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Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation reports year of exchanges, new website and outreach plans
Summary
The Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation told the City Council it renewed governance documents, expanded community outreach and supported international delegations to Nienberg, Germany, and Lerdo (Durango), Mexico, while planning local horticulture and school exchange projects for 2026–27.
Elaine McKinney, president of the Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation, told the City Council on July 13 that the group updated its bylaws, renewed a memorandum of understanding with the city and launched a new website to support membership and outreach.
"We appreciate the opportunity to share how citizen diplomacy and international friendships have benefited our citizens here in Las Cruces," McKinney said, citing student exchanges as the basis for both long-standing partnerships.
McKinney reviewed FY2025–26 activity: delegations to Nienberg, Germany, for that city’s 1,000th anniversary and to Lerdo in Durango, Mexico; renewed agreements; membership drives and presentations to civic groups; and plans for horticultural projects and a small visiting delegation later this year. Katrina Golines, the city’s community outreach manager and the city’s Sister Cities liaison, introduced McKinney and noted the foundation’s work with city staff.
The foundation reported modest growth in short-term balances over the most recent six-month reporting window, which McKinney described as enabling continued outreach and programming. McKinney listed student and teacher exchanges, Penfriend projects for elementary schools and proposed art exchanges among the foundation’s priorities.
Councilors offered support and suggestions: Councilor McClure urged expanding teacher exchanges; Councilor Kerr volunteered to host visiting students and suggested additional candidate cities, and Mayor Rotem recommended exploring exchanges for public-safety academy training. McKinney said the foundation is seeking partner organizations for presentations, plans a Sister Cities holiday tree and hopes to formalize additional exchanges in 2027.
The foundation asked the council for continued liaison support and said volunteers will continue work on outreach, a plaque project, and improved signage that highlights Las Cruces’s sister-city relationships.
The presentation closed with an offer by McKinney to answer follow-up questions and to share more details as plans firmed up.
