Global Initiatives Week Kick-off

Population: 2,722Ireland's flag

Sister City relationship with La Crosse established in 2005

Points of Interest

Historic Bantry House and Gardens

• Overlooking Bantry Bay on the Atlantic Ocean
• Large market town providing commercial, retail and tourism activities
• Designated outdoor activity hub in West Cork with activities including water sports, horse riding, angling, walking trails and cycling.
• Known for raising and harvesting mussels
• Raised plaza in its main square where public art and music abound
• The Bantry House and Gardens, The West Cork Chamber Music, Masters of Tradition (music) and West Cork Literary Festivals

La Crosse-Bantry Friendship Association Logo Established in 2005, the La Crosse-Bantry Friendship Association is La Crosse's link to Ireland. 

The mission of La Crosse-Bantry Friendship Association, Inc. is to promote people-to-people diplomacy between Bantry, Ireland and La Crosse, Wisconsin, and to educate by facilitating exchanges and projects so that people may develop a better understanding of each others' culture, city and country. 

Our relationship with Bantry, Ireland, is unique and features cooperative efforts in such diverse activities as education, sports, the arts, government agencies and public policy, business, and many others. Members at the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in downtown La Crosse, 2018

La Crosse's varied cultural backgrounds of its citizens has resulted in an environment that ensures foreign visitors are welcome. We support a variety of local cultural education programs, activities and events. Many of these events are supported and coordinated by the City’s International Committee.

In addition, the City of La Crosse has an active International Committee, which ensures representation from each of our seven Sister Cities. This committee brings together citizens interested in promoting international awareness and citizen diplomacy.

Population: 70,000Russia flag
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 1990

Points of Interest

• Located 80 miles north of Moscow, nestled along the banks of the Volga River
• Internationally known for the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research where physicists from many different countries work together
• 5 elements on the periodic table were discovered here including #105, Dubnium, and element #118, Oganesson which is named after Dubna Physicist, Yuri Oganesson
• Famous water skiing location
• Eclectic city that attracts scientists, industrialist, singers, dancers, film makers, painters and sportsmen

La Crosse Dubna Friendship Association

La Crosse Dubna Friendship Association Logo The La Crosse-Dubna Friendship Association (LDFA) is a sister city organization dedicated to social, educational, medical and cultural exchanges between Dubna, Russia, and La Crosse, Wisconsin.  The Association recently celebrated its 30^th anniversary.

The Association began in 1990 when peace lanterns brought the cities together.  These lanterns were floated down the Mississippi and Volga Rivers as a symbol of peace during the cold war.  From this beginning many additional activities and exchanges developed.  First was music highlighted by the Dubna Trio, three Russian musicians who brought the universal language of music to La Crosse.  Many medical exchanges, student exchanges, and educational exchanges followed. 

During the past several years LDFA has conducted its annual meeting with a MASLENITSA celebration. Maslenitsa is a favorite Russian folk holiday celebrated during the last week before Orthodox Lent, and much like Mardi Gras,  It involves a lot of feasting before the Lenten fast.  The food of choice is BLINI, the famous Russian pancake, made with lots of butter and served with sweet or savory toppings.  It is eaten as often as possible during this time as dairy products and sweets are to be given up during Lent. 

Our sister city, Dubna, is a scientific community north of Moscow on the Volga River.  It is home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, where the atom was first split, and where elements on the periodic table were discovered. 

Epinal E Logo Epinal is La Crosse’s oldest Sister city, established in 1986.France flag

Interesting Facts:

• Located in the Lorraine region at the foot of the Vosges Mountains in northeast France on the Moselle River
• Jeanne d’Arc was born in this region and is commemorated with a statue in the city. 
• Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial contains the graves of over 5,000 American soldiers from WWII.
• Each year high school students participate in an exchange, La Crosse area students visiting Epinal one year then hosting French students here the next.
• The origin of this sister city is the connection between La Crosse’s Trane Company and its International headquarters in Epinal, France.

The City of La Crosse, Sister Cities Committee, Epinal Cultural Exchange Program La Crosse - Epinal Cultural Exchange Committee (LECE) serves as a resource and link between La Crosse and Épinal, France to increase awareness of the differing cultures, to improve relations and to foster an environment of understanding between France and the USA through various cultural exchanges. We also foster the use of the French language by supporting area high school French programs & student exchanges. And members participate in conversational French groups & a French book group.

