ActivitiesHermosillo Fire Relief Fund
Please make a tax deductible donation today or donate your vehicle to help support the Hermosillo Fire Relief Fund!
In 2009, the Hermosillo Fire Relief Fund was created to benefit the victims and their families impacted by the fire at the ABC Day Care in Hermosillo, Mexico. All donations are given directly to Hermosillo's social services agency, Hermosillo DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia). At the time of the blaze, 142 children were inside the day care center. To date, the fire has killed 49 children and left dozens fighting for their lives.
Occupational Therapy Group Travels to Hermosillo Mexicoby Mary Jane Trunzo Rachel Diamant, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, associate professor, and Melissa Clark, MS, OTR/L, CHT, assistant professor, A.T. StillUniversity’s Arizona School of Health Sciences occupational therapy (OT) program, led an OT delegation to Hermosillo, Mexico, to promote an interdisciplinary cultural exchange experience for students and healthcare practitioners. The Sister Cities Disability Awareness Committees of Phoenix and Hermosillo sponsored the OT delegation which was in Hermosillo Feb. 28 through March 4. Along with Dr. Diamant and Clark, the delegation included seven second-year OT students: Liza Travis, Jennifer Clugston, Estefania Shockley, Angela Martinez, Saundra Watts, Shira James, and Patrick Conway. Dr. Diamant and Clark presented a two-day training workshop about the uses and applications of kinesiology tape for 25 physical therapy students of the Universidad de Valle de Mexico (UVM) and 25 local healthcare practitioners, including members from DIF Municipal y Cuidades Hermanas de Hermosillo, Dr. Reynaldo Trujillo Felix from Medicina de Rehabilitacion, and members of a local group of athletic trainers. The workshop provided an overview of the profession of occupational therapy and a lecture on the uses of kinesiology tape in the management of pain, swelling, joint and muscle support due to injury or disease. Students and practitioners also had the opportunity to experience the use of kinesiology tape application for specific joints and muscles of the body during the lab portion of the workshop. To promote the cultural exchange focus of the Sister Cities mission, individuals and agencies of Phoenix and Hermosillo coordinated their efforts to ensure success of this experience. The ATSU OT program prepared the training booklets and loaned scissors and markers for the workshop. Patterson Medical Corporation donated the rolls of kinesiology tape for the workshop lab practical component. Laboratory space for the workshop was provided by UVM. The Hermosillo Sister Cities Committee organized transportation and social events for the members of the OT delegation to meet with local healthcare practitioners, UVM faculty and students, DIF, and other prominent citizens of the Hermosillo community. UVM physical therapy students provided housing for the ATSU OT faculty and students. “I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of this trip,” said Clugston. “I felt welcomed and appreciated by the Sister Cities and host students that opened up their homes and classrooms to us. This was an inspiring trip that not only offered a medical exchange of knowledge, but a cultural one as well.” “The sharing of ideas and discussion of healthcare and rehabilitation services, and discussion of plans for future training workshops, allowed for a valuable cultural exchange and experience for all involved,” said Dr. Diamant.
Rondalla Y Grupo De Danza Folklorica Mexicana De C.B.T.I.S. #11 De Hermosillo, Sonora, MexicoOn Friday, February 1, 2013 at 7pm, the Rondalla and Grupo de Danza Folklorica Mexicana of C.B.T.I.S. #11, provided Phoenicians with an evening of entertainment many will soon not forget. Sponsored by the Central High School Global Studies Program, these performers came all the way from Hermosillo, Mexico to demonstrate their talents in Rondalla (a unique harmonic blending of stringed instruments, mostly guitars, of every size and description, and human voices which dates back to medieval Spain) and Ballet Folklorico (an event with numerous costume changes to represent Regional Dance Styles from different parts of Mexico). One event-goer was shocked to find that these performers were only high school students, claiming that they were better than many professional performers she had seen.
"I can only suggest that you watch next February for the return of these Eminent Emissaries of Hermosillo, and make sure you have the opportunity to witness their artistry for yourself." - Mike Rakowsky, Hermosillo Committee Chair
by Mike Rakowsky
With Phoenix’ Official Delegation and St. Mary’s High School Band in Ireland, it pretty much fell to the Kennedy Clan and me to raise the banner for Phoenix Sister Cities during this year’s St. Patty’s Day Parade. The Kennedys and this year’s Ennis Youth Ambassadors represented their City Committee, and, representing Hermosillo, I managed to show up with a 47-Member Delegation of the Banda de Guerra (Drum & Bugle Corps) from Colegio Regis in Hermosillo. Believe it or not, this constituted the group’s 11th Straight Appearance in the Parade, and they annually win the bet for longest journey. On this bright sunny day, with the temperature headed for 90, our group showed forth in proud fashion. While their presence in the early years stirred some little confusion and necessitated translation opportunities, we have become well-recognized and highly-anticipated to the point that the Parade Announcer this year actually pronounced their name reasonably well and proclaimed them “A Perennial Fan Favorite”!!! As the group disembarked, retired the colors and switched into their civvies in preparation for the requisite ‘All You Can Eat’ Pizza Buffet, they were welcomed and addressed by our City Council Liaision, Michael Nowakowski and two of his sons. He had very warm remarks and took a photo with the group. All’s well, and our young friends now begin plotting, planning and preparing for next year’s Wearin’ o’ the Green!
Annual Shadow Mountain High School ExchangeThe annual Shadow Mountain High School exchange to Hermosillo includes a community service project. This year the distributed gift cards that the Hermosillo Committee purchased from funds that were donated to the Committee's annual toy drive. Each family was given a gift card valued at $100.00.
Shadow Mountain High School: students met with the Mayor of Hermosillo, Javier Gandara, as well as Consul General John Bridenstien, U.S. Consulate Office in Hermosillo.
Shadow Mountain High School Exchange: students have a fun on the beach at Kino Bay and toured the Hermosillo flour mill, learning the entire process of turning wheat seeds to flour.
Local Toy DriveThe Phoenix Sister Cities Hermosillo Committee holds a toy drive every year to assist the local women & children's shelter "De Colores".
Press Conference for the Hermosillo Fire Relief FundJune 8, 2011
Colegio Regis' Banda de Guerra (Drum & Bugle Corps) Makes Tenth Annual Trek to PhoenixBy Mike Rakowsky
The city of Hermosillo is Phoenix's longest Sister City partnership, now in its 32nd year. For more information, contact the Phoenix Sister Cities office at 602-534-3751. |
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico was Phoenix’s very first Sister City, becoming official friends nearly 35 years ago. Over that time period, we have conducted exchanges of students, educators, sports teams, business leaders, professionals of all fields of endeavor and helped each other in so many ways. On June 5th, 2009, Hermosillo really needed our help. In a tragedy almost beyond belief, a terrible fire broke out in a daycare center for small children ages 1-3. 
