Our Story
58 years of building bridges between Austin, Texas and Saltillo, Coahuila.
ASSCA is a nonprofit organization that connects Austin and Saltillo through culture, education, community, and shared opportunity.
Over the years, the organization has helped strengthen ties between both cities through programs, events, and partnerships that bring people together. Today, ASSCA continues to build on that legacy and promote meaningful exchange between both communities.
Our Journey, Decade by Decade
Austin's first sister city relationship — and today one of fourteen — the Austin-Saltillo partnership has been carried by volunteers and city leaders across six decades.
Officials of both cities shall actively engage in work toward the establishment of friendship and respect between all segments of their constituencies which will extend beyond their own terms of office.
1968 – 1977
The First Decade
- Austin and Saltillo become sister cities by City Council resolution on November 7, 1968 — the first such relationship Austin established. M. H. Crockett, Jr. serves as the association's first president in 1969.
- In 1971 Mayor Roy Butler hosts a delegation led by Saltillo Mayor Arturo Berrueto González, who presents a sarape de Saltillo — the gift that became a tradition. At the LBJ Library, the delegation is surprised by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who greets them with "Welcome to Texas."
- In 1975 John Treviño Jr. becomes the first Mexican American elected to the Austin City Council and serves as the city's Saltillo liaison for all 13 of his years in office.
1978 – 1987
The Second Decade
- Membership in both associations opens up beyond appointed officials, turning the partnership into a community-based, people-to-people program.
- By 1978 the annual July trip to Saltillo is firmly established; Council Member Treviño leads the delegation for the city's 401st anniversary.
- In 1981 ASSCA hosts the XVII Annual International Conference of the United States and Mexico, drawing more than 200 delegates from both countries and establishing Austin as a leader in the national program.
- In 1983 Mayor Ron Mullen leads a delegation to Saltillo for exchanges and workshops on cross-border trade and small business development.
1988 – 1997
The Third Decade
- Mayor Lee Cooke travels to Saltillo in 1989 for the city's 412th anniversary; the July 25 founding celebration becomes a fixed tradition under Mayor Bruce Todd from 1991.
- Austin hosts the US–Mexico Sister Cities Conference again in 1993, breaking attendance records, with an official Saltillo delegation as special guests.
- From 1995 the annual visit expands into Mesas de Trabajo — working sessions where both associations develop joint projects.
- In 1996 the Austin Fire Department raises funds to donate the "Jaws of Life" to Saltillo firefighters and trains them on the equipment, launching a public safety exchange that continues today.
1998 – 2007
The Fourth Decade
- Plaza Saltillo is built in 1998 and dedicated in 1999, with wrought-iron benches bearing the City of Saltillo crest donated by Mayor Manuel López Villarreal.
- In 2001 Gus García, Austin's first Mexican American mayor, expands the program and puts the Austin Police and Fire Departments in a leadership role on public safety exchanges.
- A wheelchair donation project coordinated by Marianne Martinez is delivered to Saltillo in 2004 alongside Mayor Will Wynn.
- In 2005 Coahuila Governor Enrique Martínez y Martínez delivers bronze busts of Miguel Hidalgo and José María Morelos to Austin, later installed at Waterloo Park.
- The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center opens on September 15, 2007, with a bronze sculpture donated by Saltillo artist José Antonio García Guerra.
2008 – 2018
The Fifth Decade
- Austin firefighters facilitate the sale of more than a dozen fire trucks to Saltillo and provide training, while some 60 Austin firefighters and paramedics attend Spanish immersion and training in Saltillo.
- Travel advisories interrupt formal city delegations in several years — and the people-to-people bond carries the relationship through, with Saltillo delegations visiting Austin every single year of the decade.
- In November 2018 the association marks 50 years of friendship and publishes "50 Years of Friendship & Memories."
2019 – present
The Sixth Decade
- The 55th anniversary is celebrated in Austin in May 2024 with a dinner at Austin City Hall and mural unveilings at the Mexic-Arte Museum and Plaza Saltillo.
- El Grito returns to Republic Square Park each September 15, a tradition held in that park — once known as Mexican Park — for more than 150 years.
- ASSCA receives the Innovation in Business, Trade, and Professional Exchange Award from Sister Cities International for the Sister Wineries Project.
Every milestone above through 2018 is documented in "50 Years of Friendship & Memories."
Our Mission
Connect key players and create opportunities to develop, incubate, and launch high-impact, self-sustainable projects in Commerce, Arts, Culture, and Education between Austin and Saltillo.
Sergio A. Garcia
President
Building the Future of Austin-Saltillo Relations
For more than five decades, ASSCA has served as a bridge between the people of Austin and Saltillo, creating friendships, cultural understanding, and opportunities for collaboration between our two communities.
The world around us has changed. Today, Austin and Saltillo are connected by strong economic, educational, cultural, and social relationships. Technology has transformed the way people communicate, and new generations expect collaboration that creates meaningful results.
As the needs of our communities evolve, ASSCA must evolve as well. The future of sister cities is not only about ceremonies or official visits; it is about creating lasting impact through projects, partnerships, and measurable outcomes.
