Neighbors Abroad of Palo Alto

08/16/2026

What a wonderful afternoon at our Palo Delegation Open House! 🇵🇭

We were delighted to welcome so many new friends and familiar faces—and to see members of our 2025 Palo delegation reunited—against the vibrant backdrop of “Connected Worlds: Art and Artifacts from Palo Alto’s Sister Cities.”

Guests enjoyed delicious Filipino favorites, including Pansit (stir-fried noodles), Lumpia (savory spring rolls), Turom (banana fritters), and P**o (steamed rice cakes). Nodelyn Smith, our Vice President for Palo, Leyte, and Education, introduced Neighbors Abroad and shared highlights from our Palo programs.

We were also honored to welcome special guest Edwin Lozada, Co-Founder and Vice President of The Hinabi Project, who brought traditional Philippine textiles to life through the history and stories woven into them.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the open house such a success!

There is still one more weekend to experience “Connected Worlds” at the Pacific Art League:

📷 Friday, August 21, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Palo Alto Camera Club Night

🇰🇪 Saturday, August 22, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Oliveseed Foundation Open House featuring our friendship city of Narok, Kenya

We hope you’ll join us!

08/11/2026

We’re thrilled to share that Neighbors Abroad has received Sister Cities International’s Innovation in Youth and Education Award for our Jim Newton Scholarship program, benefiting students at Oaxaca’s Albergue Infantil Josefino! 🎉🏆

SCI Board Member Victor Wang accepted the award on our behalf in Washington, D.C., before presenting it to Sarah Burgess, our Oaxaca Co-Vice President, at the Connected Worlds art exhibit opening.

Thank you to Sister Cities International for this wonderful honor—and to everyone who makes this program possible!

Learn about our Oaxaca programs: https://neighborsabroad.org/cities/oaxaca-mexico/

08/09/2026

Nearly 100 guests packed the Pacific Art League for yesterday’s opening of our special art exhibition, “Connected Worlds: Art and Artifacts of Palo Alto’s Sister Cities.” Special thanks to our elected officials who showed their support, including County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, Mayor Vicki Veenker, and Councilmembers Pat Burt, Ed Lauing, George Lu, and Keith Reckdahl.

08/05/2026

Our upcoming art exhibit is making news! Read all about it, and then make plans to see us at the Pacific Art League on a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon from 8/7 - 8/22.

Exhibit features art and artifacts from cultural exchanges with 10 sister cities. It runs through Aug. 22 at the Pacific Art League.

08/04/2026

🎉 Two local young creators are receiving international recognition!

Congratulations to Gunn High School student Jiayu Gu and Greene Middle School student Zosia Clark, who placed in Sister Cities International’s 2026 Young Artists and Authors Showcase.

Jiayu, who attended JLS Middle School when she entered the contest, won second place in the poetry category for ages 12–14 with “Echoes of Tomorrow.” Zosia won third place in digital art for ages 12–14 with “Love Mother Earth.”

We are especially excited that both winning submissions will be featured in “Connected Worlds: Art and Artifacts from Palo Alto’s Sister Cities,” our free August exhibit at the Pacific Art League. Their work will join art, photography, textiles, and writings from Palo Alto and its partner communities around the world.

Come celebrate Jiayu and Zosia and experience the creativity that connects generations, cultures, and communities!

Exhibit hours at the Pacific Art League (668 Ramona St, Palo Alto):
Friday, August 7, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 8, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Friday, August 14, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 15, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Friday, August 21, 5:00–8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 22, 1:00–4:00 p.m.

08/02/2026

We're thrilled that our special exhibition, "Connected Worlds: Art and Artifacts from Palo Alto's Sister Cities," will be included in the first Palo Alto Art Walk of the season! Join us at the historic Pacific Art League on Friday August 7 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm for art, wine, and sweet treats. Note that, due to a Pacific Art League class, we will be both opening and closing later than the other galleries. (We're the official afterparty of the August Art Walk!) For more information on full exhibit dates and hours, visit https://neighborsabroad.org/connected-worlds-art-exhibit/

07/30/2026

From Albi to Yangpu, Neighbors Abroad members and friends have been hard at work traveling, hosting, and making connections around the world. Read all about our latest global exploits in a typically jam-packed edition of The Dispatch.

07/10/2026

Since 1963, Neighbors Abroad has been creating meaningful people-to-people connections between Palo Alto and its ten international Sister, Sibling, and Friendship Cities.

Our work thrives on local support. By becoming a member or renewing your membership, you’re not only helping us sustain global friendships and life-changing programs, you’re also joining a community of people who embrace citizen diplomacy.

Support Neighbors Abroad at the membership level that works for you, and be part of something that reaches far beyond city limits. Visit www.neighborsabroad.org/membership for more details on how you can help make a world of difference.

07/07/2026

We are honored to be featured by Pedals for Progress in their recent article highlighting a special shipment of sewing machines to Oaxaca!

This spring, 72 sewing machines made their way to Oaxaca. Through the collaboration of Neighbors Abroad, Pedals for Progress, Sewing Peace, the Rotary Club of North Hunterdon, Vidas y Sueños, and local partners in Oaxaca, these machines will help support women as they build skills, strengthen livelihoods, and create new opportunities through sewing and artisan work.

We are proud to be part of this meaningful effort and grateful for the many partners who helped make it possible.

Read the full story from Pedals for Progress to learn more about this shipment and the impact it will have in Oaxaca:

This spring, we are very happy to announce a shipment of 72 sewing machines that made their way across the border into Mexico. Marking our first shipment of aid to Mexico since 1999 it is an important and exciting milestone as we reflect on our 35 years of donating aid around the world. Through Neig...