We continue to have official delegation visits, exchanges of students, musical groups, interns, business contacts and ongoing personal connections between the people of both cities.

History of activities:Epinal Chateau Logo

• annual delegations to Epinal, usually for their patron saint St. Nicolaus Day, sometimes other festivals, & always a visit to the American Cemetery near Epinal
• annual delegations here from Epinal , often at Riverfest or Oktoberfest.
• Yearly 20-25 person high school student exchange. One summer they come here, the next summer our students go there. Students are hosted in families for three weeks.
• music exchanges: UW-L Choir and orchestra to Epinal in 1996; 40 members of l’Orchestre d’Harmonie from Epinal here for 10 days in 2006; a guest conductor from Epinal led the La Crosse Symphony
• student internships in both cities
• Golf exchange here
• Soccer exchanges here and in Epinal
• Exchange of sculptures: in 2006 they received the La Crosse Players from us and we received the statue of Le Pinau, now in the fountain near the clock tower at Main St. & 2nd St.
• Log Rolling as a sport was introduced in Epinal in 2014
• yearly help with watering & maintenance in the La Crosse International Friendship Gardens
• Northwoods International Elementary 5th graders were paired with Epinal school children

Population: over 11,500Norway flag
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 2005

• County center for Sogn and Fjordane county
• Important commercial center including Sogn and Fjordane Regional Hospital, upper secondary school and colleges, county government branches and Governor’s administrative offices for Sogn and Fjordane and the Norwegian National Broadcasting
• Predominantly agricultural but some industry including hydroelectricity and aluminum
• Sogn og Fjordane includes largest glacier in mainland Norway
• Breheimen mountain range and deepest lake, Hornindalsvatnet
• Many famous waterfalls and churches

Population - 29,000Germany flag
Sister City relationship with La Crosse established in 2002

• Located in southeastern Germany, in Bavaria, on the Lech River near Augsburg and an hour from Munich or the Alps.
• Founded in 1264, Friedberg was famous for its watchmakers and pottery.
• The Renaissance Friedberg Castle, home of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, is a museum.
• Parts of the original medieval wall still surround the old town center and the Baroque town hall.
• Every third year a 10-day “Altstadtfest” (Old City Festival) recreates their Renaissance heritage with historic costumes, performances, crafts and cuisine.
• A student exchange, begun in 1989, continues between Logan High School and Gymnasium-Friedberg. Students attend school, stay with host families & experience each other’s cultures.

The La Crosse Area German Relations Association, Inc. (LAGRA) has as its mission to foster a productive international relationship with its Partner City, Friedberg, Germany, to increase awareness of our area’s German heritage, and to promote the study of German culture and language in area schools.
Some of our activities include:

• welcoming &/or hosting Germans from Friedberg, our Sister City in Bavaria
• assisting with setting up tours for visiting Germans
• adult delegations to Friedberg
• German Heritage Day activities for students at the Northside Oktoberfest grounds
• Lincoln Middle School’s annual Oktoberfest dinner & entertainment
• 3rd graders at Northwoods Elementary International School have a partner class in Friedberg
• fundraising & supporting both Central’s and Logan’s high school German exchanges
• helping in the German Garden of the International Friendship Gardens at Riverside Park
• providing La Crosse area products for the annual Christmas Market in Friedberg

LAGRA is made up of volunteers, the Board of Directors is limited to 15 members, and in addition we count on many supporting members. We encourage you to consult the city website for more details on history, make-up and activities. There is also a link to our sister city and be sure to watch their promotional video, in English!

Food

The German Clubs at Central & Logan have a Spaghetti Eis machine which they use for fundraising. Cheese Spaetzle is a specialty of the Friedberg area, which our hosts have taught us to make.

Spaghetti Ice Cream German Cheese Spaetzle 

Travel

Friedberg is close enough for day trips to Munich & the Alps.

Visit Friedberg This is Germany Friedberg Museum 

Language

Have some fun with numbers, colors, alphabet!

