About Us

 

The Seattle-Tashkent Sister City Association (STSCA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 citizen-diplomacy organization officially recognized by the City of Seattle and Sister Cities International. STSCA was founded in 1973 and was the first Soviet-American sister city to be established.

For over 50 years, STSCA has promoted both official and people-to-people exchanges between the cities of Seattle, Washington and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In spite of the Cold War, Seattle and Tashkent developed close ties, gradually eroding the enemy image of the Soviet Union and forging lasting friendships that continue to grow and flourish today. Now, with uncertain relations between the US and much of the Islamic world, our long-lived ties are increasingly important as the basis for people-to-people diplomacy.

 

What We Do

We promote citizen diplomacy and humanitarian assistance through educational, medical, artistic, and business exchanges. Our exchanges have included colorful official visits by mayors, deputy mayors, and city-council members, as well as people-to-people exchanges of teachers, schoolchildren, and university students, actors, healthcare providers, lawyers, journalists, and social-service professionals. We are creating new relationships and spreading an appreciation of Uzbek culture in the US and American culture in Uzbekistan!

Who We Are

The STSCA Board of Directors is an all-volunteer group that comprises both Americans with expertise in Uzbekistan and Uzbek nationals living in the Seattle area. The Board meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month, and meetings are open to all. To request to attend a meeting, please email presidents@stsca.org.

Board of Directors

Officers

  • Shakhida Ismailova/Shoshana Billik, Co-Presidents
  • Fred Lundahl/Sarvar Abdukarimov, Co-Vice-Presidents
  • Charlotte Chase, Secretary
  • Kristina Gorelik, Treasurer

  • Zemfira Akhmedova
  • Shukhrat Arifdjanov
  • Judy Cochran
  • Helen Holter
  • Anatoliy Ivakin
  • Kay Knapton
  • Alan Martiny
  • Emiko Nakamura
  • Anton Seyduzov
  • Shakhzoda Shamsieva
  • Meg von Haartman
  • Lola Zakharova
STSCA Board at Annual Retreat