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"Connecting" with Ukraine

Prairie Village, Kansas and Dolyna, Ukraine Become Sister Cities

by Barbara Dolci

I have often heard people refer to CIVs as “Connectors.” The context, according to Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, is that Connectors are those who connect people with others they would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet. By giving them the seeds for which a friendship can be sown, newfound mutually beneficial relationships are fostered. Though I have embraced this idea, the full extent of our “connectedness” did not hit home to me until recently.

In summer of 2006 I attended the National Citizen Diplomacy Summit in Washington, DC, held in conjunction with the Sister Cities International Conference. At one of the break out sessions, several energetic individuals were introducing themselves over coffee. Much to my surprise, in attendance was a city councilman from Prairie Village, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. This particular gentleman, Mike Kelly, and I had never met, and we immediately changed seats and began talking. Mr. Kelly was very interested in Prairie Village developing a Sister City relationship. Because the International Visitors Council of Greater Kansas City had hosted many IVLPs, Community Connections participants, and Open World delegates from Ukraine, I have become fond of the people and suggested to Mr. Kelly that a Sister City relationship with a Ukrainian city could be a wonderful opportunity for Prairie Village. The Ukrainian Club in Kansas City is very active and has been supportive of our work with Ukrainian visitors.

On the heels of our meeting, that September we hosted a delegation with the International Visitor Leadership Program from Ukraine on the topic of “Citizen Participation in a Democracy.” In the hope of re-connecting with my new friend and city councilman, I called Mr. Kelly and arranged an appointment with the city of Prairie Village on the topic of “local government.” One of the participants of this program was Oleksandr Kizyma, Chairperson of the Dolyna Association of Entrepreneurs. The meeting with the mayor, the city officials and others was very successful. Mr. Kizyma and Mr. Kelly quickly became friends and continued to communicate both during the Ukrainians’ program in Kansas City, and when Mr. Kizyma returned home. It just so happens that one of the interpreters with the group, Alex Tsiovkh, is a professor at the University of Kansas (KU) in Ukrainian Studies and Language. Mr. Tsiovkh and others at KU have been helpful resources in the continued communication efforts.

After many meetings and a trip to Dolyna by Mike Kelly and Cleo Simmonds, the continued interest of Prairie Village, active contacts at KU, the Ukrainian Club, US-Ukraine Foundation, and the dedication of Cleo Simmonds, Mike Kelly and others, the relationship is now formal. Prairie Village, Kansas, and Dolyna, Ukraine are officially Sister Cities! Who knows the many people who will be touched and will benefit from that brief conversation in Washington, DC…..and the IVLP.