While in Tulsa, the delegation received honorable citizens certificates, visited the Oklahoma Aquarium, historic downtown, and the Gilcrease Museum. The girls shadowed their host sisters at Booker T. Washington, while Kryukovo’s director visited Tulsa’s social work facilities from Youth Services of Tulsa to Street School.

Providing cultural and educational opportunities to socially and economically disadvantaged children in Zelenograd (and Russia at large) is one of the key priorities of the Tulsa Zelenograd Association. In the past two years, TZA successfully developed relations with Zelenograd’s orphanages – an effort that culminated in organizing the first such trip for children who might otherwise never have a chance to travel to the U.S. or elsewhere in the world. TZA will continue to carry out projects in support of the orphaned, homeless, and at-risk Russian children.

“Kyukovo” is one of three Zelenograd facilities that care for children who do not live with their parents. It shelters children whose parents have been temporarily stripped of custody due to substance abuse, domestic violence, and other causes. The shelter’s goals are to safely reintroduce children back into their families and to provide a peer support network for children in need. Under the auspices of Moscow region, the shelter receives fewer funds from Zelenograd and the capital.

Irina will have a report to TGA Board on April 7, 5.30-6.30p.m. at Harwelden.  Also the Tulsa Zelenograd Association is planning a meeting at the end of April.  Irina and maybe other recent visitors to Zelenograd will have a presentation with slides and other items.
Please watch out for the future announcement!

For now, enjoy the pictures from Irina’s visit.

Banquet for Zelenograd’s 50th Anniversary:

A dance performance for Zelenograd’s 50th anniversary:

Zelenograd, Russia: House of Culture: Decorated for the Anniversary:

Moscow’s Mayor and Zelenograd’s Prefect at Zelenograd’s 50th Anniversary

Nemeryuk (business development, foreign relations) & Marina Tishineva Head, Department of Social Services

Tulsa visitors to Zelenograd: Boyds meet with City Officials

Orphanage “Kryukovo” Director Irina Parvan:

Poster proclaiming Zelenograd’s 50 Birthday as a Moscow Okrug:

In an effort to strengthen partnership ties between Tulsa and its Russian Sister City – Zelenograd, Tulsa Global Alliance member Monty Johnson spent two weeks in Zelenograd in mid-April meeting with city officials, public schools, colleges/institutes and a variety of other personal contacts. It was Johnson’s seventh visit to Zelenograd, which was established as an administrative district of Moscow in 1958 to serve as the focal point of Russia’s microelectronics industry.

During his stay in Zelenograd, Johnson met with Zelenograd’s Deputy Prefect (Deputy Mayor) Alexey Nemeruk, who has administrative responsibility for business development, recreational activities and promotional efforts for the thriving Moscow suburb. Nemuruk has agreed to serve as the primary Tulsa-Zelenograd city government contact to replace Tatiana Zabelina, who signed the original Tulsa-Zelenograd Sister City agreement but has recently retired from public service to accept a position as President of a prestigious educational institute in Moscow. Nemeruk hopes to visit Tulsa this summer to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Tulsa-Zelenograd partnership which began in July 1992. Another noteworthy initiative in Zelenograd is establishment of a “Free Trade” area which is being promoted to offer generous incentives to attract new businesses – particularly those focused on advanced technologies – to the city.

In Zelenograd, Johnson spent considerable time at School No. 1150, meeting with students in grades 1-11 and participating in an “English Conference” which emphasized the history of Moscow, Zelenograd and Tulsa. School 1150 has long been a welcoming “friend” for Tulsans, and has hosted a variety of public officials, teachers, students (including those from Wilson Middle School and Booker T. Washington High School) and other visitors from Oklahoma. Johnson was also a “guest lecturer/professor” at both the Moscow Institute of Economics, Policy and Law, and at the Institute of International Business Education (IBE) in Zelenograd, which maintains a partnership with the University of Tulsa. In addition, he attended Easter Sunday services at the Russian Baptist Church in Zelenograd, which has a long partnership relationship with Tulsa’s Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church.

The following are some of the pictures from Monty’s most recent journey to Russia.

Monty Johnson meeting with the Zelenograd Deputy Prefect Alexey Nemeruk

Zelenograd English teacher Anna Pankova:

Dedicated Civil Servants Alexey Nimeruk and Marina Tisheneva:

Streets, apartments, and public transportation in Zelenograd, Russia:

Third graders in Zelenograd Russia show of their cell phones:

9th Graders at School 1150 in Zelenograd, Russia: