Student Exchange Program

Meeting with PUSD Principal(s)

Isabella Warner, Chair of Student Exchange

Dr. Ayesha Randall, Chair, Education Committee, Dakar-Plateau, Senegal Subcommittee

Maryetta Knox, Dakar Representative Student Exchange Program

To: Dr. Lawton Gray, Principal of John Muir High

Thank you for meeting with myself Angie Gomez and Laura Terry members of the (PSCC) Pasadena Sister Cities Committee today Monday July 10. I recently read that your daughter Lauren a Junior at Muir was selected as Miss Black Pasadena and was in the February 2023 Black History Parade and that she attended Field Elementary School and took Chinese Speaking Classes.

LAURA TERRY (Chair of our China Sub-Committee) and myself wanted to outreach to you to help us encourage the Youth at your school that PSCC is another organization that the Youth can get involve with if they so desire. There is opportunities for them to create a PSCC Youth Committee and apply their leadership skills and opportunities to network and travel.

YOU mentioned that Muir High was having an OPEN HOUSE on Wednesday August 23 at 5pm and YOU would allow PSCC to have an information table. I am including the current President Taleen Hindoyan and the Executive Board on this e-mail so it can be discuss as to who of PSCC will make the commitment to be at John Muir High for Open House and work out the logistics with your staff.

In our discussion today it was interesting to find out that you were a former Principal at Temple City High School and knew of their city's Sister City Program Student Exchange with Australia. You also know the grandfather "Jerry" of a Pasadena Student J.R. we PSCC sent to Armenia in summer of 2018. Also that you knew Marguerite Hougasian (former member of PSCC) who was a teacher of yours when you graduated from Muir in 1973.

Regarding our Invite next PSCC August 19 meeting, we will make sure you get the Invite/ notification, time and location of meeting so that you and your family might consider getting to know more of our members. Please google our websites Pasadena Sister Cities, also Dakarpasadena.com and Sister Cities International for more info. Thank you so much for your time today.

Regards

Angie Gomez, PSCC Member

Click here to down the Student Exchange Application

Meet some of the Young Adults and Students

Christopher Morey

High School Student

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Makia Talbert

PCC Student, Studying Dance and Enertainment

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Elise Tervalon

PCC Student, West Africa Studies

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Savannah Morey

High School Student

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Kari-Somoya Kennedy

Nursing, Medical Industry

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Jonathan Kennedy

Law Enforcement

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Shomari Maynard

Chair of Finland, Pasadena Sister Cities

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Mya Taylor

Secretary, Dakar-Plateau, Senegal and Entertainment Industry

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Monet Bagneris

Music Producer, Manager and Singer

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Chrystina Black

Student and Intern

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Julien Kirui

Student and Intern

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Julieannah Awopetu

Consultant

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Treasure Sheppard

Pasadena Commissioner: Parks and Recreation

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Brandon Lamor

Chair, Housing Program Commissioner

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Tina Rios

Field Representative for Supervisor Kathryn Barger

Tina Rowe is an Indigenous woman of Apache Ancestry. She is a longtime resident of Pasadena and Altadena. She is a respected leader in her community and volunteers her time with many Pasadena non-profits and community organizations. She is a champion for child safety and a dedicated member of the Reimagine Child Safety Coalition and co-founder of the Reimagining Child Safety Group. It is because of her relentless advocacy work that she was awarded the 2021 Betty Fisher award. A top honor given to her by LA County Department of Public Health and the Domestic Violence Council. She loves to share her passion as a Native American living in Los Angeles.

Shanica Robertson

Nurse Practitioner

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Shantell Kennedy

Postpartum and Birth doula

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Jana West

Community Leader

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Join the Student Exchange Program

Providing experience in international affairs and citizen diplomacy to youth is a critical part of any sister city program. Activities often include student exchanges, virtual exchanges, and sports tournaments. These exchanges are often described by participants as “a life-changing experience,” and many current leaders in international affairs or diplomacy can trace their interest to their first sister city exchange.