0-100 Years in Germany Learn German: COLOURS - What's Missing? Game Learn ABC German alphabet Song (Deutsches Alphabet)

Books

Lieselotte celebrates birthday (Children's book-read aloud) The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Population: 80,000Cameroon flag
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 2013 in conjunction with The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s Common Venture program

Points of interest

• Second largest city in the NW Province of Cameroon
• Capital city of the NSO Kingdom
• Known for horse racing, traditional medicine, its palace, a market and two hospitals
• Lies within the English speaking area of Cameroon but French is also spoken as well as tribal languages

Population: 7 millionChina's flag
Sister city relationship with La Crosse established in 1997

Points of Interest

• Located near the Yellow River in north central China
• Cultural history of over 4,000 years which includes the Longman Grottoes, the White Horse Temple, Shaolin Monastery, and the Peony Festival
• Many museums, cave dwellings and historic architecture throughout the district
• Center for industry and agriculture including food processing and distribution, machinery manufacturing, petro-chemicals, building materials and textiles

UWL Global Cultures & Languages logo

The UWL Language Resource Center within the Department of Global Cultures & Languages is excited to celebrate the kick-off of Global Initiatives Week 2020!

Are you interested in discussing La Crosse’s global connections in another language? We invite you to join us at 2:30pm on Friday, November 13, when UWL student volunteers from the Conversation Partners program will be available to connect with you in Spanish, French, German, and Chinese to discuss their experiences engaging with global cultures and languages in the La Crosse community and beyond.

After a short introduction from the director of the Language Resource Center, attendees will split into break-out rooms for each of the different languages represented by attendees.

UWL Festival of Languages

Conversation Partners

November 13, 2020 | 2:30 p.m. | zoom

Please email Dane DeVetter to request the passcode for the Zoom meeting.

Join the meeting

Gundersen Global and Community Partners Global and Community Partners exists to improve the health and well-being of the global communities we serve by inspiring volunteerism throughout Gundersen Health System and local communities.

Global and Community Partners was created in 2008 to develop long-term, sustainable relationships and community-to-community partnerships that expand beyond Gundersen Health System's typical borders. This global health model will improve the overall health of the region, education of citizens and quality of life for people in our partner communities located in South Dakota, Central America, Ethiopia, as well as At School.

These partnerships are not one-sided. We learn from the communities we serve. By observing the resiliency of populations who have limited assets and resources and unique cultural approaches to solving problems, it will help us improve our own efficiencies and models of care and education.

Our volunteers contribute their time at talents in the following locations:

• At School, in the La Crosse and greater Coulee Region
• Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
• Central America
• Ethiopia, Africa

Mission: We exist to improve the health and well-being of the global communities we serve by inspiring volunteerism throughout Gundersen Health System and local communities.

Vision: We will be a model for community-to-community partnerships that empower global communities to improve their health and quality of life.

Core Values

• Sustainability: Bettering our partner communities for future generations
• Relationships: Partnering with respect and authentic listening
• Volunteerism: Giving our time and talents to serve others
• Stewardship: Acting responsibly with the resources entrusted to us

Every project developed through Global and Community Partners needs to demonstrate the program's core values of Sustainability, Relationships, Volunteerism and Stewardship.

608-775-9883

IB logo North Woods International School logo Nestled in the bluffs just minutes away from all La Crosse has to offer, is North Woods International Baccalaureate School. When you get here,  you’ll be greeted by our flourishing gardens, secluded grounds, outdoor learning spaces, ecoscape playgrounds, and an environment that builds curious learners in both school and the world beyond. You will meet highly qualified teachers-- more than a few of whom have received state recognition for teaching excellence and innovation. 

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) School, North Woods provides an education that is challenging, engaging, and relevant to students. Embedded in our curriculum are units and action projects that help students approach the world’s challenges. We celebrate student identities as well as our common humanity to build their enthusiasm to create a better world.

Each year, students learn about the International Baccalaureate attributes of being caring, thinkers, open-minded, risk-takers, communicators, inquirers, principled, balanced, knowledgeable, and reflective. This student-centered approach helps our students stay engaged in learning and contribute to the world in positive ways. Students at North Woods also begin learning Spanish in kindergarten and continue that education through fifth grade. Our LMC helps support this through both multicultural and bilingual resources.

One of the foundations of an International Baccalaureate education is to show students how to apply what they learn. We create interdisciplinary themes of global significance to show students how they fit into the greater context of our society. These units include Who We Are, Where We Are in Place and Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves, and Sharing the Planet. We connect to our community through our parent organization and community partnerships. 

Our interdisciplinary units support a rigorous curriculum with high expectations for all students. Our teachers are committed to preparing our students for their bright futures. North Woods is responsible for meeting the academic standards that high performing schools are based upon, and connect those standards to creating a happy and successful life.