Episode Details

President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the sister cities program after World War II, and in the decades since, Pittsburgh has become an especially popular international partner. How do these diplomatic hook-ups happen, who greenlights the matches, and how did Pittsburgh end up with so many? Kathy Risko, former director of the Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh, says some of it is personality, but a lot goes back to steel.

Michelle King is the new contact for the organization, and if you want to suggest a new sister city, you can email her at michelle.king@pittsburghpa.gov.

*Editor’s note: This episode originally published Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.

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