Bonjour - Ciao - Helló Sonoma!

 

After almost 50 episodes in Sonoma, Hello Sonoma! is going global to show that

Everyone has a story and every story is interesting if you ask the right questions.

For two months in the summer of 2022, Hello Sonoma! will visit three of Sonoma’s Sister Cities in France, Italy and Hungary, as well as a few more surprises along the way…

New episodes will continue to be released every Tuesday at 4pm on KSVY, plus I'll upload them online wherever you get your podcasts (or by clicking “listen now” below).

You can follow pictures/videos of the travels on Instagram and Facebook plus I’ll be sending out newsletters at least once every other week with more updates. If you'd like to sign up to receive these bi-weekly emails, click here. 

Thank you so much for being a part of this incredible journey and as I say at the beginning of almost every episode, “I can’t wait to get started!” 

Scroll below to see some frequently asked questions about the project:

Francisco’s mobile studio, conducting an interview with some friends.

  • Yes! As a matter of fact, Sonoma Sister Cities Association (SSCA) has relationships with 7 cities around the world. All of them are listed here (and their country flags are above), and Francisco will be visiting those which are in bold: Patzcuaro, Mexico; Chambolle-Musigny, France; Greve In Chianti, Italy; Kaniv, Ukraine; Tokaj, Hungary; Aswan, Egypt; Penglai, China

    Sister Cities International began as an initiative put forth by president Eisenhower with the intention of creating powerful citizen-to-citizen bonds between people from all over the world.

    SSCA cultivates these relationships by developing “citizen diplomats – ordinary citizens who, as a group of volunteers, pursue municipal, business, trade, educational, humanitarian, social and cultural exchanges with our sister cities.”

    If you’d like to learn more about the organization or get involved, click here.

  • The goal of the show is to help us view our neighbors with curiosity and compassion. At the same time, I’ve found that leaving home can give deeper appreciation for what makes home so special and Sonoma is no exception.

    I hope that by connecting people through storytelling, the show can build cross-cultural bridges and friendships across the globe while highlighting that interesting people are everywhere, you just need to ask the right questions.

    Finally, this project aims to expand local storytelling efforts to highlight Sonoma’s international connections and the local organizations that make them possible; namely KSVY radio, the Sonoma Sister Cities Association, and Sonoma Springs Rotary Club.

  • Over the past year, Francisco has joined the boards of three local organizations that play various, important roles in our community: Sonoma Sister Cities Association, Rotary Club of Sonoma Springs, and, of course, KSVY Radio and TV.

    These relationships will help him find people to stay with and interview in each of the sister cities while on his travels.

    Hello Sonoma! started as a way to showcase just how special our Sonoma citizens are, but this trip offers a unique opportunity to highlight international stories with deep connections to Sonoma while showcasing the incredible organizations that do such great work in our valley.

  • Francisco plans on doing home-stays with people from Chambolle-Musigny, Greve In Chianti, and Tokaj, and traveling by train between the cities.

    KSVY 91.3FM will continue to broadcast his interviews with citizens from each of the sister cities on Tuesdays at 4pm. If you miss tuning in live, you can always listen here on hellosonoma.org.

    You can click the “Listen Now” button below to hear the latest episode, to follow Hello Sonoma on Instagram, and much more.

 

Click on the logos below to follow the project on Instagram and Facebook.

3 of Sonoma’s Sister Cities

  • Chambolle-Musigny - France

    Our sister city relationship was formed in 1959, making Chamson the oldest of the sister cities for Sonoma. Over the years, Chamson has supported student exchanges and educational programs that promote appreciation of our cultural details.

    Learn More

  • Greve in Chianti - Italy

    Greve in Chianti is a town in the province of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. It is located about 19 miles south of Florence to just north of Siena. Like Sonoma, Greve in Chianti has a main piazza and is surrounded by a variety of agricultural activities, most notably the growing of grapes that go into Chianti and “Super Tuscan” wines. Olive oil production is another staple of the local economy.

    Learn More

  • Tokaj - Hungary

    There are many similarities between Sonoma and Tokaj, including the existence of volcanic and clay soil, and mild climate. Both are major tourist destinations. With many Hungarians living in Sonoma and the Bay Area, as well as throughout California, it is only fitting that these two wine industry towns be joined in friendship and citizen diplomacy.

    Learn More

Community Partners

  • KSVY Sonoma Radio

    Hello Sonoma! airs first on KSVY every Tuesday at 4pm.

    Francisco is also on the board of directors.

  • Sonoma Sister Cities Association

    Sonoma Sister Cities Association is facilitating many of the connections for housing and interviews.

    Francisco is also a board member at large.

  • Rotary club of Sonoma Springs

    The newest of Sonoma’s Rotary Clubs, Hello Sonoma! will act as an ambassador of Sonoma at various Rotary clubs along the way.

    Francisco is also on the board, heading the club’s communications.

  • Sonoma Community Center

    Thanks to the hard work of Elise Gonzalez-Sahota, the Community Center’s culinary arts director, the center will hopefully host cooking classes based on recipes from each of the sister cities.

  • Sonoma Index Tribune

    Francisco hopes to write in to the IT with updates from his journey.

  • Sonoma Valley Sun

    Francisco hopes to write a column on bringing Sonoma to the world.