RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Sister Cities International is a nonpartisan national membership organization for cities around the world that unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers to promote world peace through programs and projects focusing on arts and culture, youth and education, economic and sustainable development, and humanitarian assistance; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sister Cities International seeks to promote global peace and prosperity by providing private citizens from communities around the world, and the leaders of the cities in which they live, with an opportunity to meet face-to-face to celebrate their respective cultures, to appreciate their differences, and to develop mutual understanding, friendships, and long term partnerships to reduce international conflict and secure global prosperity; and
WHEREAS, Since 1960, when the City of Chicago signed its first Sister Cities agreement, Chicago Sister Cities International has established official relationships with 28 Sister Cities in almost every region of the world. Today, Chicago Sister Cities International is the most active Sister Cities Organization in the world; and
WHEREAS, The people-to-people and community relationships formed through the Sister Cities network have produced mutually beneficial city-to-city ties resulting in increased international trade, economic development, tourism, cultural exchanges, and educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Chicago's Sister City relationship with the City of Kyiv in Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, Chicago is proud ofthe Sister City partnership it has formed with Kyiv, and its long history of friendship and cooperation with the people of Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago Metropolitan Area is home to one of the largest and most active Ukrainian populations in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its history Chicago has benefited from the many vital contributions the Ukrainian community has made to the cultural, civic, and economic life of our City; and
WHEREAS, Chicago's Ukrainian Village shines as one of Chicago's important neighborhoods with institutions of historic and cultural importance including churches, restaurants, organizations, and museums such as the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, and the Ukrainian Cultural Center, and contains the honorary street designation of Kyiv-Chicago Sister Cities along Chicago Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Chicagoans have always been cognizant ofthe similarities between Chicago and Kyiv, two cities known worldwide as industrial, educational, and cultural centers; and
WHEREAS, Chicago looks forward to its own continued participation in Sister Cities International, and to renewing and strengthening Chicago's relationship with Kyiv and its people; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this tenth day of February, 2016 do hereby commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Chicago's Sister City relationship with Kyiv, Ukraine; acknowledge the many benefits that this productive relationship has realized for the people of Chicago; express our desire to continue this relationship; and extend to Kyiv, and to its people, our best wishes for a peaceful and prosperous future; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to The Honorable Larysa Gerasko, Consul General, Consulate General of Ukraine, and The Honorable Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko.