The port cities of Seattle and Gdynia have much in common. These commonalities prompted the formation of the Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association (SGSCA), one of Seattle’s twenty-one sister cities. SGSCA was established by the City of Seattle’s Office of Intergovernmental Relations in 1993 and has since organized and sponsored many exciting cultural events, student and business exchanges, and community outreach programs.
Some of the more notable highlights over the years include:
- Producing the annual Seattle Polish Film Festival. Now approaching its 18th running, SGSCA continues to bring Seattle’s Polish community together with films, actors and directors.
- Organizing government and business delegations to Gdynia. In 2005, the Trade Development Alliance of Seattle partnered with SGSCA to formalize a delegation promoting business and governmental relations between our two cities. In addition, numerous meetings have been arranged for Polish ambassadors, consulates and other politicians traveling through Seattle, along with Seattle business professionals traveling through Poland.
- Hosting and sponsoring student exchanges. Beginning in 2006, SGSCA has offered home-stays and tuition assistance for Gdynia students attending the Washington Business Week (WBW) summer program. This program has proved so successful that starting in 2009 SGSCA, the City of Gdynia, and WBW launched a similar program in Poland called Gdynia Business Week. Prior to this partnership, SGSCA hosted and sponsored Polish students interested in learning English through Seattle’s American Cultural Exchange.
- Participating and organizing community outreaches. Since its formation, SGSCA has orchestrated countless community projects. Some of these highlights include financial sponsorship for an orphanage in Gdynia, financial donations to help build the new Gdynia City Museum, donating transportation for a hospice in Gdynia, and commissioning an artist and presenting a bronze sculpture (titled, “Coming Home”) to the City of Gdynia.
The Seattle-Gdynia Sister City Association was awarded Best Overall Program by the City of Seattle in 2006. It also received an honorable mention in 2008.
