Originally part of the National League of Cities (NLC), Sister Cities International (SCI) became a separate, non-profit corporation in 1967. SCI is the nation’s foremost citizen diplomacy movement with more than 2,500 communities participating in 132 countries. SCNN is a dues paying member of SCI.
Our local program began on January 25, 1982, when Newport News City Council, by resolution, accepted an invitation from the City of Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan to establish a sister city relationship. The resolution also authorized the City Manager to develop a program of appropriate activities with Neyagawa, consistent with a sister city affiliation.
In July 1982, mayors from both cities signed the Declaration of Sister Cities that officially established the sister cities relationship between Neyagawa and Newport News.
On November 22, 1982 Newport News City Council established the Newport News Sister Cities Committee with Council Resolution #3227-82 (the name changed to “Newport News Sister Cities Commission” on June 27, 1983 with Council Resolution #3369-83).
In November 1999, the State Corporation Commission certified the incorporation of Sister Cities of Newport News, Inc.