Who we are
La Asociación de Ciudades Hermanas Portland Guadalajara ( PGSCA ) es una organización 501 ( c ) 3 sin fines de lucro dedicada a la creación y fortalecimiento de las asociaciones y el fomento de la buena voluntad entre la ciudad de Portland, Oregon y la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jalisco , México. PGSCA logra este esfuerzo a través de iniciativas de desarrollo cultural, educativo y económico .
Portland Sister Cities
Guadalajara fue fundada como ciudad hermana de Portland en 1983. La ciudad de Portland tiene otras 9 ciudades hermanas, entre ellos :
Our Mission
Our mission as a sister city organization is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation--one individual, one community at a time.
Some of the ways in which this is accomplished includes the development of municipal partnerships between Portland and Guadalajara, providing opportunities for city officials and citizens to experience and explore the culture of Guadalajara through long-term community partnerships, and by creating an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened.
Community Giving
Over the years, PGSCA has fiscally supported a number of organizations and causes in the community focusing on education, cultural exchange, the arts and other programs. PGSCA's multi-day Cinco de Mayo Fiesta held at Portland’s Tom McCall Waterfront Park provides the primary source of funding for the organization's charitable and cultural activities. The Cinco de Mayo Fiesta celebrates the richness and diversity of family, culture and community with authentic Latino art, music, dance, cuisine, and handmade crafts.
We support non-profit organizations and causes that meet our community giving criteria. PGSCA's capacity to provide financial support rests primarily on how well we fare with our annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. We will consider requests for financial contributions to organizations that provide support and services in the following areas:
- Education/Scholarships
- Cultural Exchange
- Arts and Athletics
- International Business/Economic Development
- Innovative Projects
Below are some of the organizations and causes that have been supported over the years:
Education
- Oregon Education Association received 50% of proceeds from merchandise sales and face painting at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
- Fundación Faro de Alejandria Nuevo Siglo A.C. in Guadalajara received 50% of proceeds from merchandise sales and face painting at the 2013 Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
- Hispanics in Unity for Oregon - Cesar Chavez Leadership Scholarships
- Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Scholarships
- Portland State University's Chicano/Latino Studies Program and Scholarships
- Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement (OCHA) LISTOS Alternative School
- SOL - Somos Orgullosos Latinos Scholarship Program
- Latinos of Oregon Golf Association (LOGA) Scholarships
Arts & Athletics
- Miracle Theatre Group arts outreach programs
- Mexican Women's Art Display at Portland City Hall
- L.E.a.R.N - Latino Educational and Recreational Network Events and the Oregon Latino Basketball Tournament, 2002
- Official sponsor of Chivas Soccer Match at PGE Park, 2002
Community Service
- PGSCA Team and contribution to Race for the Cure
- Portland Rose Festival and Unsung Heroes Banquet
- Cascade AIDS Program
- Hacienda Golf Tournament - Centro de Niños Child Care Center
- The Mexican Consulate and the Mexican Center
- Oregon Human Development Corporation's Hispanic Access Center - Naturalization and Education Program
Cultural Exchanges/International Trade
- Donation of a Fire Truck to the City of Guadalajara
- Donation of toys for a Guadalajara Childcare center for underprivileged children
- Translation services & assistance to Northwest medical teams to provide medical care to people injured in the earthquake in Mexico and Financial support to repair and rebuild, 1986
- Financial contribution to send a team of City of Portland Department of Environmental Services staff to help recovery efforts in the 1993 Guadalajara gas explosion
- Hosted the Young Ambassadors, 18 youth from Guadalajara who participated in a cultural exchange to Portland; hosted individual foreign exchange students from Guadalajara
- Hosted Mexican business representatives in several trade missions including the international trade mission in 2000, Semana de Guadalajara in Portland
- Donation of medical supplies and clothing for Guadalajara's AIDS ministry and financial support for orphanage based in Guadalajara
- Financial support for a Portland zoo keeper to travel to Guadalajara and to train other zoo keepers
- Hosted several visits of the Guadalajara Girls Youth Softball team in Portland enabling them to participate in an international softball tournament
- City of Portland Bureau of Fire & Emergency Services - BOMBEROS program - firefighter exchange & training program - Guadalajara & Portland
- Portland Oregon Visitor's Association events and brochure: "A Guide to Hispanic Heritage and Culture"