Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee Wins International Award
SONOMA, CA – June 16, 2015

Sister Cities International announced that the Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee
(SPSCC) is the 2015 recipient of the Innovation (Youth and Education) for a city with a population of the less than 100,000 people. This award recognizes the outstanding and ongoing achievement of the Pen Pal program, in which fourth and fifth grade students at El Verano Elementary School send letters, artwork, and other items to the fifth grade students at Yisan Experimental Elementary School in Penglai, China. In existence for two years and continuing strong, the Pen Pal program epitomizes the mission statement of Sister Cities International, whose goal is to promote peace and understanding through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, economic and sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance. As a compliment to the Pen Pal program, participating students meet regularly for Mandarin language instruction provided by an SPSCC committee member with support and approval of the school district.

The roots of this program go back to 2013 when the cities of Sonoma and Penglai entered into an official Sister City relationship. During the initial visit by Penglai Mayor Sun, SPSCC member Lynne Joiner discussed the success of a sports-exchange program with another sister city. “I said I hoped we could do the same with Penglai & Sonoma some day…and suggested we try to s tart a pen pal program…he liked the idea and told me he hoped to greet me in Penglai.”

After discussing the concept, both cities went to work so that now more than 100 El Verano students personally communicate with Yisan students on an ongoing basis.

What is even more exciting is that the Pen Pal program continues to expand in both the number of schools getting involved and the number of students participating.

For the full text of the Sister Cities International awards announcement please visit the Sister Cities International website and click on “Press Releases”.

If you’re interested in the Pen Pal program or the Sonoma Penglai Sister City Committee, please contact Peggy Phelan at penglai2@sonomasistercitiesassociation.org.

The Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee operates under the auspices of the Sonoma Sister Cities Association (SSCA), a registered nonprofit organization (SSCA federal tax identification #68-0108056). If you’re interested in learning more about SSCA, please contact Farrel Beddome at 916-715-4557 or email her at info@sonomasistercitiesassociation.org.