The four-day trip for a delegation from Woodland’s Sister City, La Piedad, Michoacán kicked off Wednesday morning with an official welcome reception and a visit to the Woodland Police Department.

The 10:30 a.m. reception was led by Mayor Victoria Fernandez and held in the Woodland City Council Chambers located at 300 First St. Fernandez presented a proclamation from the council to each of the 20 delegates detailing the two cities’ histories.

“Woodland established a Sister City relationship with La Piedad, Michoacán,” Fernandez read in Spanish. “This international friendship was established on Feb. 15, 2005, and we recognize the many Woodland residents with strong family ties with our sister city… and their valuable contributions to the city of Woodland.”

Fernandez also recognized and appreciated the international friendship with La Piedad de Cabadas, Michoacán, and surrounding communities Morelia, Zamora and Pátzcuaro.

The delegation included many notable civic leaders, including Dr. Natalia Alejandra Salinas Bravo, director of UNIVA Campus in La Piedad, who played a role in selecting delegation participants.

“We feel like we’re at home every time we visit,” Bravo emphasized in Spanish. “We are only separated by a border, but the hearts of Michoacános, particularly of those here in Woodland, keep our families together.”

She also noted that she was happy to receive a Woodland delegation and show them around La Piedad earlier this year but was eager to learn more from Woodland with the group of talented individuals accompanying her.

“Every time I come here, a part of my heart stays here but I feel very happy to be able to get to know each other so closely notwithstanding the distance,” Bravo remarked.María Teresa Mora Covarrubias, who deals with the Michoacán’s migrant population, expressed her gratitude for Woodland being a great place for people from her state to settle down.

“We represent migration in all of Michoacán… and it makes us excited to see that you have this sister city relationship that permits people from La Piedad to feel united through every one of these visits,” she highlighted in Spanish. “I know that you have also had some trips to our state and we’d love to have you again, you will always be welcome.”

Covarrubia then applauded Fernandez for her farmworker roots and her ability to work her way up to become mayor of a city representing 60,000 people, and her husband, Armando, for being from Michoacán and being a clear example that “through hard work, people can get ahead.”

“For us, it’s difficult when people choose to take on a journey where they displace themselves from their homes, but we understand that the migratory phenomenon is tireless,” she stressed.

“Many people, for different causes, choose to take on that trip.”

Jose Alejandro Arizaga Melgozz, who represents La Piedad’s Rotary Club, said he was excited that Woodland’s Sunrise Rotary Club extended an invitation to him and looked forward to working with them on a project.

“Tomorrow (Thursday), we’ll have a session precisely to try to bring an important project for our city,” he stressed in Spanish. “It’s nice that they’re making the effort to participate in this project and it’s very much appreciated.”

During a September Woodland City Council meeting, Woodland Sunrise Rotary Club member Ramon Urbano explained that his club is trying to enrich the relationship with La Piedad to eventually create a project “that will benefit their community.”

Urbano participated in the Woodland delegation that visited La Piedad recently and said he was able to find some of the needs the city and its surrounding region have.

“Hopefully, that will guide us in doing some project with La Piedad,” Urbano emphasized in September.

Following the welcome reception, the delegation toured the Woodland Police Department, where several police officers who spoke Spanish detailed certain aspects of police work, including digital and physical filing, evidence preparation, what questions officers can ask regarding immigrant status and more.

The delegation’s first day concluded at 6 p.m. with a dinner at The HIVE hosted by Josh Zeldner and his family.

Delegation members will attend the Yolo Farmworkers Festival in downtown Woodland Friday evening and participate in the city’s Stroll Through History Saturday morning prior to leaving.

Recent delegation visits have led to the development of goals and strategies to build economic opportunities and develop environmental sustainability plans through educational, governmental and business partnerships.

The relationship has led to a donation of Woodland buses for La Piedad’s underserved population, the development of a teacher exchange program between the local university and the Woodland Joint Unified School District, a donation of computers and sustainable agricultural techniques developed by UC Davis and more, according to city staff.