Our vision is for ASSCA to be recognized as a professional, innovative, and results-oriented organization that brings together the right people and resources to develop initiatives that benefit both cities.
At a time when global challenges, misinformation, and social divisions are creating greater distance between communities, people-to-people diplomacy has become more important than ever. Building relationships, encouraging cultural understanding, and creating opportunities for cooperation are essential to strengthening the connection between Austin and Saltillo.
ASSCA's role is to serve as a connector, facilitator, and catalyst, bringing together government leaders, businesses, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and community members to develop high-impact, self-sustaining projects.
Our renewed mission reflects this vision.
By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and sustainable impact, ASSCA is preparing the next chapter of our shared history.
The future of Austin-Saltillo relations depends on our ability to adapt, create, and work together. We believe ASSCA is ready to lead this evolution.
It All Started 5 Decades Ago...
“The Sister Cities relationship is special. It is a bond, supported by our city government and promoted by volunteers, that connects us to our international friends. The relationship between Austin and Saltillo is something even more significant. Not only are we bound by Sisterhood, we are neighbors. Our great states, Texas and Coahuila, are connected by land, roads, music, food and families, separated only by our shared resource, the Rio Grande. Together, we are one great space. This land is our land. We are Coahuila and we are Texas. We are family and we will never be divided.”
“La relación de las Ciudades Hermanas es muy especial. Se trata de un enlace respaldado por el gobierno de nuestra ciudad y promovido por voluntarios que nos conectan con nuestros amigos internacionales. Pero la unión entre Austin y Saltillo es algo todavía más significativa. No solamente estamos unidos por lazos de hermandad, sino que también somos vecinos. Nuestros grandiosos Estados Texas y Coahuila están conectados por su territorio, sus carreteras, la música, la gastronomía y por las familias, separados solo por nuestro también compartido Río Grande. Juntos somos un gran espacio. Este territorio es nuestro territorio, nosotros somos Coahuila y somos Texas. Somos una sola familia que nunca será dividida.”
55th Anniversary Celebration
May 3 – 5, 2024 · Austin, Texas
The 55th anniversary celebration of the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities relationship took place in Austin, Texas, from May 3 to May 5, 2024. The event featured a commemorative dinner at Austin City Hall, highlighting the partnership's history and achievements. A mural unveiling at the Mexic-Arte Museum showcased artwork created by Saltillo artists with help from Austin students, enhancing the Mexican American Heritage Corridor. Community events at Fiesta Gardens provided additional festivities, celebrating the enduring friendship and collaboration between the two cities.
Our Committees
Members guide the Association's projects by serving on standing committees.
ASSCA's committees are at the heart of our work and offer members a meaningful way to give back. Each member is asked to join one standing committee and take part in at least one association project or activity, helping advance our mission through shared service, leadership, and community engagement.
Culture, Tourism & Exchanges Committee
In collaboration with counterparts in Saltillo, the Culture, Tourism and Exchanges Committee will promote two-way cultural, tourism, and other exchange projects between Austin and Saltillo. In addition to coordinating Saltillo Day in Austin, Austin Day in Saltillo, and the Association's presence at the Passport to the World Festival, the committee will be responsible for events and exchanges not coordinated by the other Association Committees.
- Organize and implement these exchanges including, but not limited to, fundraising, logistics, recruiting sponsors, coordinating travel arrangements and itineraries, engaging city departments, cultural and educational institutions, conducting outreach, and assisting with marketing.
- Co/Chairs should be willing to travel to Saltillo for Austin Day in Saltillo.
Education Committee
The Education Committee will direct activities and exchanges between educational institutions in Austin and Saltillo.
- Improve relationships among educators and students in both cities by organizing educational and cultural exchanges, backpack drives for needy students in Saltillo, teacher exchanges, and other events and activities that support these efforts.
El Grito Committee
The Association's El Grito Committee is responsible for the planning and management of the Association's Annual September 15th event(s), including, but not limited to, fundraising, logistics, recruiting sponsors, producing the event program, engaging with the City of Austin and the Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, conducting outreach with other relevant organizations, and assisting with marketing of this event.
International Trade Committee
The International Trade Committee will identify and promote opportunities for trade and commerce between Austin and Saltillo.
- Identify and recruit organizations and partners with the goal of forming long-term business exchanges between the two cities. Trade promotion projects may include CEO introductions, cross-border video discussions, trade shows, seminars, and missions.
- Co/Chairs should be willing to travel to Saltillo for Austin Day in Saltillo.
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee will recruit and welcome new members through an annual membership drive and an in-person event. The Membership Committee will also be responsible for recruiting and coordinating volunteers for all Association events.
Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee is responsible for reviewing and updating the organization's bylaws as needed, including making revisions and ensuring that the document remains current and aligned with the organization's needs.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee manages all internal and external communication, including communication with members, partners, and the community. The committee is also responsible for promoting events before and after they take place through press releases, the website, social media, and other communication channels.
Support Our Mission
Make a tax-deductible donation to the Austin-Saltillo Sister Cities Association. Your contribution supports cultural exchanges, educational programs, and community initiatives.