Mayor Ulises Cabrera hosted a delegation from Moreno Valley’s sister city, San Juan de Los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico, on Monday, February 13.
The delegation included Presidente Municipal Alejandro C. de Anda Lozano of San Juan de Los Lagos and the family of the late Romelio Ruiz, who was instrumental in creating the sister city partnership.
“We were honored to receive this delegation from San Juan de Los Lagos and the family of Romelio Ruiz,” said Mayor Cabrera. “Moreno Valley cherishes our sister city's relationship with San Juan de Los Lagos, and we look forward to working together to further bolster our special partnership.”
During the meeting, both cities discussed their respective growth since the sister-city relationship was established and pledged to strengthen the bond between San Juan de Los Lagos and Moreno Valley.
Moreno Valley and San Juan de Los Lagos have been sister cities since 1993. The partnership was the passion project of Ruiz, the former president of the local activist group Hispanos Unidos. Ruiz was known for his humanitarian and community activism and sought to establish a lasting relationship between his hometown of San Juan de Los Lagos and his adopted hometown of Moreno Valley.
Over the years, Moreno Valley and San Juan de Los Lagos have benefitted from programs including student exchanges, visitation of city and community leaders, and the interchanging and enhancing of each city’s culture.
Calle San Juan de Los Lagos, which runs alongside the Moreno Valley Civic Center, and Avenida Romelio Ruiz, which serves as the Civic Center’s entry point, are named in honor of this partnership and Ruiz’s lasting legacy.