Sister Cities Celebrations in Spain and Germany
Franklin and Williamson County Strengthen International Bonds
Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County recently celebrated significant milestones in international partnership and cultural exchange as delegations from our community traveled to Spain and Germany to strengthen relationships that have transformed our city.
A New Partnership
Franklin has taken a significant step forward in its relationship with Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain, with the formal signing of a Declaration of Friendship between Mayor Ken Moore and Mayor Marcos Iglesias. This important accord formalizes the brotherhood between the two municipalities, opening a new chapter of cooperation and cultural exchange.
The partnership between Franklin and Ciudad Rodrigo was born in the classrooms, a testament to the power of youth exchange. What began as pen pal correspondence and cultural exchange between students at BGA High School and their counterparts in Ciudad Rodrigo has evolved into an institutional relationship between our two cities.
Earlier this year, six students and two teachers from Ciudad Rodrigo visited Franklin, where they met with Mayor Moore and Alderman Brown to discuss economic, cultural, and tourism exchange opportunities that will benefit both communities. These conversations have already begun to foster new ideas for business partnerships, student mobility, and cultural initiatives.
"This Declaration of Friendship represents more than just a formal agreement," said Mayor Dr. Ken Moore. "It embodies the spirit of understanding and goodwill that has grown from our students' connections to the people of Ciudad Rodrigo. We look forward to deepening the bonds between our communities through continued educational and cultural exchange."
Ten Years of Friendship: Bad Soden am Taunus Celebration
While Franklin's partnership with Ciudad Rodrigo marks a new beginning, the Sister Cities ten-year relationship with Bad Soden am Taunus, Germany represents an enduring success story in international friendship and cultural bridge-building.
A decade ago, what began as a simple conversation between three friends; Rachel Kisber Obermeier, Patricia Kriebel, and Susanna Hein, blossomed into something far more powerful: a bridge between two communities and an ocean apart. Over the past ten years, hundreds of students have crossed the Atlantic to experience life through a different lens. Families have created bonds that span continents.
Mayor Moore and Alderman Matt Brown traveled to Bad Soden am Taunus to participate in the ten-year anniversary celebration, which included a banquet, friendship festival, and a museum exhibit titled "Connections for Friendship." The celebration drew approximately 100 guests to Bad Soden City Hall, including United States Consulate General Brian Heath and European Parliament member Heinz Michael Gahler.
Alderman Brown captured the profound impact of this enduring connection, saying: "We are thousands of miles apart, Bad Soden and Franklin, but we share families and histories and businesses and culture. What I love is that this is the Franklin that I know. This is the Franklin that I love. I'm thrilled that we got to share this with the residents of Bad Soden. This is what Sister Cities is all about, getting to know each other and our lives personally."
The "Connections for Friendship" exhibit, housed at Bad Soden's Badehaus and timed with the city's honor as World Design Capital 2026, weaves together Franklin's history and contemporary art in ways that speak to our shared humanity. Installation artists Rosario Arostegui and Viktor Alaluf crafted a moving artistic response to images from renowned Franklin photographer Robin Hood and community artifacts on display. The centerpiece, a section titled "Burden and Hopes," reveals the profound truth at the heart of this sister city relationship, that cultural exchange reminds us of what we share as human beings.
Mayor Moore brought his own reflections on a decade of relationship-building: "I've had the opportunity to be part of developing this relationship with Bad Soden since the first student visit, and I think it's so important for our communities to understand each other. The thing that bonds us is culture, how we share our values. They want success for their children. They want a good life. You might think there are many differences between us, but what I've learned over these ten years is there are far more similarities."
Looking Forward
Franklin and Williamson County's commitment to Sister City programs demonstrates the transformative power of cultural exchange. Both relationships, the newly formalized partnership with Ciudad Rodrigo and the decade-long connection with Bad Soden am Taunus, offer proof that genuine human connection across cultures is possible and truly transformative. When we step into another person's world, taste their food, hear their stories, and meet their families, something shifts. We realize that the hopes and fears of families in Spain or Germany mirror our own.
Sister Cities of Franklin and Williamson County remains committed to expanding and strengthening these vital international relationships, with student exchange programs, cultural events, and economic partnerships continuing to grow. Sister Cities also has relationships with Carleton Place, Canada and County Laois, Ireland.
Learn more at sistercitiestn.org.
