Supervisor Lee and Sister County Commission Welcome Ukrainian Open World Delegation to Santa Clara County

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA – Supervisor Otto Lee and the Sister County Commission welcomed the Ukraine Open World Program Delegation with a flag raising and solidarity event at the James P. McEntee, Sr. Plaza on May 9, 2023. Board President Ellenberg and Supervisor Chavez also joined the event, and the County welcomed Ukraine Consul Anna Zaichenko to open the ceremony.

“Today was a moving display of how deeply the residents of Santa Clara County care about Ukraine,” noted Supervisor Lee. “Chair Nancy Madison and the ad-hoc committee really stepped up to bring this delegation to Santa Clara County. We are so thankful for their dedication to make this happen.”

This is the first international delegation that the County of Santa Clara has welcomed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Open World Program is funded by the Congressional Office for International Leadership, COIL, and has afforded the County of Santa Clara the opportunity to host several delegations through the years. However, after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Open World Program suspended all Russian delegations and began to work with former Soviet States, including Ukraine, to bring delegations to the United States once the pandemic could make travel safer. COIL reached out to our Sister County Commission to apply to host Ukrainian delegations. In late 2022, the Sister County Commissioners submitted their application, and in early 2023, they were approved for two delegations. The first of delegation arrived to Santa Clara County on May 5, 2023, and the second scheduled for October 2023.

District 3 resident Tania Mandzy Inala performed the State Anthem of Ukraine while the two veterans from the delegation raised the Ukrainian flag during the event.

“Today, we celebrate citizen diplomacy. We welcome our Ukrainian Delegation. We open Santa Clara County to you and hope that your visit is full of learning and joy,” Supervisor Lee stated. “Ukraine is not only fighting for their own homeland, but they are also defending the entirety of Europe, to protect the basic values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. You continue to prove your strength and resolve to the world – We see you, and we support you!”

During the ceremony, Consul Zaichenko said, “We are really grateful to the United States for supporting us in this fight. We also feel support from the people of California. With the support of the world, we shall restore our territorial integrity. We shall do everything to return peace to the Ukrainian soil. Your support in this is important and invaluable.”

The delegation will be in Santa Clara County attending various events focused on their theme of think tanks with visits at Santa Clara University, Stanford University, and the Hoover Institute. They have a formal dinner on Friday evening before departing back home on May 13. Photo collage of the flag raising included.

Follow this link for more information and video of the flag raising – https://district3.sccgov.org/d3ukraineflag2023. Follow this link for photos from the event – https://tinyurl.com/sccukrainefrse050923FOLDER

At the ceremony Supervisor Lee shared, “I hope that you make many new friends, build relationships, that your visit is full of learning and joy, and that you can share every moment here with your friends, and loved ones back home. We believe your visit will help strengthen your work and your community for many years to come.” He closed with, “We will work with our Congressional leaders to continue providing whatever is necessary to support your brave efforts to accomplish JUST PEACE, so that we may begin with the rebuilding and healing efforts for an even stronger Ukraine tomorrow. Slava Ukrainiy!!”