Members of Mariachi de Tempe, who are Phoenix-area high school students, visited Panda Base; a center for music, calligraphy, and papercutting; and Jinli Street – an ancient street converted into pedestrian-only shopping and restaurants. The group also toured the 2000-year-old irrigation and flood control system in Dujiangyan.

Dujiangyan Performance

Qingbaijiang Performance

Our Phoenix Sister Cities team met with Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi to discuss Sister City strategies.

Robert Gaudet, 2005 Calgary Youth Ambassador to Phoenix; Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi; Bob Albert, PSC Calgary Committee Chair; Judy Hawley, PSC Calgary Committee Vice Chair; and Rick Gerrard, PSC Vice President.

A meeting with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce discuss subnational diplomacy and commercial possibilities.

Thomas Hanson, US Principal Commercial Officer; Zoe Addington, Government Relations Manager for the Calgary Chamber; Bob Albert, PSC Calgary Committee Chair; Judy Hawley, PSC Calgary Committee Vice Chair; and Rick Gerrard, PSC Vice President.

A meeting with United States Consul General Lucia Piazza to introduce Phoenix Sister Cities.

Thomas Hanson, US Principal Commercial Officer; Rick Gerrard, PSC Vice President; United States Consul General Lucia Piazza; Judy Hawley, PSC Calgary Committee Vice Chair; and Bob Albert, PSC Calgary Committee Chair.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Calgary Committee hosted their Canada Day event on Sunday, July 1st, 2018, at the Musical Instrument Museum. Canadians and supporters from all around the valley were brought to the MIM Sunday afternoon with the promise of Canadian themed museum tours, a group gathering to sing O Canada, and a special Canadian themed menu at Café Allegro featuring poutine, butter tarts, and complimentary maple leaf cookies, courtesy of Solar Pool Technologies Inc.

By 1:00, the entrance leading into the museum’s exhibits was full of people of all ages showing their Canadian pride with red and white maple leaf covered apparel, many bringing their own Canadian flags in hand. Each guest was greeted by the Calgary Sister City Committee welcome booth.

Here, guests mingled with committee members and learned more about the mission of Calgary Committee and the events they participate in and host throughout the year. Representatives from the Arizona Coyotes set up their booth next to the Calgary Committee, giving visitors the chance to win tickets to a Coyotes game. At 1:30, patrons congregated around a museum guide to enjoy the first of two Canadian-themed museum tours planned for the day.

An official proclamation from Phoenix Mayor Thelda Williams was presented to the patrons, officially proclaiming Sunday, July 1st, 2018, as a Day of Solidarity and Friendship between Canada and the United States of America. Next, a few short words of wisdom were delivered by Glenn Williamson, Honorary Consul of Canada for Arizona, and John Rice, Chair of the Calgary Sister Cities Committee. Each spoke of their appreciation for the robust relationship between Canada and the United States: A relationship founded on a set of shared values and continuously held together by a common vision of which direction the world should go. Both speakers emphasized the importance of maintaining this alliance through economic opportunities, business partnerships, and cultural and educational exchange.

It was at that point that the audience gathered around the grand piano on the first floor of the Musical Instrument Museum to sing the national anthem of Canada, guided by David Armstrong and Mark Greenawalt. The group’s anthem echoed through the museum in a moment of gratitude to one of our most valued allies. To some, Canada’s a homeland. To others, Canada remains a home away from home.

To us all, Canada’s our beloved northern neighbor.

“The City of Phoenix is proud of our 21-year relationship with our Sister City, Calgary, Alberta. The relationship between the citizens of Phoenix and the citizens of Calgary is based on mutual cooperation and respect. The City of Phoenix looks to continue this close partnership for years to come through trade, commerce, education, and research.” -Mayor Thelda Williams

The Calgary Committee did a wonderful job hosting their Canada Day event, bringing together people of all backgrounds for an afternoon of celebration at one of Phoenix’s most treasured cultural centers. This was a great opportunity to make friends with individuals from all around the valley, many of whom expressed their interest in contributing to the great work the Calgary Committee does throughout the year. The Canada Day celebration served as a reminder that some of the most valuable work that can be done to strengthen ties between nations begins with people-to-people relationships.

Special thanks to Mayor Thelda Williams for her continuous support, the Honorable Glenn Williamson for his representation and dedication to promoting the relationship between the United States and Canada, Ida Jones of the Musical Instrument Museum and the Calgary Committee for their planning of this event, Aron Charad for volunteering to work the Calgary booth, the Arizona Coyotes for their support at the event, and Mark Greenawalt and David Armstrong for generously volunteering their time to play the piano and sing throughout the afternoon. Lastly, I would like to recognize outgoing Chairman John Rice of the Calgary Committee, and incoming Chairman Bob Albert for their endless commitment to the Calgary Committee and to
strengthening the bond between Phoenix and Calgary.

This year, the 22nd annual award-winning Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp was held at Magnet Traditional School, marking the 39th anniversary of Taipei and Phoenix’s invaluable sister city relationship. This internationally recognized camp has been celebrated around the valley for the exclusive cultural experience it brings to the youth of Phoenix. Every year, instructors from Taiwan come to Phoenix to share their knowledge and lead this treasured cultural exchange.

When I was asked to attend as a volunteer, I jumped at the opportunity to relive my younger years alongside these campers, knowing that I’d have the chance to learn a thing or two myself. For the duration of the camp, I was placed with a group of thirty children, most falling between the ages of six and seven, but the camp hosts youth from a broad age range, some well into their early teen years. Each had a magnetic personality and a contagious energy that made for a great week. The youth, especially the youngest ones, were very quick to make themselves comfortable with the teachers and volunteers, making the experience even more enjoyable for those chaperoning the camp.

Every activity scheduled had a unique Taiwanese twist to it, with each instructor keeping the entire group engaged and enjoying themselves. Throughout the week, we did different paper folding crafts with Ms. Jessie Wang and Ms. Wen Chyi Chiu, who taught us basic Chinese words like Nǐ hǎo (hello) and Yīfú (clothes). We made bookmarks resembling a traditional dress, a paper spinning toy, a paper pot of flowers, hanging hearts, and a paper-folded dog. We even had the chance to decorate our own chocolate apples with the local Asahi Bakery, an activity that the campers found a particular liking to.

To burn off extra energy built up after lunchtime, Mr. William Weng showed us how to play with the Chinese yo-yo. He taught the kids how to begin spinning the yo-yo and even did quite a few tricks for the audience that really inspired the kids to become experts themselves! At the conclusion of each day, we gathered together and collaborated with another group in a Taiwanese dance routine with Ms. Hui-Chun Lin. This turned out to be one of the favorite activities among the kids because they had the chance to move around and incorporate some of the dancing props into their routines.

Beyond the exercises used to stimulate the camp goer’s creativity and cultural understanding of Taiwan, there were courses offered like CPR and self-defense that the kids got to be a part of. I had the pleasure of joining the charismatic Mr. Jui Chiu in his self-defense class. The kids and I had valuable takeaways from the experience and I even had the opportunity to take part in a demonstration from Mr. Chiu, working through different scenarios and preparing on how to best defend ourselves.

Friday’s graduation ceremony marked the end of the camp and served as a culmination of what each group learned throughout the week. The ceremony began with an introduction from Ms. Wen Chyi Chiu and Ms. Lin Ling Lee introducing their special guest speakers and visually recapping the week with photographs from each of the activities.

The ceremony progressed with wise words from special speakers and long-time supporters of the camp including Superintendent Diane Douglas, Councilwoman Debra Stark, Senator Kate Brophy McGee, and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. Members from the Governing Board of Phoenix Elementary School District #1 were also present, including Dr. Louisa Stark, Dr. Ruth Ann Marston, and Vice President of the Governing Board, Ms. Lynné Almy. This was followed by an award ceremony where the distinguished guests presented Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp medals to each participant of the camp.

Next, the students took to the stage and showed their peers what they had mastered throughout the week. There was a yo-yo routine and synchronized ceramic flute performance with Mr. William Weng’s students. Then, each group got to perform their unique Taiwanese-inspired dances they had learned with Ms. Hui-Chun Lin, complete with props and authentic Taiwanese music.

The Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp offers something students of all ages can appreciate. Whether it be giving calligraphy or ceramic whistles a try for the first time, or letting out one’s creative side with paper crafts and dancing, the camp made for a great experience that will surely keep the kids returning for years to come.

Cultural exchanges like these can never start too early on in life. Certainly, experiences designed to celebrate diversity, support team building, and heighten a global perspective have an immeasurable impact on an upcoming generation of global citizens. The more a child enriches themselves with those who are different from them, the more likely they will be able to thrive in a world that is continuously more interconnected and dependent upon the bonds nations form with one another. The campers enjoyed learning something new while the volunteers and teachers all appreciated each other’s dedication to working toward cultural exchange and intercultural education.

This camp is highly recommended as a productive way for the youth of Phoenix to spend a week of their summer mingling with other kids, reinforcing their cultural awareness, and most importantly, strengthening the cultural ties between us and one of the closest friends to the United States, Taiwan.
Special thanks to the instructors who flew thousands of miles from Taiwan to be with us, the volunteers who devoted their time to the camp, the teachers of Phoenix Elementary School District #1 for their endless dedication in equipping Phoenix’s youth with the tools necessary to succeed in the world, and Lin Ling Lee and Wen Chyi Chiu for the invaluable work they do to make this all happen.

One last special thanks to Superintendent Diane Douglas, Councilwoman Debra Stark, Senator Kate Brophy McGee, Dr. Ruth Ann Marston, Dr. Louisa Stark, Ms. Lynné Almy, and Greg Stanton for their continuous support of the Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp.

If you would like more information about the Taipei Chinese Culture Summer Camp 2019, contact taipeicamp@hotmail.com or (602) 738-0429.

We look forward to the Grenoble artist’s visit during our busy art season from October 2018 to April 2019 as part of the mural artist cultural exchange.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Grenoble Committee is pleased to announce a new cultural exchange of mural artists.

Lucretia Torva, a member of the Phoenix Sister Cities Grenoble Commitee, will be visiting Grenoble, France for the month of June to paint a mural during the yearly mural event at the Street Art Fest, www.streetartfest.org. Lucretia joined the Grenoble committee because she lived in Grenoble with her family as a child. She is excited to return and share her art on a wall in the city of her childhood. The Grenoble Committee will collaborate with the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture to determine the best time for the Grenoble artist’s visit during our busy art season from October 2018 to April 2019.

Since 1999, Congressman David Wu and the co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus have supported the celebration of Taiwanese American Heritage Week starting each Mother’s Day Weekend during the month of May. In most major cities across the United States, one will find festivals, fairs, or events honoring Taiwanese history and culture.

Originally from Prague, Akram is one of Phoenix’s brightest architects. Earning his MA from the University of Arizona and his PhD from ASU, both in architecture, Akram currently works at MRT Design LLC. Akram also teaches classes at ASU as an associate faculty member of the university’s School of Sustainability. His expertise in architecture is evident in one the city’s most iconic buildings – the CopperPoint building located in downtown Phoenix which Akram and his team helped renovate.  In his spare time, Akram is the chair of the Prague committee which aims to maintain and strengthen our relationship with our sole sister city in Eastern Europe through events like the annual Evening in Prague.

While the breadth of Akram’s presentation was truly impressive as it explored the history of Prague architecture from its classical roots to the present, his central thesis was clear: what most distinguishes architecture in Prague is its unique ability to captivate observers with an experience of mystery. Akram refers to this distinguishing feature of Prague architecture as the city’s genius loci – a Roman concept meaning spirit of the place. Through what might seem like endless layers of streets, courtyards, staircases, and steeples with pointed tops reaching for the sky, Prague provides visitors an experience of genuine mystery – one which might seem frightening at first but is nonetheless warm and inviting.

