Community Resilience through Partnerships in Nicaragua
In 1990, Gettysburg and León officially became sister cities, formalizing a partnership rooted in mutual learning, cultural exchange, and solidarity. That partnership grew out of earlier groundwork. In 1986, following visits to Nicaragua by Karl Mattson and Will Lane, Project Gettysburg-León (PGL) was founded. For more than three decades, PGL has supported community-led initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, and the arts, fostering lasting relationships between the two communities.
This immersion project explores the power of those relationships by tracing the sister-city partnership between Gettysburg and León firsthand. Students will learn alongside community leaders, educators, artists, and organizations in León and surrounding communities, examining how cultural exchange, education, and grassroots initiatives contribute to community resilience. Through conversations, shared experiences, and reflection, students will consider what it means to build meaningful partnerships rooted in respect, mutual learning, and a genuine commitment to understanding communities.