Sterling Heights, in the U.S. state of Michigan, has officially established a “sister city” partnership with Ankawa, a district of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region. The agreement was signed by the mayors of both cities on September 13, 2024, in Sterling Heights.

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) held its Sixth Annual Awards Gala, which was attended by many participants including U.S. representatives of Michigan. During the event, the CCF honored Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim with the Lifetime Humanitarian Award for consistently demonstrating compassion, dedication, and service to the community.

The sister city agreement was proposed by Martin Manna, president of the CCF and the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the mayors of Ankawa and Sterling Heights, who had previously met to discuss the initiative.

During the CCF Gala, Manna spoke about the importance of the sister city agreement, highlighting that both cities have large Chaldean populations.

In his speech, Ankawa Mayor Ramy Noori Syawish referred to the event as a historic moment. “The project will help both cities exchange cultural and historical knowledge and benefit each other,” he said. “Our aim is to gain more understanding from them and help our community.”

He also thanked Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for his support in this project.

Before the signing, Mayor Syawish addressed the audience in Syriac, highlighting that the partnership between Ankawa and Sterling Heights will enhance cultural and heritage ties. He emphasized that this collaboration will facilitate the exchange of ideas and expertise, benefiting both communities.

Representatives of the KRG in the United States were instrumental in advancing the project to completion, meeting with Sterling Heights Mayor Michael C. Taylor and the CCF on numerous occasions to discuss the partnership. The partnership connects the predominantly Chaldean city of Ankawa with Sterling Heights, where more than 20% of the population is estimated to be Chaldean Christians.

“This partnership between Sterling Heights and Ankawa is very important and historic,” KRG Representative to the United States Treefa Aziz said, commenting on the significance of the signing ceremony. “This is the second sister city agreement I have participated in. We had a signing ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, which has the largest Kurdish population in the United States. The signing of this agreement holds particular importance as it highlights the involvement of the Chaldean community, whose unwavering support has been pivotal. As these two cities join hands, the initiative aims to bolster people-to-people connections, further solidifying the strong ties that exist between this community and the United States.”

Mayor Taylor emphasized Sterling Height’s prominent Chaldean population during an interview with Kurdistan Chronicle. “Sterling Heights has one of the largest, if not the largest, Chaldean communities in the United States,” he stated. Meanwhile, with a population of roughly 80,000, Ankawa is predominantly inhabited by Chaldeans, who constitute approximately 92% of its residents.

The mayor believes this new agreement is particularly significant due to the large Chaldean community in Sterling Heights, which presents an opportunity for mutual learning. “This will not just be a cultural exchange, but also an exchange of business ideas and effective practices for running our cities,” he explained. Mayor Taylor highlighted that the partnership aims to benefit both communities, enhancing the quality of life for residents of both Sterling Heights and Ankawa. He conveyed his excitement about the long-term collaboration.

Sterling Heights has already established several sister city partnerships with municipalities in Sri Lanka, Albania, the Philippines, and other countries. Mayor Taylor emphasized the importance of these collaborations. “These partnerships provide our residents with opportunities to explore and learn about the diverse cultures represented in Sterling Heights while fostering a welcoming environment for neighbors from various parts of the globe.”

The forthcoming partnership will target three main stakeholder groups. The first group will focus on cultural engagement, involving communities, youth, foundations, and service providers. The second group will concentrate on education, which encompasses research entities, media outlets, and donors. Lastly, the partnership will address commerce, incorporating businesses, trade unions, investors, and additional stakeholders.