Friendship City Exchanges

On April 30, 2015, Poudre School District partnered with the City of Fort Collins and CSU to present a Virtual Concert featuring Bauder Pride Orff Ensemble, Lincoln Middle School Jazz Band, and the San Cristobal de las Casas Marimba Friends of the Sun. The concert was live-streamed between Fort Collins and Mexico. Watch the video for a brief highlight of the evening.

Elizabeth Ortega Narvaez, a graduate student at the University of the Environment, located in Valle de Bravo, in the Estate of Mexico, and her husband, Camilo Thompson, were in Fort Collins in February 2015 sharing their work on the management and preservation of sensitive ecosystems bordering urban environments. Camilo works for the City of San Cristobal in natural resources and wetland protection and played host to Mayor Weitkunaut during the visit between cities to sign the friendship agreement in 2013. Elizabeth and Camillo were also given a guided tour of urban natural areas within Fort Collins.

The presentation can be found here: Environmental Preservation Presentation

Kate Hamilton and Joelle Hamilton visited San Cristobal and surroundings in June 2014. Kate is a ecosystem services expert visiting the area to learn more about the latest conservation projects in Chiapas. Joelle did her CSU internship sponsored by Pronatura Sur and Caminando Mexico. She collected information about trails in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve to strengthen the ecotourism local projects in the area.

Doctor Eduardo Naranjo and his daughters Tania (left) and Cristina (right) of San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas Mexico recently visited Fort Collins for several days. Dr Naranjo is a professor at the University of the Southern Frontier where he teaches wildlife biology, ecology and is a faculty participant in the CSU Conservation Leadership Through Learning Program which involves students from the US, Mexico and elsewhere. Tania recently graduated from a Mexican university in Tuxtla Gutierrez with a degree in visual arts while Cristina studies environmental engineering at a university in Guadalajara. The Naranjos are part of a continuing number of exchanges between citizens of Ft Collins and San Cristobal that are a result of a Friendship Cities Agreement between Fort Collins and San Cristobal which was formalized last year when the Mayor, City Officials and CSU faculty visited the City.