After learning about Prague’s rich architectural tradition, guests attending the Evening in Prague were then treated to a performance by Miroslav Ambroš on the violin and Zuzana Ambrošová on the piano. The concert, lasting just under an hour, showcased the Czech tradition of classical music and left everyone’s ears tingling from sounds as beautiful as they were complex. At times, the music’s intricate structure of intensely fast pasted notes evoked feelings of excitement while other passages, slower and darker in tone, created an ambiance of mysterious tranquility.

After the performance concluded, I had a chance to speak with Miroslav whose insight into the state of Czech classical music is quintessentially reflective of our central mission at Phoenix Sister Cities.  According to Miroslav – whose technical training spans years of learning under, and performing alongside, the world’s top violinists from the Czech Republic, Canada, Germany, and throughout Europe – contemporary classical music in Prague has experienced a unique trend in the past five or so years. During this time, classical musicians in Prague have incorporated American influences into their music.

Historically, classical music in the Czech Republic has been heavily influenced by the Russian tradition; but as more contemporary musicians like Miroslav combine this tradition with American style and technique, a truly unique and beautiful sound is produced. Our mission at Phoenix Sister Cities is to create precisely this kind of impact between the communities of Phoenix, Prague, and each our sister cities. Through genuine and intimate exchanges, we aim to ensure that not only do members of these communities learn more about each other’s’ culture and way of life, but that they are also able to incorporate the insights they learn into their own daily lives.

To put it another way, it is not enough for us here at PSC for citizens of Phoenix to simply become aware of how citizens in their sister cities live; rather, we encourage both communities to experiment with what they learn and incorporate this knowledge into their own music, art, architecture, businesses, and culture more broadly. As Miroslav’s discussion of the recent fusion between American and Russian classical music demonstrates, the accomplishment of this mission can have groundbreaking

– Nick Karler

Nick Karler is interning as the Assistant to the Vice-President. Nick is a senior at Arizona State University majoring in both philosophy and political science and is currently finishing his honors thesis for Barrett, the Honors College. 

Mary Hill Connor is a native of Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland.  She has served the Ennis Committee of Phoenix Sister Cities for the ten years, including the last four years as its Chair.  She also served on the board of the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation (ICLF) for 3.5 years, including 2 years as Secretary.

Mary has a 14-year background in real estate and a 30-year background in nursing and is a retired Realtor and a retired Registered Nurse with an extensive background in several medical areas.

As a young girl, Mary won medals in Irish dancing and has always loved the traditional dance, music, song, and the Irish language.  Today she chairs Four Peaks Irish Arts, the local chapter of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, the worldwide organization that promotes and preserves these cultural gems.

Growing up in Ennis, Mary highlighted how much fun she had as a child growing up in this small town.

“It was innocent fun” she said, remembering the times where there was no sort of technological distractions that barred you from going outside.

“We didn’t have any phones or computers at the time, so we would spend the entire day outside playing at the beach and near the farms”

“We did a lot of outside play. All around the county. In the summer we would walk around the town and play in the rivers. We didn’t even have cars. We would have milk cows and deliver it in the morning but we were called townies because we had a grocery store” she said humorously.

“School was fun. But at that time all the schools were gender separate. So all the boys would go to one school called the Christian Brothers and us girls went to Sacred Heart, but now most of the schools are now co-ed”

Speaking on Irish culture she remembered “Growing up, English was dominant. At that time in Irish history, Irish culture and traditions were not encouraged, however we did a lot of our school work in Irish. So we would think in our heads in both English and Irish”

In the past several years, the Irish government has promoted Irish cultural programs that support the sustainability of Irish heritage.

“Now there is greater encouragement for the Irish language and several summer programs in Ireland have been created to teach Irish and Irish culture. There are programs that teach how to do drama and singing in Irish. I think it is very important, because we grew up in a time where Irish culture was not encouraged but now it is all coming back”

To learn more about the Ennis-themed Mayor’s International, visit our website!