Six Decades of Sister City Friendship!
In October 2023, we celebrated Neighbors Abroad's 60th anniversary with a week full of events, connections, and festivities. We were honored to welcome delegates from a number of our Sister Cities: Heidelberg, Germany; Tsuchiura, Japan; Enschede, the Netherlands; and Palo, the Philippines. The anniversary served as the launchpad for our inaugural SustainCity Summit at Palo Alto City Hall, a roundtable discussion that allowed our visiting Sister City representatives to exchange ideas around sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts, not only with each other but with a number of Palo Alto officials and staff members. Following the summit, more than 45 people gathered at Maico Campilongo's iTalico on California Avenue for an al fresco dinner and some spontaneous dancing in the street (see photo above). The next evening we held a lively 60th anniversary party at the Lucie Stern Community Center. The event brought together more than 130 Neighbors Abroad supporters, dignitaries, former exchange students, and other VIP visitors. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the party raised thousands of dollars for our service projects in Oaxaca and Palo, as well as other Neighbors Abroad endeavors.
Many members of the Palo Alto City Council and staff, including the always supportive Mayor Lydia Kou, joined us for our anniversary events. We also were honored to welcome other dignitaries, including German Consul General Oliver Schramm and Philippine Consul General Adrian Baccay. A huge thanks to Maico of Palo Alto's hottest Italian restaurants, Terun and iTalico. Not only did he donate some tasty Italian wines, he also for lent his musical talents to the party. During dinner, Masako DuBois also regaled the party goers with her masterful mezzo-soprano (click on video below). Throughout the week, Neighbors Abroad board members facilitated a host of cultural, economic, business and other connections and activities for our many visiting delegates. The gallery of photos below tells a small part of the story:
In October 2023, we celebrated Neighbors Abroad's 60th anniversary with a week full of events, connections, and festivities. We were honored to welcome delegates from a number of our Sister Cities: Heidelberg, Germany; Tsuchiura, Japan; Enschede, the Netherlands; and Palo, the Philippines. The anniversary served as the launchpad for our inaugural SustainCity Summit at Palo Alto City Hall, a roundtable discussion that allowed our visiting Sister City representatives to exchange ideas around sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts, not only with each other but with a number of Palo Alto officials and staff members. Following the summit, more than 45 people gathered at Maico Campilongo's iTalico on California Avenue for an al fresco dinner and some spontaneous dancing in the street (see photo above). The next evening we held a lively 60th anniversary party at the Lucie Stern Community Center. The event brought together more than 130 Neighbors Abroad supporters, dignitaries, former exchange students, and other VIP visitors. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the party raised thousands of dollars for our service projects in Oaxaca and Palo, as well as other Neighbors Abroad endeavors.
Many members of the Palo Alto City Council and staff, including the always supportive Mayor Lydia Kou, joined us for our anniversary events. We also were honored to welcome other dignitaries, including German Consul General Oliver Schramm and Philippine Consul General Adrian Baccay. A huge thanks to Maico of Palo Alto's hottest Italian restaurants, Terun and iTalico. Not only did he donate some tasty Italian wines, he also for lent his musical talents to the party. During dinner, Masako DuBois also regaled the party goers with her masterful mezzo-soprano (click on video below). Throughout the week, Neighbors Abroad board members facilitated a host of cultural, economic, business and other connections and activities for our many visiting delegates. The gallery of photos below tells a small part of the story:
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The short video below, made by Neighbors Abroad member Dora Tao and featuring a lovely vocal performance from Masako DuBois, offers a snippet of the anniversary party fun:
Stina Berglund, left, Wallenberg Fellow from the Nordic Innovation House, and Neighbors Abroad VP Ed Fike, have a little fun in Palo Alto City Council chambers following the SustainCity Summit.
Enschede delegate Cor Bouwhuis, left, and longtime VP Hank Heubach, enjoy a barbecue dinner at the anniversary party.
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Palo Alto Mayor Lydia Kou, left, with German Consul General Oliver Schramm and his wife Diana Schramm.
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More than 130 people joined us at the Lucie Stern Community Center for the 60th anniversary party.
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Neighbors Abroad President Sarah Burgess gave an inspiring speech about Neighbors Abroad's impact around the world and in Palo Alto over the last six decades.
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The Heidelberg delegation visited the headquarters for Facebook/Meta.
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During Councilmember Pat Burt's walking tour of downtown Palo Alto, delegates from Heidelberg, Tsuchiura, and Enschede visited the Hana Haus, a shared workspace for start-up entrepreneurs and others.
The SustainCity Summit at City Hall.
Margaritas with Margarita!
Our anniversary week activities included various Bay Area sightseeing outings with our visiting delegates. Pictured here is Enschede's Cor Bouwhuis on a quick photo stop on the way to Napa to visit Boomer White, son of the late Ralph White, Neighbors Abroad's Enschede VP for many years. The visit underscored the enduring, multi-generational connections between our Sister Cities.
About as all-American as it gets: a trip to UC Berkeley for a football game. Left to right, Margarita de la Cruz (from Palo, Leyte, the Philippines), Neighbors Abroad President Sarah Burgess, Palo VP Nodelyn Smith and Doug Smith.
The men behind "Team Ed Fike": Bill Jeffrey, left, Ed's husband, along with honorary member Juan Vargas, who parachutes into many of our event and makes sure things run smoothly.
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Enschede representative Benjamin Groenewolt, left, discusses biking policy in Palo Alto with former Mayor Pat Burt.
Tsuchiura delegates Yoko Fujita, Keiko Seido, and Atsuko Utsugi during a visit to a Japanese language classroom at JLS Middle School, where the group met with Japanese language teacher Serina Nakazawa, Mayor Lydia Kou, and JLS Principal Chris Grierson. Also pictured: Neighbors Abroad Tsuchiura VPs Jennifer Buonrostro and Evelyn Shimakazi.
Left to right, Ellen Valentine and Nodelyn Smith, who together lead Neighbors Abroad's Palo relationship, along with Palo delegate Margarita de la Cruz.
Members of the Tsuchiura delegation enjoyed a visit to Stanford University.
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