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General Agency Information |
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| Name: | Santa Cruz Sister Cities |
| Alternate Name(s): | City of Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee |
| Address: |
323 Church Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Driving Directions |
Contact Information |
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| Primary Phone: | 831-420-5270 |
| Email: | sistercities@santacruzca.gov |
| Website: | https://www.santacruzca.gov/sistercities |
Hours |
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| Days/Hours of Operation: |
See Meeting Hours
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Details |
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| Description: | Sister Cities International has helped to link many U.S. cities and towns with localities abroad. These city-to-city affiliations provide the opportunity to build friendships, learn about other cultures and foster international understanding. Santa Cruz has five sister cities including Alushta, Crimea; Biarritz, France; Sestri Levante, Italy; Shingu, Japan, and Jinotepe, Nicaragua. |
| Mission: | President Eisenhower officially proclaimed the establishment of the People-to-People Program (later to be known as the Sister City Program) in 1956 to promote understanding and strengthen international ties. To accomplish this goal, Sister Cities International has helped to link many U.S. cities and towns with localities abroad. These city-to-city affiliations provide the opportunity to build friendships, learn about other cultures, and foster international understanding. |
| Programs: | Santa Cruz Sister Cities is actively involved in strengthening these relationships through a variety of activities: * Youth programs and exchanges * Visitor exchanges * Cultural and business exchanges * School affiliations and pen-pals (adult & children) * Hospitality committee for greeting foreign visitors * Humanitarian projects abroad * Local projects benefiting Santa Cruz * Friendship garden and Sister Cities Circle on the mall in Downtown Santa Cruz |
| Meetings: | Second Monday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September and November) at 6:00 pm in City Council Chambers, 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz |
| Languages other than English: |
French Italian Japanese Russian/Ukrainian Spanish |
| Accommodations for Disabled Persons: | Wheelchair Access |
| Public Transportation: | Available Within Four Blocks |
| Eligibility: |
Appointed See Description Notes |
| Fees: | None |
| Areas Served: | Santa Cruz County |
| Physical Location: | Santa Cruz |
| Funding Source: |
City Government Fundraising |
Officials/Contact Persons |
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| Contact Persons: |
Tremain Hedden-Jones 831-420-5270 sistercities@santacruzca.gov |
Subject Headings |
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| Subject Headings: |
Cultural Exchange Visitor Visas Exchange Visitors Government Agencies International Cultural Exchange International Human Rights Programs Multicultural Education Pen Pals |
| This agency was last updated on January 15, 2026. | |