HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport on Project InterchangeITEM #
8/20/13
REPORT ON PROJECT INTERCHANGE - BI-PARTISAN
DELEGATION OF SAN DIEGO OFFICIALS'
EDUCATIONAL VISIT TO ISRAEL
COUNCILMEMBER SOTELO-SOLIS
Bi-partisan Delegation of San Diego,
California Officials in Israel
July 22nd, 2013
Bi-partisan Delegation of San Diego, California Officials in Israel
Focus on Desalination, Integration of Immigrants, Cutting -Edge Hi Tech
(Jerusalem, ISRAEL) - A bipartisan delegation of prominent San Diego -area officials is
traveling in Israel for intensive dialogue and briefings. The educational seminar, led by
Project Interchange, an educational institute of AJC, in cooperation with the JCRC
(Jewish Community Relations Council) and the Jewish Federation of San Diego County,
follows a similar seminar for San Diego leaders first conducted in 2009.
The intensive seminar, featuring San Diego -area City Council members, Board of
Education leaders, and an Assembly Member, will focus on providing these policymakers
with a first-hand understanding of Israel, its rich and dynamic society, and often -times
complex realities. The visit, funded by the Jewish Community Relations Council of the
Jewish Federation of San Diego County, and not tax payers, includes meetings with
influential figures across Israel's political and social spectrum, including senior Israeli,
Palestinian and Israeli Arab figures.
In particular, the delegation will focus on sharing best practices on economic
development and technology start-ups, environmental management and renewable
energy, desalination technology (critical for San Diego), absorption and integration of
immigrant communities, education, and city administration. All of these areas are issues
of importance for the communities the San Diego -area officials represent.
Several sessions dealing with Israel's strategic environment, diversity and inter -group
issues and inter -religious cooperation will also be featured during the week-long
educational seminar, including initiatives that foster effective coexistence between Arabs
and Jews.
The delegation will also observe how Israel balances the preservation of its heritage with
modern municipal management, including energy and water management and the
provision of social services, demonstrating the unique challenges and successes of Israeli
cities and towns, and models for possible integration by the San Diego -area leaders.
Meetings and demonstrations of cutting -edge technology will take place with clean -tech
and high-tech companies to foster opportunities for collaboration and economic
partnership, to the benefit of both communities.
Sam Witkin, Executive Director of Project Interchange, noted, "Project Interchange is
tremendously pleased to host this delegation of San Diego -area city council members,
education, and community leaders to Israel. These officials represent a diverse set of
constituencies, but they share a common interest in job creation, high tech innovation,
and the successful absorption and integration of immigrants. As these are key priorities
for Israel as well, we hope participants will return home with a better sense of the
similarities between their communities and those in Israel."
Michael Sonduck, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego, in
commenting on the trip said, "Federation is very excited to partner with Project
Interchange through our JCRC in order to bring San Diego County elected officials and
community leaders to Israel together. Over our 75+ years of serving the San Diego
Jewish Community it has been our privilege to work closely with elected officials at all
levels of government. Trips like this only serve to strengthen our relationships by
providing elected officials first-hand experiences of Israel. We want to thank the elected
officials who joined us on this trip."
Linda Feldman, Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council commented that "I
am excited to be travelling to Israel with such a dynamic group of elected officials and
community leaders. The opportunity to learn first-hand about Israel and the San Diego
community's connections to this vibrant, democratic ally of the United States in the
Middle East is an invaluable experience."
Delegation participants include:
Council Member John Aguilera
Council Member John Aguilera was elected to the Vista City Council in November, 2010
and served as the Mayor Pro Tern in 2011.
Board of Education Trustee Richard Barrera
Board of Education Trustee Richard Barrera was first elected to the San Diego Unified
Board of Education in 2008, and again in 2012. Mr. Barrera was recently appointed to a
new position on the San Diego Imperial Counties Labor Council Board.
Board of Education Trustee Kevin Beiser
Mr. Kevin Beiser is currently the Vice President of San Diego Unified Board of
Education and was elected to the School Board in 2010. Mr. Beiser is also a math
teacher in the Sweetwater Union High School District at Granger Junior High School and
was named, "San Diego Math Teacher of the Year" in 2009.
City Council Member George Gastil
Council Member George Gastil has served on the Lemon Grove City Council since
2008. He also serves as Senior Field Representative for California State Assembly
member, Shirley Weber.
City Council Member Tony Kranz
Council Member Kranz was elected to the Encinitas City Council in 2012 and is working
to promote policies to protect our natural resources, improve the quality of life and
address social justice issues.
Council Member Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
In 2008, Alejandra Sotelo-Solis was elected to serve on the National City City Council
and was re-elected in 2012.
Assembly Member Shirley Nash Weber
Assembly Member Shirley Nash Weber was elected in November of 2012 to represent
California's 79th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Bonita, Chula Vista, La
Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City and San Diego.
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Project Interchange, a non-profit educational institute of AJC (American Jewish
Committee), develops and conducts educational seminars in Israel for American and
international leaders. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Project Interchange has brought
over 6,000 influential figures to Israel from 77 countries, offering them broad exposure
and first-hand understanding of Israel and the region.
www.projectinterchange.org