The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association
The Sister City program is an outgrowth of the People-to-People exchanges with foreign nations initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Seattle and Reykjavik have enjoyed a mutually beneficial Sister City relationship since 1986.
The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association is composed of individuals and organizations committed to the goals of the Associations; membership is open to all — including Icelandic nationals, immigrants, decedents, and people passionate about Icelandic culture.
Funding for the organization comes from a combination of membership dues, grants, and fundraisers. All funds are used for the ongoing activities of the Association, including sponsoring various exchanges between Seattle and Reykjavik. The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.
The Sister City program is an outgrowth of the People-to-People exchanges with foreign nations initiated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Seattle and Reykjavik have enjoyed a mutually beneficial Sister City relationship since 1986.
The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association is composed of individuals and organizations committed to the goals of the Associations; membership is open to all — including Icelandic nationals, immigrants, decedents, and people passionate about Icelandic culture.
Funding for the organization comes from a combination of membership dues, grants, and fundraisers. All funds are used for the ongoing activities of the Association, including sponsoring various exchanges between Seattle and Reykjavik. The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) organization.
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The City of Seattle
Aptly named The Emerald City, Seattle is far more than just sensational scenery. The Puget Sound region offers a unique combination of scenic beauty, cultural diversity, outdoor recreation, and urban attractions. Seattle is a flourishing world-class city, home to some of the most innovative and influential companies and organizations. A strong economy, mild climate, and easily-accessed natural wonders attract new residents and visitors in record numbers. Both Seattle and Reykjavik are surrounded by unrivaled landscapes, share a passion for literature, music, and the arts, and engender an innovative entrepreneurial spirit. Because of exponential growth and rapid changes, both cities face similar challenges. Citizens of Seattle and Reykjavik have much to gain by sharing experience, wisdom, and creative resources. 
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The City of Reykjavik
Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, is situated in a picturesque bay surrounded by mountains. Located in the North Atlantic, just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is a wonderland of glaciers, waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes. Iceland has a mild climate which is attributed to the Gulf Stream encircling the island with its friendly warmth. With a population over of 120,000 people, Reykjavik is a bustling hub of commerce and government, industry and culture—a modern city with a high standard of living, home to approximately forty percent of Iceland’s population. The youthfulness of Seattle contrasts with the 1100-year heritage of Reykjavik; however, these two dynamic communities have formed a partnership full of vitality and energy dedicated to preserving their pasts while committing themselves to present and future endeavors. 
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Mission Statement
The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association (SRSCA) aims to develop active and lasting relationships between our two cities—for the mutual benefit of all residents—by facilitating educational, humanitarian, cultural, and economic connections and exchanges.
Vision Statement
The SRSCA envisions a world in which connections between global communities enlivens culture, celebrates diversity, deepens mutual understanding, and builds respect for humanity and the natural world.
Value Statement
The SRSCA is guided by the following values:
The Seattle-Reykjavik Sister City Association (SRSCA) aims to develop active and lasting relationships between our two cities—for the mutual benefit of all residents—by facilitating educational, humanitarian, cultural, and economic connections and exchanges.
Vision Statement
The SRSCA envisions a world in which connections between global communities enlivens culture, celebrates diversity, deepens mutual understanding, and builds respect for humanity and the natural world.
Value Statement
The SRSCA is guided by the following values:
- Understanding and Connection: The SRSCA promotes an open, respectful, and curiosity-fueled exchange of ideas, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of both cities. We aim to create welcoming spaces for all Reykjavik and Seattle community members.
- Equity and Diversity: SRSCA believes in equity, fairness, and justice for all residents with respect to race, country of origin, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, economic class, and immigration status. SRSCA celebrates that our cities are a complex quilt of diverse and interlinking communities, each with a rich and vibrant culture.
- Human Dignity: SRSCA values the lives, dignity, and welfare of all residents and prioritizes cultural exchanges.
- Storytelling: As two UNESCO Cities of Literature, Seattle and Reykjavik value the power of sharing stories in all forms to build empathetic understanding and communicate cultural values and aspirations. SRSCA uses public events and platforms to feature the voices of a diverse range of contemporary, emerging, and established writers in both cities.
- Knowledge and critical thinking: SRSCA looks to science, folklore, and cultural memory as sources of wisdom and encourages a critical examination of current events, history, tradition, culture, and heritage.
- Innovation: SRSCA practices and promotes evaluating and undertaking innovative and daring approaches to solving the challenges facing our organization and cities.
- Transparency, Trust, and Accountability: We believe in transparency in decision-making, working to earn and maintain the trust of community members, and holding ourselves accountable to our mission, vision, and values.