Sharing stories is one of the best parts of the Fort Worth Sister Cities experience. Denise, a young writer for Zaji Magazine, recently shared her favorite memories with us including a link to the article she wrote about her trip to Swaziland.
“I just wanted to get back with you and tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Swaziland in June. Staussa was a wonderful delegation leader and the kids were fantastic!
One of the projects that has been born out of my trip came from a wonderful experience I had with Staussa’s host mom, Ms. Ellen Matsenjwa. She took us to a recycling center to a women’s cooperative where the women are making jewelry out of recycled magazines and newspapers. I bought a couple of items and have had so many compliments on the jewelry. One of the needs, Ms. Matsenjwa pointed out was that especially in the Nkwalini community where the health center was built that clean water was still a major need.
I discovered this Swedish company that makes solar-powered water purification units and thought that would be a wonderful fundraising goal for Nkwalini. To raise money to buy these solar-powered water purification units and by selling the jewelry being made from Swaziland. I promised I’d check out some hotels and boutiques for the women’s cooperative that might be interested in their jewelry and have had a couple of strong candidates.
It definitely gave me a chance to assess the country and the projects that I want to pursue personally and for my magazine.
I wanted to share the links with you for the magazine Summer/Fall 2013 issue which features HRH Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland and also the photo story I did featuring the Fort Worth Sister Cities Mbabane delegation. Please feel free to share it with everyone.
A couple of the kids wanted me to feature their photographs in the magazine. I didn’t get opportunity to do that with this issue, but I was thinking we could put together a mini mag with their experiences and give them a chance to share their Swaziland adventure and continue with a global community service project back at home.
I really enjoyed my time in Swaziland and will definitely head back soon.
Thanks again.
~ Denise”We’d love to hear your stories too! Contact us or tag us in your facebook pics.
2013-09-23 03:11
Sharing stories is one of the best parts of the Fort Worth Sister Cities experience. Denise, a young writer for Zaji Magazine, recently shared her favorite memories with us including a link to the article she wrote about her trip to Swaziland.
“I just wanted to get back with you and tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Swaziland in June. Staussa was a wonderful delegation leader and the kids were fantastic!
One of the projects that has been born out of my trip came from a wonderful experience I had with Staussa’s host mom, Ms. Ellen Matsenjwa. She took us to a recycling center to a women’s cooperative where the women are making jewelry out of recycled magazines and newspapers. I bought a couple of items and have had so many compliments on the jewelry. One of the needs, Ms. Matsenjwa pointed out was that especially in the Nkwalini community where the health center was built that clean water was still a major need.
I discovered this Swedish company that makes solar-powered water purification units and thought that would be a wonderful fundraising goal for Nkwalini. To raise money to buy these solar-powered water purification units and by selling the jewelry being made from Swaziland. I promised I’d check out some hotels and boutiques for the women’s cooperative that might be interested in their jewelry and have had a couple of strong candidates.
It definitely gave me a chance to assess the country and the projects that I want to pursue personally and for my magazine.
I wanted to share the links with you for the magazine Summer/Fall 2013 issue which features HRH Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland and also the photo story I did featuring the Fort Worth Sister Cities Mbabane delegation. Please feel free to share it with everyone.
A couple of the kids wanted me to feature their photographs in the magazine. I didn’t get opportunity to do that with this issue, but I was thinking we could put together a mini mag with their experiences and give them a chance to share their Swaziland adventure and continue with a global community service project back at home.
I really enjoyed my time in Swaziland and will definitely head back soon.
Thanks again.
~ Denise”We’d love to hear your stories too! Contact us or tag us in your facebook pics.
