Zelenograd, Russia

A Tulsa Sister City Since 1992

Partnership Chair: Garrett Gibson

Honorary Ambassador: Councilor Jackie Dutton

  • Zelenograd is a Moscow district of about 180,000 people, known for its universities, research labs, and high-tech industries. Nicknamed the “green city,” it blends innovation with a preserved natural environment.

  • The Zelenograd logo features a squirrel, a beloved symbol of the city’s many forests and green spaces. The microchip in its paws represents Zelenograd’s identity as a major center for electronics and innovation. Together, the imagery highlights the balance of nature and high-tech industry that defines this “green city.”

Recent Partnership Activities:

TGA Blog
The 45th Anniversary Sister City Series: Zelenograd
The 45th Anniversary Sister City Series: Zelenograd

Zelenograd, Russia is known as the “green city,” and its Sister City connection with Tulsa runs deep. For over 30 years, students, doctors, and community leaders have exchanged not just visits, but friendship and understanding. Meet Garrett Gibson, a Russian scholar and Cold War historian now serving as Sister City Chair, and Bob Lieser, TGA’s Senior Director of Citizen Diplomacy, whose own connection to Zelenograd spans decades and includes teaching, hosting, and leading exchanges on both sides of the globe.

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Coffee with the Councilors 2025
Coffee with the Councilors 2025

TGA’s annual Coffee with the Councilors brought together city leaders, board members, and Sister City representatives to celebrate Tulsa’s global connections. Over a spread of international dishes, attendees shared updates on cultural exchanges, global education, and the economic impact of international relationships.

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Friendship Across Borders at World in a Box Day
Friendship Across Borders at World in a Box Day

At World in a Box Day, five friends from Russia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Ukraine stood together to show how friendship can transcend conflict and national boundaries.

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Zelenograd Runners Run Route 66 Marathon Race“Remotely”
Zelenograd Runners Run Route 66 Marathon Race“Remotely”

Five runners from Tulsa’s Sister City of Zelenograd completed a coordinated half-marathon in Russia during Tulsa’s Route 66 Marathon weekend, continuing a friendship first built during their 2019 visit.

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Russian Film Programs at Circle Cinema
Russian Film Programs at Circle Cinema

Circle Cinema presented Russian film programs in 2019, including a Meeting Gorbachev lecture and screening and a live-accompanied showing of Battleship Potemkin, offering Tulsa audiences a deeper look at Russian history and culture.

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Partnership Highlights

  • Supports global education in Tulsa through participation in events such as the Eisenhower International School International Fair, Global Gatherings, and World in a Box Day

  • Builds on a history of student exchanges and academic collaboration between schools in Zelenograd and Tulsa, including university-level partnerships

  • Shares Russian culture with the Tulsa community through programs such as cooking demonstrations, film screenings, poetry readings, and public lectures

  • Engages in civic and professional exchanges, including past collaborations in medical, dental, media, and public-service fields

Get Involved!

Tulsa’s Sister City partnerships rely on volunteers, host families, and supporters who help build meaningful global connections. Here are ways to engage with the Zelenograd partnership:

Contact Zelenograd Partnership
Volunteer
Host with TGA
Donate