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Jan
25
Cities International Annual Conference
Jan
20
2012 Illinois Sister Cities Conference Hosted by Dixon,Illinois
2012
Illinois Sister
Cities Conference
Hosted
by
Dixon
Sister Cities Association
April
20-21, 2012
Dixon is doing a terrific job, preparing
a great Conference for us in April.
They’ve done this once before and it was worth
the trip!
Currently, Dixon plans to have 2 speakers during the
Conference. We will also have tabletop discussions, which everyone
enjoys, because we learn so much from sharing our ideas and experiences with
each other.
As anyone who attended Dixon’s last meeting can attest, the food
will be fabulous, and this year will be no exception. The committee has secured 3 local restaurants
that serve international cuisine.
As more details on the topics for speakers and discussions are confirmed, we will email out that information to you, as
well as post on www.illinoissistercities.org.
Hope to see you in Dixon for our annual conference!
Jan
20
Mount Prospect Plans Trivia Night 2/10/12
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Jan
20
January 25, 2012 Webinar Sister Cities Accounting
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Jan
19
Dixon Sister Cities Assists family in financial difficulties.
Dixon Sister Cities Association: charity begins at home.
For the past several years the Dixon Sister Cities
Association has assisted a family financially during the Christmas
holidays. Our Christmas Family for 2011
was a young couple with 3 children ranging from junior high age to a new
baby. Both parents had lost their jobs
and their name had been given to us by the Goodfellow Organization as one
deserving our attention and benevolence.
The parents had no family to help them through this difficult time but
were actively seeking employment.
The generosity of the Dixon Sister Cities Association members
was overwhelming. With the donations, the
Christmas Family Committee was able to buy clothing for all and toys for the
children. The donations included enough
money for groceries and necessities.
The Dixon Sister Cities Association members embrace this
worthy cause. We are of the belief that
although we give generously to our sister cities that are less fortunate than
us, charity begins at home.
Jan
17
French Trivia Night February 10, 2012 Come Join Us!
Mount Prospect Sister Cities Commission is planning a French Trivia Night at Village Hall on February 10, 2012.
Donation $10. Bring Wine and appetizers to share.
More Information to come.
Jan
15
Two delegations from Chicago visited Paris for meetings with City representatives on the subjects of economic growth and social welfare.
A first delegation, led by Jim Thomson, former Democrat Governor of Illinois and Lance Pressel, President of the Chicago Chamber of Commerce, was received on 7 December 2011 by Christian Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Paris responsible for Employment, Economic Development and International Attractiveness, in the presence of Karine Bidart, Director General of Paris Développement (Paris Development), the Paris economic development agency. The meeting was an opportunity to discuss the policies for supporting the creation of new businesses and jobs which have been implemented in Paris and Chicago.
The delegation, composed of representatives of the business world, including Howard Tullman, a close associate of the Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel, also included officials from the States of Wisconsin and Indiana.
In parallel, a second delegation from Chicago, composed of experts on social issues, visited the City of Paris from 5 to 11 December 2011 as part of an exchange programme begun in 2010. Pierre Schapira, Deputy Mayor responsible for International Relations, European Affairs and the French-speaking world received them to the City hall. The object of this mission was to study the systems for combating poverty and improving child welfare set up by the Paris authorities (Centre d’Action Sociale de la Ville de Paris [City of Paris Social Welfare Centre] and Direction de l’Action sociale, de l’Enfance et de la Santé [Department of Social Welfare, Childhood and Health]) and their partners. They also visited a district social services centre and a community social welfare centre, family mediation, child welfare and fostering organisations and centres which house and accommodate homeless people. The delegation also visited the children’s court. This exchange followed a first visit to Chicago on the same themes in November 2010 by a delegation of experts from Paris led by Valérie de Brem, Deputy General Secretary of the City of Paris and Geneviève Gueydan, Director of Social Welfare, Childhood and Health.
Both delegations were received with the support of the Paris Chicago Committee, which is presided in Paris by Mrs. Renée Johnson and in Chicago by Mr. Brett August.
Jan
03
The Busan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International invites you to celebrate Korean American Day
1.13.2012
BUSAN: Korean American Day Celebration
The Busan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International invites you to celebrate Korean American Day with us at the Greatest Korean Dance Odyssey. Sponsored by the Korean American Women’s Association, this dance performance will be held at the Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium on January 13, 2012. This is the result of the passage of Senate Resolution 283 – Recognizing Contributions of Korean Americans to the United States and Encouraging the Celebration of “Korean American Day”. Senate Resolution 283 was proposed and sponsored by Senator Richard J. Durbin on October 20, 2005, and was passed by Congress on December 16, 2005. As a result, January 13 of each year, which is the day the first 102 Korean immigrants landed on the Hawaiian shore in 1903, is officially designated as Korean American Day in the U.S.
When: Friday, January 13
Where: Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Time: 8:00 p.m.
For those interested in attending, please contact Ms. Kyu-Young Park, Chair of the Korean American Women’s Association, at (773) 742-1456.
Jan
02
Urbana hosts “Malawi Mixer” sharing a happy energy.
Hi Illinois Sister Cities
Association family,
Just sharing some happy energy
related to our Sister Cities activities here in Urbana.
Our Sister City is
Zomba, in Malawi, Africa.
We hosted our third “Malawi Mixer” at the Independent Media
Center in downtown Urbana. This was a party to celebrate the completion of a
public outreach grant from the Office of the Vice Chancellor to the Center for
African Studies on the University of Illinois Campus. We have had presentation
in every primary school in the city, based on reading the elementary level book
Galimoto, and conducting a workshop to build this quintessential African
toy. For the High School and two adult reading groups at the public library we
read and discussed The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba
and Bryan Mealer. (I strongly suggest you look at this inspirational story.)
The African Studies group split
the costs with us and paid for the performance of the native Malawi band
playing authentic Kwela music, while our group and the African students cooked
the meal for over 158 people who attended (official head count). Goat stew,
chicken, nsima (corn meal grits), red beans, and greens, fried plantain, and
fried bread balls for everybody, and drinks (mango and guava juice, lemonade,
and cola). We danced for 2 1/2 hours, ate a lot, met many wonderful people, and
got the wonderful press, below. The Daily Illini student
newspaper came and did live interviews of some of our members and also covered
the progress of our AUPAP grant work in Friday’s newspaper.
That African Urban Poverty
Alleviation Project grant project list is in full swing, and we have
foundations and pit excavations done at three primary schools in Zomba for VIP
pit latrines for the kids and have progressed much further on the construction
of the hospital ablution block providing showers, flush toilets, and urinals for
the Guardian Village residents who care for their family members staying at the
central hospital. With the extra money leveraged from the cancellation of our
third proposal in Zomba, (twenty-three Water Service Points), we are planning
on adding value at the hospital with the addition of another community kitchen,
washing facilities for cooking utensils, and a much needed laundry area. All
these projects, with the hours of correspondence between our hard working Zomba
Sister Cities Committee, Zomba City staff, and the African office of SCI, has
built a stronger bond of friendship between us all. These interactions with the
people of Malawi have indeed opened our hearts and have inspired many.
Yours,
Dennis Roberts
Urbana Sister Cities Committee
chairman
Jan
02
Upcoming Board Meeting 1/21/2012
Check out page SC in the News for agenda
Dec
26
PARIS: Chicago Delegates have a Successful Paris Social Service Exchange
12.22.2011
PARIS: Chicago Delegates have a Successful Paris Social Service Exchange
The City of Paris hosted the 2011 Paris/Chicago Social Services Exchange delegation. The goal, as in the first conference held in Chicago in 2010, was to improve social services in both sister cities through dialogue about “best practices”. The nine Chicago delegates said, “This exchange successfully demonstrated through presentations, site visits, and cultural discourse how Paris addresses social ills and challenges while serving the needs of children and youth. We can now begin to compare and contrast our two cultures and methodologies to improve social services in our global community.” Paris has hosted many delegations, but this was the first Sister Cities exchange in Paris for Social Services.
