OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
January 21, 2015
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a congratulatory resolution concerning our Sister City Prague. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
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 ofthe 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 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 Cities relationship with the City of Prague in the Czech Republic; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago is proud of the Sister City partnership it has formed with the City of Prague, and of its long history of friendship and cooperation with the people of the Czech Republic; and
WHEREAS, Former Chicago Mayor Anton J. Cermak was of Czech heritage, and has a school named after him in the City of Prague. Mayor Cermak's desk at Chicago's City Hall is still used today by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and serves as a daily reminder of the important role played in the history ofour great City by persons of Czech descent; and
WHEREAS, The city-to-city relationships inspired by Sister Cities International have led to the development of student exchange programs that allow young people to experience life and culture in a different country. A popular and highly successful student exchange program is currently in place between Chicago's Walter Payton College Preparatory High School and Prague's Gymnazium Nad Aleji; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Chicago has benefitted from the many vital contributions that the Czech community has made to the cultural, civic and economic life of our City; and
WHEREAS, Chicagoans have always been cognizant of the similarities between Chicago and Prague. Both cities are vibrant cultural designations known for the hospitality, friendliness and warmth of their people; and
WHEREAS, The City of Chicago looks forward to its own continued participation in Sister Cities International, and to renewing and strengthening Chicago's relationship with the City of Prague and its people; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members ofthe City Council ofthe City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-first day of January, 2015, do hereby commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Chicago's Sister City relationship with the City of Prague in the Czech Republic; acknowledge the many benefits that this productive relationship has reaped for the people of Chicago; express our desire to continue this relationship; and extend to the City of Prague, 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 Borek Lizec, Consul General, Consulate General ofthe Czech Republic, for transmittal to The Honorable Mayor of Prague Adriana Krnacova.