President's Message
by Victoria Schwartz

The summer of 2017 changed lives. 
 
In early July, high school students Catherine Condit and Jack Applebaum hosted our first-ever exchange students from Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain. Three weeks later, Catherine and Jack were in Villanueva de la Cañada, living with Spanish families and assimilating to the life of a typical Spanish teenager.
 
Also in July, five students, representing the four high schools in La Cañada Flintridge, flew to Virginia and represented our City at an International Youth Leadership Summit. They participated in diplomatic simulations with students from around the United States and the world.
 
And this is only the beginning. By signing a Sister Cities Agreement with Villanueva de la Cañada in May, the City of La Cañada Flintridge committed to a long-term partnership with a community 5,792 miles away. We were matched because we have so many things in common, besides the similarity in our names. For example, both communities:
·      Are home to international space agencies
·      Are well-educated
·      Have four college-prep high schools
·      Have active community centers
·      Are strong, close knit communities
 
In the next few months, La Cañada High School’s “Space Academy” (the brain-child of Dr. Art Chmielewski) will incorporate Villanueva de la Cañada students into the Space Academy. Through their exchanges, students from both countries will have the opportunity to plan, communicate, cooperate, and problem solve together. This will be the first program of its kind in the Sister Cities community!
 
Plans are also underway for Villanueva de la Cañada’s Mayor Partida and an adult delegation to visit La Cañada Flintridge in 2018. We hope you will join us as we make dedications to our first Sister City and celebrate our partnership.  As soon as we have definite dates, we will invite all Sister Cities Association members to welcome Mayor Partida to La Cañada Flintridge.
 
In the meantime, please plan to join us at our Second Annual Meeting – Wednesday, January 24, 2018 from, 6 – 8 p.m. at the Thursday Club, 4440 Woodleigh Lane, La Cañada Flintridge. You will hear from our international student delegates and about our plans for 2018.  
 
Of course, this could not be done without your support. Many thanks to the City Council and City Staff, our donors, supporters, and volunteers who continue to share our vision of building strong international relationships through grass-roots, community-based friendships. 
 
Thank you for your dedication to changing lives - one individual, one community at a time.

With warm wishes,

Vicki