The 45th Anniversary Sister City Series: Amiens
As we continue celebrating 45 years of Tulsa’s Sister City friendships, we turn to Amiens, France. This partnership has been marked by education, exchange, and enduring connection since it was first established in 2005.
A City of History and Youth
Amiens sits in the heart of the Picardy region, just north of Paris. Known for its towering Gothic cathedral, floating gardens, and ties to literary icon Jules Verne, it is a city of both historical grandeur and youthful energy. In 2020, Amiens became the first French city named European Youth Capital, underscoring its commitment to global engagement and cultural leadership.
Two Decades of Student Exchange
Over the past two decades, Tulsa and Amiens have built a vibrant relationship rooted in people-to-people connection. School exchanges have been a cornerstone, with support from Tulsa Global Alliance enabling 40 student trips from Amiens to Tulsa and 22 trips from Tulsa to France. Participating schools include Edison, Memorial, Thoreau, Eisenhower International, Carver Middle School, and Holland Hall. In early 2025, a group of fifth-grade students from Amiens visited Tulsa classrooms and met with Mayor Monroe Nichols, offering a new generation of students a hands-on introduction to diplomacy and global friendship.
Global Learning at Home
Global education has extended beyond travel. The partnership is a regular presence at events like the Eisenhower International School International Fair, attended by hundreds of students each January, and World in a Box Day, where over 1,100 students and families experienced cultures from around the globe at Tulsa City-County Library. Cultural programming has also included French film nights at Circle Cinema, featuring titles such as Petite Maman and Between Two Worlds.
Celebrating 20 Years of Partnership
This summer, a delegation of Tulsa leaders traveled to Amiens to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sister City partnership. The group included Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes, City Councilor Karen Gilbert, Chief of Staff Dana Walton, Manager of Executive Affairs Aron York and Tulsa Global Alliance board members Tina Peña and Daniel Regan. While in Amiens, the delegation met with mayors, regional leaders, heads of tourism, cultural institution directors, and staff from other Amiens Sister Cities.
One of the most memorable moments came during the signing ceremony, where high school students from Robert de Luzarches College provided interpretation for the official speeches. Some of those students had previously visited Tulsa through the exchange program and spoke warmly about their experiences. The visit was a powerful reminder of how Sister Cities help build young leaders who are curious, confident, and globally engaged, and who carry those values into adulthood.
Meet the Chair: Philippe Bled
Now leading the partnership is Philippe Bled, newly appointed chair of the Tulsa-Amiens Sister City Committee. Born in France, raised in Uruguay, and a Tulsan since 2013, Philippe brings a deeply personal connection to this role.
“Sister Cities are a simple way to see the world through someone else’s eyes and learn from each other.”
Bridging Cities, Shaping Futures
From student exchanges and classroom visits to city leaders signing declarations, the Tulsa-Amiens partnership continues to thrive. It is a reminder that diplomacy belongs to students, teachers, families, and neighbors. It belongs to all of us.
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