Young Ambassadors Trip to GZ - A Great Success

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The Los Angeles Community College District, the Los Angeles Mayor's Youth Ambassadors program and the Los Angeles Guangzhou Sister City Association partnered with the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou to host a group of Community College students to visit Guangzhou in July 2024. The students gathered with the LAGSCA Board of Directors and program sponsors in September to hear a report on the students, impressions and experiences.

Universally the students were enthusiastic about the experience and had much to share with the group. During their stay in Guangzhou they "saw the sights", met with students from the Guangzhou City Polytechnic and definitely enjoyed the Cantonese dining adventures. After the informative, cultural and fun time in Guangzhou the group had an extra bonus.  They went to Beijing to see its treasures and life in the north.

After a traditional Chinese dinner each of the students shared with us their impressions and lasting memories.  One student summed it up very succinctly when she said "We did not see them as people.  We saw them as friends". All the dinner guests smiled, nodded their heads and said that is the real meaning of "people to people friendship". 

Many of the persons who had sponsored the students' travel expenses were at the event to receive the heartfelt thanks and gratitude from the of students who developed new lifelong friends of China. A true life changing experience.

Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon) Banquet

First Image: From Left: Peter H. Antoniou, LAGSCA Co-President, Guo Shaochun, PRC Consul General of LA, Fred Hong, LAGSCA Co-President, Judy Chu, Member of US Congress, Paula Madison, LAGSCA Board Member, Mary-Claire Sei, Executive Assistant, LA City Mayor’s Office.

The Los Angeles Guangzhou Sister City Association started the Year of the Dragon in grand fashion.  Members and guests ushered in the Ney Year at our annual dinner on Feb 25th, 2024. Our elegant traditional feast was preceded by a reception giving everyone a chance to exchange news and greetings for the new year.  

After dinner our co-presidents, Fred Hong and Peter H. Antoniou emceed the evening's program. We were honored to hear from Representative Judy Chu and our board member Paula Madison.

The association is co-sponsoring a group of Los Angeles Community College District students on a visit to our sister city --Guangzhou. The city's Foreign Affairs Office is arranging all the activities and accommodations for the group. The association has pledged to support the transportation for the travelers.  Our guests were extremely generous in offering to sponsor individual students. Additionally, some local businesses and organizations will be spooring a student. 

About one of Our Members

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A hearty congratulations to our member and director Dr. Nancy Pine on the publication of her latest book, “One in a Billion: One Man’s  Remarkable Odyssey Through Modern-Day China”.

This heart-wrenching story immerses readers in the dramatic survival of one outspoken man who illuminates the souls of a billion ordinary Chinese citizens. An Wei (a stubborn, hardworking peasant who has lived by his values and stood up for his convictions) has succeeded against all odds in the authoritarian environment of China. Despite grinding poverty, hunger, reeducation campaigns, and attacks from jealous peers, An Wei continues to inspire with his daring achievements, such as launching a democratic congress in his village. His compelling life provides a vivid backdrop for understanding the development of modern China from the unique perspective of an outspoken citizen. Through his audacious determination and survival skills forged in rural poverty, An Wei’s unstoppable drive to improve himself and rural China will captivate and enthrall readers. Her website can be found at https://nancypine.info/

Nancy said of this man’s life, “For me, An Wei’s life, his accomplishments, his fearlessness, and his drive to make his world better, showed that one individual could challenge authority and make a difference while upholding his core values. It is a story worth telling!”

Nancy Pine has traveled and studied in China for decades. She holds a Ph.D. in education and is one of the leading American experts on Chinese early childhood education, which led to her book, Educating Young Giants, published by Palgrave Macmillan. She has taught everything from kindergarten to graduate school and founded the Bridging Cultures US/China Program. At Mount Saint Mary’s University, she has advised the administration and faculty on China.