A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
Welcome to our website!
Vallejo Sister City Association has a long history of being involved with Sister Cities International- since 1971!! We are a volunteer group of ordinary citizens and with the support of our mayor and city officials through our Vallejo Sister City Commission, we have been able to support long-standing relationships with six Sister Cities and three Friendship Cities. They are Trondheim, Norway; La Spezia, Italy; Baguio City, Philippines; Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Jincheon, South Korea and Friendship Cities Rota in the Mariana Islands; Muju, South Korea and Ensenada, Mexico.
Join us as we strive for World Peace through citizen diplomacy, humanitarian efforts, economic development, and educational, cultural and governmental exchanges.
In peace,
William Kim
President, Vallejo Sister City Association
OUR 2020 EXECUTIVE BOARD
Dinah Villanueva Ryan
Vice President
Norma Placido
Treasurer
Christy Gardner
Secretary
Mary Fruth
Finance Secretary
Pelton Stewart
Commission Chair
We are committed to providing true value to our communities and addressing the humanitarian needs of our local and global communities!
Volunteer With VSCA Today!
OUR 2020 BOARD MEMBERS
Elissa Shanks Stewart
Board Member
Favorite Sister City: I love all of the Sister Cities that I have visited for different reasons and I have visited all but Trondheim, Norway.
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina
Current: Vallejo, California since 1978
Vallejo Sister City Association is so important because there is a need to keep our effort for a peaceful world in the forefront of our minds, and what better group to do that than us.My passion is to have all of us, especially our board members, work for the good and cohesiveness of all our sister city efforts and not just their favorite. This work has impacted my life by making me more aware of what is going on around the world. I’ve had the opportunity to see how this works impacts the lives of people, through sister city visits and exchanges. The impact has even been felt in my family and home over the last 30 years. From homestays exchanges with Japan to humanitarian trips to East Africa and Mexico. My thoughts are forever changed when I read the newspapers or hear news reported.
Yolanda Kim
Favorite Sister City: Jincheon, South Korea
Hometown: South Korea
Current: Vallejo California
Being involved with the Vallejo Sister City Association for the last 20 years has made me realize what true volunteerism is. My involvement and serving two terms as the president, has taught me to look beyond our skin color and to appreciate all cultures. I absolutely love how we celebrate and appreciate different cultures through our various exchanges and programs. In a World where we often are surrounded by hate and division, we overlook the gift of humankind, I love being in an organization who prides in educating the community about the various cultures to promote peace.
Our humanitarian travels this summer to Mexico arose my compassion to help those in need. They say a simple act of showing compassion can make a world of difference but seeing how happy a child can be with just a simple gesture truly made me thank God for all the blessings in my life. I hope to make a difference in our community as well by continuing my efforts to educate and spread the various cultures Vallejo Sister City Association has adopted and will adopt as we move forward.
Emma Del Rosario Cordova
Favorite Sister City: Objectively, All Vallejo sister cities are important and beautiful.
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Current: Vallejo, California
VSC the International Affairs Dept of the City makes Vallejo known around the world as it carries its mission of cultural education and appreciation, opens opportunities to businesses, for the citizens of Vallejo.
My passion is being an instrument of peace to promote peace with everyone. The mission of the organization has made me more conscientious of my words and actions, as I talk to people. It also gives me an opportunity to utilize my talents.
Mike Browne
Favorite Sister City: Can’t Bare To Choose Between Them
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Current: Benicia, California
Vallejo Sister City is important because of the goodwill and comradery amongst people as they meet with people from sister cities around world.
I have a passion for the development of goodness. My work with Vallejo Sister City has provided the opportunity to come together with individuals from various background. We all share a common interest of creating good outcomes in communities around the world. Our goals is to expand as we foster goodwill to help build a better world, one city at a time.
Paul Ligda
Favorite Sister City: I don’t have a favorite, they are all special.
Hometown: San Francisco
Current: Vallejo, California (Since 1969)
I discover the importance of Sister City Vallejo long ago. I initially became active at the request of my wife, who emphasized the importance of an organization that promotes peace by encouraging ordinary citizens from one country to get to know ordinary citizens of another country. In the ensuing decades I have come to share that view. It is hard to want to dislike someone you have come to know has pretty much the same problems you do, i.e. making a living, supporting a family, providing for children, paying taxes. I have visited four of Vallejo’s sister cities and don’t know that I have a favorite. Hospitality has been incredible – felt like royalty. Still have two more to explore. My work with sister city has been energized by those I have had the privilege of working with who share my belief we are doing our part in promoting peace among nations.
Bob Cordova
Favorite Sister City: TDA
Hometown: TDA
Current: TDA
Ravi C. Shankar
Favorite Sister City: Akashi, Japan & Baguio, Philippines
Hometown: Vallejo, CA (transplant from Bangalore, India)
Current: Vallejo, CA
Vallejo Sister City is a reflection of our own culture, society upbringing and norms of family/community life — i.e., citizen diplomats from family to community to the world !After Gardening & Composting, my passion for Sister City is to be lifelong family and citizen goodwill ambassador of culture, city, spirituality and humanity!
Victoria Grace
Favorite Sister City: Baguio, Philippines
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Current: Vallejo, CA
Sister Cities is important as an international extension of the city of Vallejo. It allows us to build lasting ties with other cultures and places, while highlighting our city as the most diverse city in the nation. It’s important to promote peace and tolerance particularly in this racially divided era. Sister Cities allows us to form lifelong relationships with people from all over the world and impact each others lives and communities for the better. It helps us to understand and celebrate the amazing diversity that Vallejo is known for.
My passion is inspiring our youth to reach their full potential, education, traveling to different places, learning about different cultures, and building community. I love to see people motivating others, learning, growing, building relationships, and being the change they want to see in the world.
Working with Vallejo sister cities has allowed me to learn a lot about different cultures and experience traveling in a way that I never have before. It has helped me to gain insight into building international ties for the city of Vallejo. It allows us to spread peace through learning and understanding people and cultures that are different than our own. It has also allowed me the opportunity to travel to places that I never thought I would and broaden my horizons about people and places. My family, friends, and students love to follow my travels and I share all the amazing experiences I’ve has along the way.
Lonnie Brumfield, III
Favorite Sister City: Too Hard To Choose They Are All Great!
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Current: Vallejo, CA Vallejo
Sister City has been an important part of my development, since childhood. I have witnessed the power of being around people of many different backgrounds. As international leaders come together to share knowledge and information. All of which have been essential to uplifting me in the community, as I become a better organizer and educator.
I want to continue the family tradition of International Goodwill and Leadership, shared with me by my Father and Mother. My family is heavily rooted in the legacy of the Vallejo Sister City Movement and it is a honor to continue to carry the torch of goodwill around the globe.
Pelton Stewart
Commission Chair
Favorite Sister City: Baguio, Philippines
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Current: Vallejo, California
Vallejo Sister City is important because it’s changing the image of Vallejo the world.
My passion is to teach all generations old and young, to value everyone and their contributions. I am a treasurer hunter, who believes that everyone has a treasure buried inside, no exceptions. From kids to the homeless to working class folk to the wealthiest in the world we ALL have a treasure. Its up to us as an organization and community to find them.
William Kim
Favorite Sister City: Jincheon, South Korea – I initiated Jincheon Sister City Relationship but all of our sister cities are important to me!
Hometown: Tae Gu, South Korea
Current: Benicia, California
Vallejo Sister City is important for many reasons. It is a way to learn about different cultures as continue our goodwill and leadership efforts are the globe. We help bring the community together.My passion is to grow and expand the Vallejo Sister City mission into other territories. The impact of sister city is felt throughout my entire family, not just me and my wife. It’s an incredible feeling to see the positive outcomes amongst my daughters, son and his wife. From community activities to youth diplomacy trips abroad. During a trip to Ensenada, Mexico my wife and I decided to sponsor a few kids for continual education. And, it warmed my heart to hear my daughter sponsored a kid as well. It’s moments like these that add value to our continual efforts around the world.
Christy Gardner, BA
Favorite Sister City: Still exploring (favorite friendship city, Ensenada, Mexico)
Hometown: Oregon by way of Chico, CA
Current: Vallejo, CA.
Vallejo Sister City is important because it serves as a bridge to connect cultures through peace, understanding, cooperation, and mutual respect. I enjoy knowing and learning about people from different cultures and the events sponsored by Sister City supports this learning.
Dinah Villanueva Ryan
Favorite Sister City: TDA
Hometown: TDA
Current: TDA
Norma Placido
Favorite Sister City: TDA
Hometown: TDA
Current: TDA