At the Sept. 2 City Council meeting, Harry Herring, chair of the Charlottesville Sister City Commission, told council members the commission is planning delegations and programs with its international partners and is changing its grant guidelines to prioritize projects that produce concrete public outcomes. "We're trying to shift the focus on grants programs to grants which bring something to the city of Charlottesville," Herring said.

The commission reported it maintains formal ties with Poggio in Italy (the longest-standing sister city relationship dating to 1976), a municipality in France (since 2006), a sister city relationship in Ghana (since 2010) and a friendship-city relationship in Guatemala (formalized in 2021). Herring said a mayoral delegation from Poggio has expressed interest in visiting Charlottesville, Winneba-related groups in the city remain active through a local foundation, and a delegation to the Guatemalan partner is planned in October.

The city liaison and commissioners described cultural exchanges that included school theater performances in the sister city in France, a visiting gospel choir this summer and cooperation with Charlottesville High School on student projects. Herring said the commission now prefers grants that produce materials or programming—one current grant will fund a teacher from Ghana to develop a children's book about Winneba for Charlottesville schools.

Council members and the commission discussed acknowledging difficult parts of partner-city histories during exchanges. A council member asked how the commission would address the U.S. role in Guatemala's past; Herring said the commission plans to include historical context in presentations and to prepare a documentary and educational materials so Charlottesville residents learn about those histories alongside cultural exchanges.

Herring also described the commission's internal roster and outreach: the group has roughly a full complement of volunteer commissioners and a staff liaison, and it has expanded public outreach by tabling at the farmers market and other events. He provided an email for people who want to join or receive information: HarryE@CharlesHill.gov.

The presentation was informational only; no council action or vote followed. The commission asked council to continue supporting its work through the city's boards-and-commissions process and through modest budget allotments the commission uses to fund markers, research and small public programs.