sergio jimenez
My story is an unlikely one. Statistics would suggest that I should be incarcerated or dead due to youth violence. Yet, counter to all logic, I’m a representative in the 10th largest city in the United States, representing well over 100,000 residents from diverse backgrounds. As an immigrant from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, raised by a single mom in East San Jose and who was the first in my family to attend college, my story is unlikely yet I believe only possible here in San Jose, a city rich in diversity and opportunity.
The dynamism embodied by the beautiful diversity of our city confirms for me the importance and quite frankly, the necessity, of building bridges across cultures. In this ever-shrinking world, we must fill the void between countries, cultures, and people, by building a bridge of communication, appreciation, understanding, and partnership. The interaction between cultures in San Jose is truly a microcosm of what Sister Cities International does within countries and cities around the world! For this reason, at every opportunity, I’ve been an active participant in Sister Cities International events.
Several years back I had the opportunity to be part of a delegation of leaders visiting Guadalajara, Mexico, to learn about its industries and opportunities for collaboration. I also had the distinct honor of being part of the delegation to visit San Jose’s sister city, Okayama, Japan, in which we learned about Japan’s culture, industry and people. Participation in both trips left a profound impression on me.