Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... HOME AWAY FROM HOME … Bloomington, Indiana, and Palo Alto have more in common than meets the eye – they’re both college towns with strikingly similar politics and housing markets, said Vicki Veenker, Palo Alto council member and founder of Sibling Cities USA. “And that’s my thesis: If we scratch the surface of just about any two cities, I bet we find those similarities,” she said, with a smile. Sibling Cities USA, which aims to connect American governments in an effort to foster collaboration, partnered with its first sibling city, Bloomington, in 2022. Since then, the siblings have hosted various visits and town halls, discussing subjects like “bridging regional divides,” race and belonging and climate, Veenker said. From Friday through Sunday, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson, along with a Bloomington delegation, will tour Palo Alto, visiting sites like the public safety building and the Palo Alto Museum before winding down with a public town hall meeting regarding housing – the theme of this visit. Thompson is particularly interested in housing as a former CEO of Monroe County Habitat for Humanity who later ran the Indiana University Center for rural engagement, where housing was a factor, Veenker said. Sibling Cities USA has three pillars of ensuring connection: community, commerce and civil discourse, which encourage the cities to learn about each other’s culture, explore economic opportunities and discuss national policy. As “divide” grows among the United States, Veenker said, she hopes programs like this one can inspire civil engagement and unity. Jyotika RoyC, program director for Sibling Cities USA and Rotary Club member, will never forget the words of an East Palo Alto student in regard to the organization. “Once you know a person’s history, it’s very difficult to hate them,” she said. People can sign up for Sunday’s town hall meeting through the sibling cities’ website.