Sister Cities of Los Angeles Re-Launch Gala

On November 9th, 2016, Sister Cities of Los Angeles (SCOLA) held a re-launch gala at Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles. The organization, which was founded in 1959, oversees Los Angeles’s 25 sister city relationships. SCOLA had become inactive after City Councilman Tom LaBonge, who had been a driving force behind the program in recent years, left office. However, with the recent appointment of Fabiola Vilchez as the Executive Director of Sister Cities of Los Angeles, SCOLA held a gala to celebrate it’s relaunch. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore and former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge, as well as the Chairpersons of L.A.’s different sister city organizations and consulate representatives were on hand for the celebration. Tom Gilmore and Fabiola Vilchez also unveiled a new logo for Sister Cities of Los Angeles at the event. The cities of Nagoya, Japan and Eilat, Israel were the first cities to become sister cities of Los Angeles in 1959 and the number of sister cities has now grown to be 25:

SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore and Executive Director Fabiola Vilchez

Front: Former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore. REAR: Chairpeople of the various sister city organizations of Los Angeles

Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter President Anthony Al-Jamie with SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore — Sister Cities International Southern California Chapter President Anthony Al-Jamie with Sister Cities of Los Angeles Chairman Tom Gilmore

Sister Cities International California State Representative Kathleen Roche-Tansey with SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore

SCOLA Executive Director Fabiola Vilchez and Sister Cities International SoCal President Anthony Al-Jamie with the new logo for Sister Cities of Los Angeles

New logo of Sister Cities of Los Angeles

German Consul General of Los Angeles Hans Jörg Neumann with SCI SoCal President Anthony Al-Jamie

SCI SoCal President Anthony Al-Jamie with former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge

Los Angeles Nagoya Sister City Affiliation Chair Teruko Weinberg with former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge

SCI California State Representative Kathleen Roche-Tansey, Los Angeles Nagoya Sister City Affiliation (LANSCA) Chair Teruko Weinberg and SCI SoCal President / LANSCA Vice-Chair Anthony Al-Jamie

SCOLA Chairman Tom Gilmore and former L.A. City Councilman Tom LaBonge with members of the Los Angeles Lusaka Sister City Committee