Santa Barbara City College culinary student, Alberto Santamaria, has been chosen by the Santa Barbara – Kotor Sister City Committee to intern at the prestigious Regent Porto Montenegro for the summer of 2022. This informal program had its beginnings in 2010 when Randy Bublitz, former chair of the Culinary Arts School at SBCC, traveled to Kotor to teach a group of young students from the Institute for Children With Disabilities the basic skills for entry level work in Montenegro’s resorts and restaurants. These students, despite their hearing impairments, thrived in the restaurant environment creating multiple employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
The success of the program also resulted in SBCC culinary students, Ava Engle and Marcelo Chacon, being invited to intern at the Regent Porto Montenegro in the summer of 2021. The impression these two made on the manager and chef of the Resort resulted in an agreement for continuing the relationship between SBCC culinary tudents and the Regent Porto Montenegro Resort.
The Santa Barbara Sister City Committee is pleased to have established a meaningful exchange program between our Sister Cities that touches the lives of young people for years to come.
Recent Posts
The Mayor of Kotor
Congratulations to Mayor Vladimir Jokić who was elected to a second term as Mayor of Kotor in February 2022. Mayor Jokić who was born Kotor is a graduate of the Faculty of Law, University of Belgrade. Mr. Jokić enjoyed success in the legal field as well in business before entering politics. During his first term as Mayor he was instrumental in implementing Culinary and Water Polo Exchanges benefiting youth from Santa Barbara and Kotor. We look forward to working with Mayor Jokić to build on these successful exchanges during his second term.
The programs we have built together that make a difference.
The success of our Sister City program has been exchanges that bring people with common interests together. The exchanges in music, culinary, and sports have allowed young people from both cities to experience international travel and participate in programs that develop their skills and creates long term relationships within our two cities.
Classical Music
Music exchanges with KotorArt, the Music Academy of the West and UCSBs Music Department.
Goran Milić Culinary Academy
Culinary exchanges with the Resource Center in Kotor , SBCC’s Culinary School and internships in Santa Barbara and Kotor.
Water Polo
Water Polo exchanges with UCSB Water Polo, Premier Water Polo Club and Kotor’s Primorac Water Polo Club.
Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor, Montenegro was established as Santa Barbara’s Sister City in the Fall of 2009. The town of Kotor is located on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its historical monuments, Kotor is located on a natural harbor within the Bay of Kotor. Like Santa Barbara, Kotor offers various year-round activities including sailing, diving, fishing, hiking, water polo, and festivals encompassing everything from theatre to musical arts.