| All Saints Episcopal School | Angela Kornman |
| Applied Learning Academy | Kimberley Hanna |
| Arlington Heights High School | Sefakor Amaa |
| Boswell High School | Heath Dollar |
| Carter-Riverside, Amon High School | Robert Landreaux |
| Como Montessori Middle School | Julie Mullender |
| Chisholm Trail High School | Janet C. Reynolds |
| Daggett Montessori Middle School | Lori Zarate |
| Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School | Liliana Hinojosa |
| Dunbar High School | Shatiqueka Carson |
| Elder, J.P. | Matti Kruse |
| Fort Worth Academy | Chandra Hough |
| Fort Worth Country Day School (MS) | Tara Forrest |
| Fort Worth Country Day School | Dr. James Aldridge |
| Hill School of Fort Worth | Roxann Breyer |
| International Newcomer Academy (HS/MS) | Kelly McDaniel LaFarge |
| Kirkpatrick Middle School | Barbara Stewart |
| Leonard Middle School | Maria Cruz |
| McLean 6th Grade School | Tracy Rogers |
| McLean, W.P. Middle School | Tracy Smith |
| Meacham, W.A. | Charis Hustead |
| Meadowbrook Middle School | Bradley Barrett |
| Middle Level Learning Center | Cecilia Zamora |
| Monnig, William Middle School | John Foster |
| Nolan Catholic High School | Bridget Guccione |
| North Side High School | Francisco Manzanarez |
| North Side High School | Kelly Richey |
| Paschal, R.L. High School | Monica Marchi |
| Paschal, R.L. High School | Matthew Stroup |
| Polytecnical High School | Josue Cardenas |
| Riverside Middle School | Brad Demeurisse – 6th grade |
| Riverside Middle School | Jillian West – 7th grade |
| Riverside Middle School | Christina Herubin – 8th grade |
| Rosemont Middle School | Detra Newton |
| Saginaw High School | Heath Dollar, Kari Summers |
| South Hills High School | Christy Lea |
| Southwest High School | Kevin Watterson |
| Stripling, W. C. Middle School | Nathan Henderson |
| Texas Academy of Biomedical Science | Jay Kurima |
| Texas Academy of Biomedical Science | Erin Blythe |
| Trinity Valley School | Dr. Michael Roemer |
| Wedgwood 6th | Kay Blackston |
| Wedgwood Middle School | Melissa Conyers |
| Western Hills High School | Gladys Scott |
| World Languages Institute | Guadalupe Barreto |
| Young Men’s Leadership Academy | Gina Powell |
| Young Women’s Leadership Academy | Bethanie Skipper |
2013-09-19 04:46
Sister Cities Partners with Area Schools on Global Fluency Fort Worth Sister Cities welcomed and recognized the newly appointed International Academic Ambassador Chairs recently at a reception held in the Botanic Gardens. These educators are selected by the principals in their schools to serve in this capacity for one academic year. Since 1999, Sister Cities International has established a successful network of school partnerships with public and private middle and high schools with the specific goal of creating and promoting awareness of international educational opportunities for Fort Worth youth and educators. These Ambassador Chairs continue to be an invaluable component of Sister Cities’ international programs to provide youth with relevant cultural experiences preparing them to be successful in today’s global society and workplace. And, for the teachers, these programs serve as a resource for global educational enrichment. As we begin the new school year, Fort Worth Sister Cities has planned numerous international initiatives in which local youth and teachers are invited to participate. Congratulations to the 2013/14 Class:
| All Saints Episcopal School | Angela Kornman |
| Applied Learning Academy | Kimberley Hanna |
| Arlington Heights High School | Sefakor Amaa |
| Boswell High School | Heath Dollar |
| Carter-Riverside, Amon High School | Robert Landreaux |
| Como Montessori Middle School | Julie Mullender |
| Chisholm Trail High School | Janet C. Reynolds |
| Daggett Montessori Middle School | Lori Zarate |
| Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School | Liliana Hinojosa |
| Dunbar High School | Shatiqueka Carson |
| Elder, J.P. | Matti Kruse |
| Fort Worth Academy | Chandra Hough |
| Fort Worth Country Day School (MS) | Tara Forrest |
| Fort Worth Country Day School | Dr. James Aldridge |
| Hill School of Fort Worth | Roxann Breyer |
| International Newcomer Academy (HS/MS) | Kelly McDaniel LaFarge |
| Kirkpatrick Middle School | Barbara Stewart |
| Leonard Middle School | Maria Cruz |
| McLean 6th Grade School | Tracy Rogers |
| McLean, W.P. Middle School | Tracy Smith |
| Meacham, W.A. | Charis Hustead |
| Meadowbrook Middle School | Bradley Barrett |
| Middle Level Learning Center | Cecilia Zamora |
| Monnig, William Middle School | John Foster |
| Nolan Catholic High School | Bridget Guccione |
| North Side High School | Francisco Manzanarez |
| North Side High School | Kelly Richey |
| Paschal, R.L. High School | Monica Marchi |
| Paschal, R.L. High School | Matthew Stroup |
| Polytecnical High School | Josue Cardenas |
| Riverside Middle School | Brad Demeurisse – 6th grade |
| Riverside Middle School | Jillian West – 7th grade |
| Riverside Middle School | Christina Herubin – 8th grade |
| Rosemont Middle School | Detra Newton |
| Saginaw High School | Heath Dollar, Kari Summers |
| South Hills High School | Christy Lea |
| Southwest High School | Kevin Watterson |
| Stripling, W. C. Middle School | Nathan Henderson |
| Texas Academy of Biomedical Science | Jay Kurima |
| Texas Academy of Biomedical Science | Erin Blythe |
| Trinity Valley School | Dr. Michael Roemer |
| Wedgwood 6th | Kay Blackston |
| Wedgwood Middle School | Melissa Conyers |
| Western Hills High School | Gladys Scott |
