This program contributes to the ongoing success in promoting Portland as an excellent opportunity for a study abroad program for
Chinese students interested in our K-12 programs as well as university
studies here in Portland. According to a recent article in the Wall
Street Journal the number of Chinese K-12 students rose 290% since 2008.
There are now 360,091 Chinese students at US Universities. The benefits
are enormous in terms of immediate and future economic development as
well as global understanding and cooperation.
The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association in conjunction with Portland City Hall and Travel Portland participated in the welcoming
ceremony for each school from Suzhou. In the cover photo, Bonnie Starkey
has presented as a gift to the library of the Suzhou Experimental
Elementary School Education Group the “Big and Awesome Bridges of
Portland and Vancouver” by Portland author Sharon Wood Wortman and Ed
Wortman. Jeff Hammerly, Manager, International Tourism -Asia at Travel
Portland provided a Portland Travel Guide in Mandarin and a Portland
Souvenir Notebook to record the memories of their visit. A welcome
letter from Mayor Hales was also presented. This presentation was made
at the Cascade Heights Public Charter School. The French American
International School, Woodstock Elementary School, The International
School, Hosford Middle School and Cleveland High School also
participated in the Suzhou Student Exchange program. Portland Board
members presenting also included, Wei Nathan, Jenny Dong, Dr. Gao, Lynne
McIntyre and Robert Fraser.
This exchange program which was first initiated by PSSCA could not be possible without the support of parents, teachers and school
administrators as well coordinators Kojo Hakam, Curriculum Specialist,
Portland public Schools Mandarin Immersion Program, and Hongyu Cai,
Director of Skybridge International based in Portland, Oregon, a
subsidiary of the Wuzhong Group, Suzhou, China.
The Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association is a non-profit organization of volunteers whose mission is the promotion of
educational, cultural exchanges and business development between our two
cities. Our annual fundraising Evening Under the Stars Gala is
scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at the Lan Su Chinese Garden and is open
to the Public. For additional information and sponsorships, contact
Robert Fraser, Secretary at [email protected].
