In the late 1950’s, while Clifton Brakenseik was mayor of Bellflower, he attended a National Conference for Mayors in Washington, D.C. At that conference, the State Department was encouraging those mayors to establish sister city relationships with cities all over the world with the thought that the cultural and personal interactions brought about by the relationships would go a long way toward promoting World Peace.
Mayor Brakenseik was aware of an existing friendship between Rotary Club of Bellflower and Los Mochis, Mexico, and suggested, based on that relationship and our proximity to Mexico, that Los Mochis would be the obvious city with whom to pursue a sister city status. He was told that Mexico was impossible – no other city in the United States had found success when trying to establish a sister city relationship with a city in Mexico. Nevertheless he consulted Dr. Earl Hoggard and Mr. Howard Shug of Bellflower Rotary Club and they all got together with Rotarians and city officials in Los Mochis and Bellflower. Thus, Bellflower became the first city in the United States to have a sister city in Mexico.
In 1959 and 1960 there was a three-week exchange program between Bellflower High School students and high school students of Los Mochis. The first year that the students exchanged for the entire school year was in 1961.
The student exchange ended many years ago and the constraints and regulations of our schools are such that it is doubtful that we will ever again see a student exchange. The people to people exchange continues to be as healthy and active as ever. A delegation or group of approximately forty people visits Bellflower from Los Mochis in the fall of each even-numbered year, and a group about the same size from Bellflower visits Los Mochis each odd-numbered year. Our program differs from other sister city programs in that this is truly a “people to people” exchange. People from all walks of life participate – because they want to do so, not because they are selected by a committee or city government officials. Visitors do not stay in a hotel; they stay with families in the host city. Just as you and I would entertain beloved relatives who are visiting from out of town for a week, each city entertains its sister city. When the group from Los Mochis comes to Bellflower they tour City Hall, the Library, schools and shops, etc. They are entertained throughout the week, as we are in Los Mochis, with dinners, trips to points of interest, shopping, parties at individuals’ homes, and sometimes, Disneyland.
We are a non-profit (501 C (3) ) organization and the only way to keep this program alive is through fund raising activities of the Committee, and the generous donations of Service Clubs, and Bellflower businesses. Thank you for your support and donation.
Mayor Brakenseik was aware of an existing friendship between Rotary Club of Bellflower and Los Mochis, Mexico, and suggested, based on that relationship and our proximity to Mexico, that Los Mochis would be the obvious city with whom to pursue a sister city status. He was told that Mexico was impossible – no other city in the United States had found success when trying to establish a sister city relationship with a city in Mexico. Nevertheless he consulted Dr. Earl Hoggard and Mr. Howard Shug of Bellflower Rotary Club and they all got together with Rotarians and city officials in Los Mochis and Bellflower. Thus, Bellflower became the first city in the United States to have a sister city in Mexico.
In 1959 and 1960 there was a three-week exchange program between Bellflower High School students and high school students of Los Mochis. The first year that the students exchanged for the entire school year was in 1961.
The student exchange ended many years ago and the constraints and regulations of our schools are such that it is doubtful that we will ever again see a student exchange. The people to people exchange continues to be as healthy and active as ever. A delegation or group of approximately forty people visits Bellflower from Los Mochis in the fall of each even-numbered year, and a group about the same size from Bellflower visits Los Mochis each odd-numbered year. Our program differs from other sister city programs in that this is truly a “people to people” exchange. People from all walks of life participate – because they want to do so, not because they are selected by a committee or city government officials. Visitors do not stay in a hotel; they stay with families in the host city. Just as you and I would entertain beloved relatives who are visiting from out of town for a week, each city entertains its sister city. When the group from Los Mochis comes to Bellflower they tour City Hall, the Library, schools and shops, etc. They are entertained throughout the week, as we are in Los Mochis, with dinners, trips to points of interest, shopping, parties at individuals’ homes, and sometimes, Disneyland.
We are a non-profit (501 C (3) ) organization and the only way to keep this program alive is through fund raising activities of the Committee, and the generous donations of Service Clubs, and Bellflower businesses. Thank you for your support and donation.
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