St. Paul, MN established a formal Sister City relationship with the community of Ciudad Romero in 1990 as refugees returned to El Salvador from their remote camp in Panama. As the refugees struggled to establish their new community, the St. Paul Sister City organizers provided important political support in standing up to government officials who were creating obstacles to their resettlement. Ever sense, members of the St. Paul and Ciudad Romero communities have had an invaluable exchange and friendship.

The St. Paul – Ciudad Romero Sister City Project mission is defined as:

“an ongoing journey of understanding. We search for meaningful ways to respond to social, economic, educational, and emergent needs of the Ciudad Romero community. We facilitate friendly communication between citizens of St. Paul and Ciudad Romero through letters, delegations, and fund-raising. Our project connects St. Paul school children and teachers with their Ciudad Romero counterparts through classroom projects, pen-pal letters, school supply drives, teacher exchanges, and presentations. We partner with Voices on the Border to sustain and enhance our Sister City relationship. Our journey is ever changing, as we and our Ciudad Romero friends grow, develop, and respond to economic, social, and political change.”

In 2007, St. Paul Sister City member Laurie McGinley teamed up with Voices for her Historical Memory Photo Project. By bringing people the images of the past, she helped them reconnect to the people they've lost. St. Paul also continues to support a number of projects in the areas of education, youth development, and public health.

For more information about the St. Paul Sister City project, contact Rebecca Cramer biego001@umn.edu, or Thomas R. Hughes at voices@votb.org or (202) 529-2912.