| World Languages Institute | Guadalupe Barreto |
| Young Men’s Leadership Academy | Gina Powell |
| Young Women’s Leadership Academy | Bethanie Skipper |
2013-09-03 10:30
Students from the Instituto de Motti at Fort Worth Culinary School Eight culinary students and teachers from the Instituto de Motti, a culinary school in Fort Worth’s sister city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, arrived yesterday for a two-week exchange. The students will be hosted by the Fort Worth Culinary Institute while visiting. This is the fourth inbound exchange with the Motti Institute. First day in Texas for the students from Reggio Emilia and they have already learned to make chicken fried steak at Trimble tech high school. ~Culinary School of Fort Worth The Italian students will have hands on experience and learn about Texas cuisine at internships that have been arranged for them by Heather Kurima, Director of the Fort Worth Culinary School. They will intern at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel, The Ashton Hotel and Reata Restaurant. “This is a unique experience for students from both schools to learn from each other while sharing their culture. Plus we all get to enjoy some wonderful Italian cuisine,” said Kurima. In partnership with FWISD’s Gold Seal Program, the students will also visit area high schools. Visits are planned to Trimble Technical High School where they will be introduced to some Texas cuisine including Chicken Fried Steak and South Hills High School for some Southwestern Chili. In turn the Italian students will demonstrate how to make homemade pasta from scratch. The students are also preparing a special meal for invited guests to sample some of Italy’s delicacies. The menu will include the famous Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and Balsamic vinegar followed by a traditional Italian meal of anti pasta, primi and secundi dish and dolce all prepared by the students. This event has been sold out for weeks. Reggio Emilia was Fort Worth’s first sister city partner signing an official agreement in 1985. Since that time exchanges have occurred in sports, education, economic relations and culture.
Vote NOW for your Favorite Celebrity Dance Couples
Special entertainment will be provided by the “African Hip Hopsters” dance group accompanied by Fort Worth’s own Mondo Drummers. The Hip Hopsters are a group of local community leaders, including Mayor Price herself, dancing a hip hop routine to authentic live African drum music. Guests at the Mayor’s Dinner will be entertained by the dancing celebrity couples and Hopsters throughout the evening and will dine on cuisine from Fort Worth’s sister cities. All this is being done in an effort to raise funds to support the educational, cultural and economic opportunities provided by Sister Cities to the citizens of Fort Worth. For more information or to sponsor go to the Sister Cities’ website www.fwsistercities.org or call Mae Ferguson at 817/632-7104.2013-08-21 10:38
Vote NOW for your Favorite Celebrity Dance Couples
Special entertainment will be provided by the “African Hip Hopsters” dance group accompanied by Fort Worth’s own Mondo Drummers. The Hip Hopsters are a group of local community leaders, including Mayor Price herself, dancing a hip hop routine to authentic live African drum music. Guests at the Mayor’s Dinner will be entertained by the dancing celebrity couples and Hopsters throughout the evening and will dine on cuisine from Fort Worth’s sister cities. All this is being done in an effort to raise funds to support the educational, cultural and economic opportunities provided by Sister Cities to the citizens of Fort Worth. For more information or to sponsor go to the Sister Cities’ website www.fwsistercities.org or call Mae Ferguson at 817/632-7104.
Longtime Fort Worth Sister Cities member Michael S. Hyatt was presented the Sister Cities International Chairman’s Award at the national conference held in San Antonio July 10—14. This award is presented to an individual at the discretion of the Chairman of the Board of the national organization. When asked why Mr. Hyatt was honored, Board Chair Tom Lisk of Richmond, Virginia said this:
“It was my honor to present the Chairman’s Award to a past Chair of Sister Cities International, Mike Hyatt, in recognition for all that Mike has done to advance Sister Cities, locally, nationally and internationally since he completed his term as Chairman in 2010. Mike easily could have stepped away after his successful two year term as Chairman leaving it to others to carry the torch. Instead, he has continued to be very active with his local program in Fort Worth and has continued to be a leader at the national level, including serving as a trusted advisor and mentor to me as the current Chair. Also, Mike’s early and very generous support of the SCI Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C. was critical to the success of our largest fundraising event in many years. So, it was with great appreciation and deep respect that I was honored to give to Mike Hyatt the Chairman’s Award in recognition of his devotion of time, talent and treasure to Sister Cities International.”
Hyatt has been a member of Fort Worth Sister Cities for thirteen years serving as Chairman of the Board, Treasurer, Government Relations Chair and Nagaoka, Japan Chair, as well as many other leadership positions. In addition to his work with Sister Cities, Mike also serves on the Fort Worth Zoo board of directors as Treasurer and on the Oklahoma State University Foundation board.
