Riverdale Park and Ipala celebrate sister city partnership

These immigrants, who are originally from this city's sister city, are volunteering to work on the annual river cleanup. It is unusual for immigrants to volunteer on projects, this is a good way to make the partnership stronger. - - Donna Poisl

by Elahe Izadi | Staff Writer

Saturday's cleanup at Riverside Park in Riverdale Park was more than just an effort to clean the Anacostia Watershed; it was first step in solidifying a partnership that spans thousands of miles.

Members of the Ipaltecos Ausentes, a local group of expatriates from Ipala, Guatemala, the Ipalan mayor and Riverdale Park officials and residents all pitched in during the Anacostia Watershed Society's 15th annual river cleanup and Earth Day celebration.

The towns of Riverdale Park and Ipala, Guatemala became sister cities in June 2008. Sister cities register with Sister Cities International, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes citizen diplomacy through partnerships between American and international towns, counties and states.
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