About Us
The Anaheim Sister City Commission works to foster relationships between Anaheim and its Sister Cities to promote mutual cross-cultural understanding and exchanges. The Commission will cultivate this environment by serving as a conduit for potential business and educational collaboration, and offering unique experiences internationally.
The Sister City Commission Meeting is open to the public and encourages public attendance. The Commission meets on the 4th Monday of every month at 4:00 PM at Anaheim City Hall, 7th Floor. For more information on the Sister City Commission Meetings, please contact us at (714) 765-5162 or email us at sistercity@anaheim.net. To view the Commission’s calendar of events, please click here.
Calendar
The Commission meets on the 4th Monday of every month:
January 23
February 27
March 26
April 23
May TBD
June 25
July 23
August 27
September 24
October 22
November 26
December DARK
The Anaheim Sister City Commission envisions a future where Anaheim citizens and their international partners understand, appreciate, and accept the unique characteristics of their Sister Cities' history, culture and goals to achieve global harmony.
The 15-member commission, which is appointed by the Anaheim City Council, is responsible for maintaining relationships with our current Sister Cities and develop new sister city relationships throughout their term. The duties of the Commission are to develop guidelines and programs for Sister City relationships, to further public awareness of other cultures, emphasizing cultural, historical and economic development with Anaheim’s Sister Cities.
Anaheim’s Sister Cities are selected on the basis of common interests that may relate to cultural, educational, or commercial relationships. Where possible, there has been an attempt to match the size of the Sister City with that of Anaheim. Each relationship carries a sense of potential, as future interchanges may lead to greater benefits.
Upcoming Events:
May 22-28, 2012: Anaheim Sister City Trade Mission trip to Victoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Be a part of a rare and prestigous delegation to strengthen the relationship with one of Anaheim's Sister Cities, Victoria-Gasteiz. The trade mission features meetings with the Mayor of Victoria-Gasteiz and other elected officials, along with tours of businesses, several historical landmarks, ane wineries in the Rioja Alavesa wine region.
The trip is $3,500 per person (if paid by April 13) and includes airfare, lodging, transportation throughout the trip, and most meals. *Book now to take advantage of early-bird rates, only a few seats remain!
Related Links:
Download the Sister City Trade Mission Itinerary
Vitoria Gasteiz, Spain Tourism Site
Vitoria Gasteiz, European Green Capital Information
Vitoria Gasteiz, Green Capital Video
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Meet the Commission
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Image Gallery
News and Announcements
Mito Fundraiser at the Taste of Anaheim
The Anaheim Sister City Commission is proud to announce that we raised over $2000 for Mito City at the Taste of Anaheim event on Thursday May 12, 2011. Several Sister City commissioners and past and present student Ambassadors were on hand to help raise funds for the Mito International Center in support of Mito City’s rebuilding efforts.
Anaheim Overwhelmed by Kindness for Japan
In March 2011, shortly after an earthquake and tsunami ravaged Japan killing more than 18,000 people, Anaheim's Sister City Commission launched a campaign to collect 1,000 letters of kindness by the end of May destined for the people of Anaheim's sister city Mito, Japan. Instead, by mid-April more than 2,000 letters, notes and drawings had poured in. Students and residents drew photos, created paper butterflies and folded origami cranes – Japanese legend holds that anyone who folds 1,000 cranes will be granted a wish for health or long life. Sister-City Commissioner Sandy Day packed the letters into three oversized suitcases, flew to Japan on
her own dime and hand-delivered them to officials in Mito.
OC Register "Anaheim Overwhelmed by Kindness for Japan" May 5, 2011
OC Register "Anaheim Seeks 1,000 Kind Letters for Japan" March 24, 2011
Sister Cities International Executive Vice President Jim Doumas Talks About Outreach Efforts to Japan
Japan Earthquake Activity Map
Congratulations to Vitoria-Gasteiz for being named The European Green Capitol City for 2012!
Vitoria-Gasteiz has been appointed European Green Capital 2012. A triumph that has taken over three decades of environmental policies developed over the years and the commitment of a citizenry that has become an example for the entire European Community in relation to recycling, mobility or water consumption. Vitoria-Gasteiz is an environmentally advanced city thanks to its ambitious plans to combat climate change, thanks to its air quality; its Green Belt, its water conservation plan, waste management, energy efficiency, sustainable town development, its parks and gardens, cycling lanes or its modern public transport system. But above all, it is the people who live in Vitoria-Gasteiz, whose commitment and enthusiasm make Vitoria-Gasteiz a city that is green outside and green inside.
For more information about this achievement, please visit the following website.
http://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org/we001/was/we001Action.do?idioma=en&nuevaPag=&uid=u7140273_12c72095a20__7fd9&aplicacion=wb021&id=&tabla=contenido
Mito Student Exchange Program
The Anaheim Sister City Commission and the City of Anaheim will be hosting a delegation of Mito students in the summer of 2012.
Click here to view the Anaheim Host Family Application
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Since 1984, the City of Anaheim and Mito have enjoyed an annual student exchange program that involves a handful of high school students from Anaheim spending two weeks in Japan each summer. During their time in Mito, Anaheim Student Ambassadors are hosted by local families and get an opportunity to about Japanese culture and lifestyle, as well as visiting local attractions including a trip to Tokyo. The cost of the two-week trip, including airfare, is covered by the Anaheim Sister City Commission; however, students are asked to fundraise at least $500 to support the cost of the trip.
It is an honor to be selected as a Student Ambassador for the City of Anaheim. To be considered as a Student Ambassador, students must meet the following requirements:
- Students must be U. S. citizens that live in the City of Anaheim and are in grades 10-12 for the current academic calendar year;
- Must have an interest in Japan and the Anaheim-Mito Sister City relationship;
- Must Must be available to interview for the program and attend group meetings as indicated in the application.
For more information or questions regarding the student exchange program, please email us at sistercity@anaheim.net
To view photos from previous student exchanges, please click here
Click Here to view a video presentation of our Mito exchange program.
Press Room
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