austin, TX signs Friendship Agreement with Pune, India

austin-pune-agreement.jpg

A delegation led by the City of Austin, the Austin Pune Sister City Initiative and the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce was in Pune, India to sign a historic friendship agreement.

An agreement to this effect was signed by Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak and Alison Alter, Council Member, district 10, Austin, on September 26 in Pune.

Read the complete article here and follow the Austin Pune Sister City Initiative for updates and to get involved!