Fort Worth's leading lady of global relations, Mae Ferguson, is set to drop the mic at the end of 2024, closing out a 25-year encore as head honcho of Fort Worth Sister Cities International. The organization dropped the bombshell announcement, marking the end of an era for the city's international engagement, according to the City of Fort Worth.
Under the watchful eye of Ferguson, who dedicated a quarter-century to working for world peace one handshake at a time, the Fort Worth Sister Cities program blossomed into a globally recognized network. With nine international siblings in its family, the City has seen an estimated $14 million economic impact. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker praised Ferguson's unwavering commitment, noting, "The world, and Fort Worth, has changed a lot in the last two and a half decades, and Mae has been a steadfast leader in Fort Worth's role in international relationships and global civic engagement through all of it", as per the City of Fort Worth.
Reggio Emilia, Italy, was the first to get hitched with Fort Worth in this urban kinship program which blossomed into a globe-spanning affair, including Bandung, Budapest, Guiyang, Mbabane, Nagaoka, Nimes, Toluca, and Trier. This network of cities has been a valuable economic and cultural artery for Texas' 13th-largest city.
The legacy Ferguson leaves behind isn't just about shaking hands and signing sister city decrees. During her tenure, the program expanded to involve over 500 supporters, the budget saw a fivefold increase, and the Connect Global Endowment was established to ensure the future doesn't kick the bucket economically. To boot, they even snagged the Best Sister City Program title more times than New York has hot dog stands – a feat most recently achieved in 2023.
With Ferguson preparing to bid farewell at sunset next year, the hunt for a new global ambassador for Fort Worth is underway. The Sister Cities board is saddling up to find someone who can fill Ferguson's boots and keep Fort Worth hitched to the world stage.