Professional and personal relationships between Paris and Chicago were strengthened through the week’s interactions, most notably when the delegation was hosted in City Hall by Deputy Mayor Pierre Schapira, in Renee Johnson’s home and also in the home of Geneviève Gueydan.
The delegation thanks Madame Gueydan for her expert organization as well as the professional support from Nicolas de Labrusse. All delegates came away from this conference with a renewed belief that city non-profits and governments play a key role in building dialogue, strengthening trust and delivering the best possible services within the context of coordination with the state and national government, global aid organizations and civil society itself. This bond of mutual cooperation can make a difference and all were interested in continuing the benefits of the on-going exchange model.
We thank Paris for the success and look forward to welcoming the Paris delegation to Chicago in 2012.
Dec
22
Renee Johnson hosts Sister Cities delegation.
Renee Johnson hosts Chicago Sister Cities Social Service delegation for reception in her home.
Dec
22
Social Service Exchange with Paris a great success.
Chicago Sister Cities Social Service delegation enjoying a moment in the Hotel de Ville in Paris.
Dec
22
Chicago Sister Cities Social Service delegation shares some highlights.
Chicago delegates and Paris delegates meet to evaluate events of the week.
Kathleen Borland thanks the Deputy Mayor at reception at the Hotel de Ville.
Dec
17
Parisiene Hospitality.
Kathleen Borland, Leader of the Chicago Sister Cities-Paris Social Service Exchange and Geneieve Gueydan, Director of Social Action, childhood and health, DASES, sharing a great week of education and experience of the social services of Paris. The people of Paris were generous and gracious in sharing information and visits to a wide variety of Social Service cites in Paris. Their hospitality to the delegation was amazing. We are so appreciative of their friendship to Chicago Sister Cities.
Dec
09
World Friends’ “Sustainable Development Exchange” to Japan a Great Success
Sebastopol
World Friends’ “Sustainable Development Exchange” to Japan a Great
Success
Sebastopol World Friends successfully completed its
“Sustainable Development Exchange” to its sister city, Takeo
City, Japan, funded by Sister City International’s Leading Asia Initiative. The eight-member delegation met with Mayor
Keisuke Hiwatashi, and visited a variety of facilities and organizations,
including the Takeo Chamber of Commerce, Takeo City’s Waste Incineration
Facility, the Japan Agricultural Co-op, and Saga University’s Institute of
Ocean Energy. Delegation participant and founder of the Sonoma County GoLocal
Cooperative, Mr. Philip Beard said of the exchange, “I am convinced that this
kind of issue-focused visit by delegations from both countries has a powerful
role to play in creating the kind of world we want future generations to
enjoy….”
Dec
02
Jacksonville 2012 Conference Website Launched!
Jacksonville
2012 Conference Website Launched!
We are pleased to announce
the launch of the Jacksonville 2012 Conference website! This new website
simplifies the registration process and allows groups to register online
at a discounted rate. When you register five people or more from the same
city in one transaction, the registration rate is only $400. Click here to visit the new
website.
Dec
02
Sustainable Development Exchange” to Japan a Great Success
Sebastopol
World Friends’ “Sustainable Development Exchange” to Japan a Great
Success
Sebastopol World Friends successfully completed its
“Sustainable Development Exchange” to its sister city, Takeo
City, Japan, funded by Sister City International’s Leading Asia Initiative. The eight-member delegation met with Mayor
Keisuke Hiwatashi, and visited a variety of facilities and organizations,
including the Takeo Chamber of Commerce, Takeo City’s Waste Incineration
Facility, the Japan Agricultural Co-op, and Saga University’s Institute of
Ocean Energy. Delegation participant and founder of the Sonoma County GoLocal
Cooperative, Mr. Philip Beard said of the exchange, “I am convinced that this
kind of issue-focused visit by delegations from both countries has a powerful
role to play in creating the kind of world we want future generations to
enjoy….”
Check out Sister Cities International website.
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