Minneapolis-Ibaraki Sister City Association

Help Support MISCA Cultural and Exchange Programs

MISSION

Part of the mission of Sister Cities is for the local organizations to both participate in exchange programs and to offer local programs to educate people about the culture, history and language of their Sister City. 

GENERAL FUND NEEDS

We have many volunteers who help us with the programs, but there are still some costs involved. These include supplies, like paper and ink for calligraphy, paper for Origami, Japanese toys or games for demonstrations, small gifts for our visitors who travel from Ibaraki or small gifts to give to people during our visits to Ibaraki. (All people traveling between the cities pay their own travel expenses.) 

REPAIR FUND NEEDS

Also this year we are running another Fundraiser as the sculpture the "Bell of Two Friends" located on Nicollet Island is in need or Repairs.  See the link below for more information on the "Bell of Two Friends" Fundraiser.

DONATE

Your donation of $20, $50 or more to MISCA during this time will help us to meet our goal of $1000 for our general fund, which will allow us to continue the programs we have been offering or to help fund the repairs for the "Bell of Two Friends"

You can donate to our General Fund, the "Bell of Two Friends", or both.

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

MISCA currently offers the following exchanges and programs: 

·     Minneapolis Experience Tour – Ibaraki visitors come each summer to visit and learn about Minneapolis and Minnesota

·     Ibaraki Experience Tour – Minneapolis area citizens travel to Ibaraki to visit and learn about Ibaraki and Japan

·     City Official Tour – Occasionally City Officials come to Minneapolis to learn how government functions here or to learn how government deals with certain issues that we may have in common

·     Haiku Contest – Minneapolis Public School students and staff submit Haikus each year with final judging done by citizens of Ibaraki. We currently get approximately 1000 entries every year

·     Annual Cherry Tree Festival – held at Nicollet Island among the Cherry Trees donated by Ibaraki. This includes Japanese entertainment done by local groups and demonstrations of Japanese games, toys, origami and calligraphy.

·     Minneapolis Sister Cities Day Celebration – held every July, our Japanese visitors perform and we have demonstrations of origami, calligraphy and Japanese games and toys at our group’s table.

·     Holidazzle Village – This will be our third year of participation.  At our table in the warming tent we demonstrate and help others with origami (Trees, stars and gift boxes) and guests can participate in the Chopstick contest for prizes.

HISTORY

In 1980 a Mr. Donut franchise, which at that time was part of Minneapolis based International Multi-Foods, opened in Ibaraki City Japan. This was the catalyst for a group of citizens in each city to set up a Sister City Relationship. MISCA (Minneapolis Ibaraki Sister City Association) and IFAI (International Friendship Association of Ibaraki) were formed as the local organizations to facilitate the relationship.

MORE INFORMATION

Please see our website, Misca.us, and Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Minneapolis-Ibaraki-Sister-City-Association-MISCA-129381810480923/, for more information and about past programs.