How KCIVC helped facilitate the Sister City Relationship between Prairie Village, Kansas and Dolyna, Ukraine...

Executive Director Barbara Dolci knew that Mike Kelly, City Councilman of Prairie Village Kansas, was interested in developing a Sister City Relationship. 

Barbara had this interest in mind when she received notification that KCIVC would be hosting a delegation from Ukraine on the topic of "Citizen Participation in a Democracy."  Barbara included Mike Kelly and his colleagues at the city of Prairie Village as speakers on the topic of local government. 

The meeting served as an opportunity for Mike Kelly to connect with prominent Ukraranians involved in the public sphere.  A number of them continued to communicate, facilitated in part by the Ukranian Club in Kansas City and Ukranian Studies professors from local universities.

After many meetings and a subsequent trip to Dolyna by members of the Prairie Village council, a Sister City Relationship was formed between Prairie Village and Dolyna Ukraine.  Many actors were active in leveraging this relationship- from the Ukranian Club, US-Ukraine Foundation, not to mention the dedication of citizens from Dolyna and Prairie Village.  

Members and visitors form lasting friendships across religious divides...

Many times KCIVC Members host visitors in their home for dinner.  This Home Hospitality dinner, though, had greater significance when a Jewish family hosted a Muslim group of visitors for Shabbat one Friday evening.  Later that year as the family traveled to Israel, they were able to reconnect with a Jordanian visitor who had been a guest at their home.  The Jordanian hosted the family during their visit, taking them to visit Petra and other sites.  The family remains in close contact with their visitor. 

 These incidents among others illustrates the fruits of citizen diplomacy- bringing people together across religions, miles, language divides, and political differences.

Do you have an example of KCIVC's Mission in Action?  If so, please do not hesitate to contact us to have your story be included here!