BEAVERTON HOSTS HISTORIC EXCHANGE WITH 52 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Posted: July 5th, 2011 11:27 AM
- International Sustainability Leadership Project welcomes leaders from six countries -
Young representatives from six countries will gain leadership skills in sustainable development during the City of Beaverton's International Sustainability Leadership (ISL) Project from July 18 to Aug. 5. Participants will travel from Beaverton's Sister Cities as far away as Birobidzhan, Russia; Cheonan, South Korea; Cluses, France; Hsinchu, Taiwan and Trossingen, Germany. Young Beaverton leaders are also represented.
"This is Beaverton's first opportunity to host all six sister cities concurrently," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "Our staff has worked very diligently to organize this innovative sustainability program. I'm interested to learn more about our Sister Cities' sustainability issues directly from our global neighbors."
A recognition ceremony to commemorate this important Sister Cities exchange will be held Thursday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Beaverton City Library (12375 SW 5th Street). The public is invited to attend and help celebrate Beaverton's global community partnerships.
The ISL Project is a three-week seminar where young adults work together in the context of intercultural exchange and diplomacy. Participants will learn about local and global challenges and advances; explore sustainability concepts through real-world governance and economic issues; and have access to information from sustainability experts, innovators and advocates.
Twenty seven local and 25 international participants, ages 17-25, have been accepted into the ISL Project. Their studies range from engineering, business administration, economics, finance, mathematics, political science, botany, architecture, public health, product design, urban studies, public policy, to management.
These 52 young leaders will explore local and global aspects of sustainable development in the fields of renewable energy and conservation, green building, recycling and waste management, sustainable foods systems, corporate and social responsibility, and more. The project will culminate in live presentations to international civic and business leaders on "Elements of a Sustainable City."
The final days of the Project, Aug. 2 through Aug. 5, will highlight a visit by city leaders from all six of Beaverton's international Sister Cities.
"We've scheduled the event so that our international guests can enjoy our annual summer events," said Mayor Doyle. "I think they will find that we are a welcoming, friendly and vibrant community-and we truly believe in sustainability."
ISL is presented by the Beaverton Sister Cities Program and Sustainable Beaverton with educational contributions from more than 30 local businesses. ISL is sponsored in partnership with the Beaverton School District, IBM, Northwest Natural, SolarWorld-USA, Reser's Fine Foods, Marylhurst University, Vernier Software & Technology, Welch Allyn, Clear Edge Power, Comcast, Skanska, TriMet, Columbia Sportswear, Gerding Edlen, Micro Power Electronics, Beaverton Toyota and Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District.
For more information about the ISL Project or the Sister Cities program, please contact Theresa Baird, Sister Cities Program Coordinator, at (503) 526-2499 or tbaird@beavertonoregon.gov.
ABOUT THE SISTER CITIES PROGRAM
The Beaverton Sister Cities program's mission is to encourage cross-cultural understanding and the promotion of educational and economic exchanges between citizens of Beaverton and its Sister Cities from around the world. Beaverton has sister city relationships with Birobidzhan, Russia; Cheonan, South Korea; Cluses, France; Gotemba, Japan; Hsinchu, Taiwan and Trossingen, Germany. For more information, please visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/SisterCities.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
Beaverton enjoys one of the most diverse populations among Oregon cities. It was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine. In addition, Beaverton has been named one of the safest cities in the Pacific Northwest for three consecutive years, as one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities. Most recently, the Beaverton Community Vision program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year-Best Planning Project by the International
Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter. For more information, please visit www.beavertonoregon.gov.
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