U.S./Mexico Sister Cities Association's
49th Annual National Convention

Hosted in Culver City by the Culver City Sister City Committee, Inc

FRIDAY

3:00-6:00pm REGISTRATION  CULVER HOTEL

5:30-8:00pm   ENTERTAINMENT AT TOWN PLAZA

SATURDAY

 8:00-12:00am   REGISTRATION AT CITY HALL

 8:00--4:00pm    Exhibitors • Artisans & Organizations  at CITY HALL 

 9:00-12:00pm   GENERAL OPENING SESSION CULVER CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
         
  Flag Presentations & National Anthems

 Welcome: USMSCA President George Barks

Introduction: Barbara Honig, Culver City Sister City Committee, Inc. President

Welcome: Micheál O'Leary, Mayor of Culver City, CA USA

Introductions of visiting Mayors and V.I.P.’s. by President Barks                   

USMSCA BUSINESS SESSION

Keynote Speaker: Sr. David Figueroa Ortega,
  Los Angele's Mexican Consul General
  "Mexico's economic and political update"

12:15-1:45pm  THEMED LUNCHEONS
"Gastrodiplomacy"  • Career opportunities in the Foreign Service/State Department"  • Student Ambassadors -  Today's youth, tomorrow's leaders         

 2:00-2:50pm                                                                             

Speaker: George Novinger, Regional Director, U.S. Dept. of  State  Theme: What is the Office of Foreign Missions?                                               

 2:00 - 2:50pm   Speaker: Tomas Torres, Director  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - San Diego Border      Office U.S./Mexico Border Program Coordinator
 Theme:  "U.S./Mexico Border Environment: Border 2020 Part 1

 2:55-3:40pm     Speaker: Tomas Torres, Director  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - San Diego Border  Office U.S./Mexico Border Program Coordinator

  Theme:  "U.S./Mexico Border Environment: Border 2020 Part 2

2:55-3:40pm   Speaker: Christine Parra    Culver City Fire Department

Theme: “Equipo de Respuesta a Emergencias Comunitarias   (Community Emergency Response               Team, CERT)”  and Speaker: Paul Hawkins "How other Sister City Associations can access Paramedic Training and supplies

3:50-4:40 pm    Speaker: María Rosa García-Acevedo,  PhD. California State  University Northridge, Political       Science Department

 Theme: "Why is it important to have relationships with Mexico?"                                                                                                                           

 3:50 - 4:40pm   Speaker:  Paul Rockower, Director of Communication American Voices, American Music Abroad Program
Theme: Art in Difficult Places: American Voices' Cultural
Diplomacy

6:30-10:00pm    GALA DINNER DANCE at the Culver City  Marriott   •