Sister Cities

We proudly engage in international diplomacy and cultural exchange through our Sister Cities program. This program fosters global friendships, cultural understanding and economic partnerships with cities across the world.

People on a city wall in Guanajuato, waving to the camera

We currently have two formal Sister City relationships:

  1. Ashland Fire & Rescue Honored by Sister City for Decades of Support

    Ashland Fire & Rescue was honored during the June 2025 Sister City visit to Guanajuato for decades of support that helped launch a thriving wildfire and forestry program in the Mexican city. Read on...

  2. Strengthening Ties with Ukraine: From Ashland to Sviatohirs’k

    Mayor Graham’s sister city visit and a local wildfire preparedness class highlight Ashland’s growing connection with Ukrainian families and Sviatohirs’k, our sister city. Read on...
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  1. Guanajuato, Mexico
  2. Sviatohirs'k, Ukraine

Guanajuato Logo

Sister City Signing Ceremony

Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham (left) with Guanajuato Mayor Samantha Smith at the July 2025 Ratification of Twinning & Proclamation of Ashland Day!

View the Slideshow from the 2025 Sister City Exchange (PDF)   


Established in 1969, this partnership is one of Ashland's oldest and most active. Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is celebrated for its colonial architecture, silver mining history and vibrant arts scene. Exchanges with Guanajuato often focus on educational programs, cultural events and the promotion of tourism between the two cities.

The Amigo Club of Ashland, Oregon has been promoting the sister-city relationship between Ashland and Guanajuato Mexico since 1969. Learn more at ashlandamigoclub.org. 

History

  • The sister city relationship between Ashland and Guanajuato was formally established in 1969. During the 1960s groups of students from Southern Oregon University (SOU) traveled to parts of Mexico, including Guanajuato during vacation. The students were unofficial representatives of Ashland.
  • In the early 1970s Ashland and Guanajuato were given official recognition as Sister Cities through the internationally incorporated body, Sister Cities International.

Similarities

  • Both Ashland and Guanajuato are home to state universities.
  • Both communities are home to world-class theatre, and are known as cultural centers in their respective regions both for performing and visual arts.
  • Tourism plays a major role in the economies of both cities.
  • Both cities have Amigo Clubs whose members are local citizens dedicated to strengthening the sister city ties.
  • Both communities have streets dedicated to the other city.

Exchanges

  • University students and faculty members share year-long exchanges, which has contributed to internationalize the two campuses.
  • Representatives from Guanajuato travel to Ashland to participate in Ashland's 4th of July celebration each year, and representatives from Ashland travel to Guanajuato each year to participate in Guanajuato's Fiestas de San Juan y la Presa de la Olla.
  • Ashland City staff has traveled to Guanajuato to present a workshop on the use of a computer software program for city planning; SOU staff have done the same for the University de Guanajuato.
  • Guanajuato students have done practicum work through the City of Ashland.
  • Ashland donated an ambulance and other fire and safety equipment to Guanajuato.

Benefits

  • The relationship strengthens the bond between our cities and institutions of higher education.
  • International diplomacy on a people-to-people basis facilitates international understanding on official and individual levels.

Sister Cities International

Sister Cities International Membership Badge

Connect Globally. Thrive locally.

SCI is the world's largest citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between 1,100 U.S. and 1,770 foreign cities in 123 countries. SCI is a national, non-profit, volunteer membership organization of U.S. communities.

SCI's goals are: to develop municipal partnerships between U.S. and foreign communities; to create opportunities for citizens to experience and explore other cultures; to create an atmosphere in which economic development and trade can be developed, implemented and strengthened; to stimulate environments through which municipal partnerships can creatively learn, work, and solve problems together.

Sister City affiliations began shortly after WWII and developed into a national initiative when President Eisenhower proposed the people-to-people program. The intention was to involve people and organized groups at all levels of U.S. society in citizen diplomacy with the hope that people-to-people relationships, fostered through sister city affiliations, would lessen the chance of future world conflicts.