‘Strengthening our cultural ties’ Pasco hosts educators, delegates from Colima, Mexico
A year ago, a delegation of Pasco residents visited their sister city Colima, Mexico. Now a delegation from the Mexican city is visiting Pasco.
The auditorium at Pasco High School was buzzing with the chatter of students on a hot summer day. School may be out, but the students were there for an important reason — strengthening cultural ties between the two cities.
Sitting in the front row of the auditorium was a delegation of high-profile educators from Colima. Many of them took videos and snapped photos with their phones as the student band performed a series of spirited Mexican instrumentals.
It’s estimated about 20% of Pasco residents have ties to or are from Colima, the “sister city” of Pasco. In 2019, the Pasco-Colima Cooperation and Friendship Agreement was approved by city council.
A delegation of 21 representatives from Colima is visiting Pasco for one week, starting June 24. Last fall, Pasco officials made a weeklong visit to Colima. This year’s delegation is the largest yet.
The educational delegation spent the day on Thursday taking tours of Pasco School District’s offices, Marie Curie STEM Elementary and Pasco High School. The delegation included:
Adolfo Núñez González, Secretary of Education, Government of the State of Colima
Oscar Javier Solorio, Director of Engagement of the University of Colima
Armando Aguilera, Professor at Unidad 061, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional
Roberto Alejandro Melitón Reyes, Professor at Unidad 061, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional
María Guadalupe Galindo Gómez, Volunteer Program Coordinator, Department of Education & Culture
Miguel Angel Álátorre, Director of the Sinfónic Band of the State of Colima
Mareanne Silva, Mezzo Soprano Singer/Artist
At Pasco High School, the group also learned about the migrant summer school program and math initiatives.
Colima is a small, mountainous state on the southwest coast of Mexico with a population of 731,000. The largest industries are agriculture, tourism, fishing, and food processing and packaging.
A port in the state’s largest city of Manzanillo drives more than two-thirds of the state’s $6 billion economy and connects the wider country to international imports.
To cap the visit, the Colima-Pasco Friendsip & Collaboraton Association (COPA) is hosting a free concert on at 5 p.m. on June 28 at Peanuts Park with visiting Colima singer Mareanne Silva. The concert features the Mid-Columbia Symphony and other Coliman musicians.
