Santa Clara, Calif. - January 23, 2006 - The City of Santa Clara is one of four California cities to sponsor a Local Citizen Diplomacy Summit as part of the 50th anniversary of Sister Cities International. The public is invited to attend this important event, which will be held on Saturday, February 4, 2006, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Santa Clara's Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, in the Library's Redwood Room. More than 50 communities from around the U.S. are holding Citizen Diplomacy Summits. In addition to the City of Santa Clara, other California cities sponsoring a Summit include Los Angeles, Sacramento and Riverside.

"It is our expectation that the Citizen Diplomacy Summits will help raise public awareness of international interests in communities like Santa Clara," said Santa Clara Sister Cities Association President Andrew Ratermann. "The Summits provide a forum for participants to exchange perspectives on issues that affect the community's global engagement, and to propose action plans that will be presented at the National Summit on Citizen Diplomacy in Washington, D.C. in July 2006."

The results from Santa Clara's Summit will be shared with other communities and national leaders. A full report will be made to the Santa Clara City Council upon completion of the National Summit.

President and General Manager of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau, Steve Van Dorn, will be the keynote speaker. Santa Clara Mayor Patricia Mahan will provide introductions. Sister Cities International Communications Coordinator, Emily Carter, will fly in from Washington DC to assist with the Summit. The non-profit group Next Vista for Learning will provide video assistance for the Summit as well as document portions of the event.

Those wishing to attend can register or obtain more information via:
Email:
SCCitizenDiplomacy@yahoo.com
Mail:
Teresa O'Neill,
2822 Sycamore Way
Santa Clara CA 95051
Phone: 408-244-4548

Additional Information can also be found at http://www.citizen-diplomacy.org