Mission Statement Chicago Sister Cities International Program The Chicago Sister Cities International Program, under the auspices of the City of Chicago and in collaboration with the Mayor s Office of International Relations, provides leadership to direct, manage and coordinate comprehensive programs and projects with Chicago s International sister cities. Chicago Sister Cities International aims to increase international trade, promote economic development and support exchanges in the fields of culture, education, health care, environment, technology and social services with its sister cities for the benefit of the City of Chicago, its residents and businesses. The following list represents all 28 sister cities: Accra, Ghana (1989) Lahore, Pakistan (2007) Amman, Jordan (2004) Lucerne, Switzerland (1998) Athens, Greece (1997) Mexico City, Mexico (1991) Belgrade, Serbia (2005) Milan, Italy (1973) Birmingham, England (1993) Moscow, Russia (1997) Bogota, Colombia (2009) Osaka, Japan (1973) Busan, Republic of Korea (2007) Paris, France (1996) Casablanca, Morocco (1982) Petach Tikva, Israel (1994) Delhi, India (2001) Prague, Czech Republic (1990) Durban, South Africa (1997) Shanghai, China (1985) Galway, Ireland (1997) Shenyang, China (1985) Gothenburg, Sweden (1987) Toronto, Canada (1991) Hamburg, Germany (1994) Vilnius, Lithuania (1993) Kyiv, Ukraine (1991) Warsaw, Poland (1960)
About Chicago Sister Cities International History of the Chicago Sister Cities International Since 1960, when Chicago joined President Eisenhower s Sister Cities International movement, the Chicago Sister Cities International has embraced the highly effective people-to-people diplomacy model. This model has proved invaluable in guiding Chicago to become one of the world s great global cities. Originally founded to foster understanding and cultural exchange, Chicago Sister Cities International has grown into a force for educational, cultural and economic opportunity for the city of Chicago and its citizens. From hosting foreign dignitaries at every level of government, to uniting the diverse ethnic communities of Chicago, to serving as the first point-of-contact for visiting business leaders, cultural icons, and representatives from leading educational institutions, Chicago Sister Cities International plays a critical role in paving the way for Chicago s global future. The success of Chicago Sister Cities International is achieved through collaboration between the dedicated staff, the appointed citizen leadership, and the extensive global volunteer network, all of whom work together to ensure Chicago s prominence as a world crossroads. Chicago Sister Cities International was founded in 1960, when Mayor Richard J. Daley signed the first Sister Cities agreement with Warsaw, Poland. In the 1970 s and 1980 s, Chicago signed with seven additional sister cities. In 1990, Mayor Richard M. Daley enacted an executive order to establish a volunteer Board of Directors, kicking off more than a decade of increased community participation and a rapid growth in Sister Cities relationships. Since then, Chicago has established official relationships with a total of 28 cities in almost every region of the world. Structure of Chicago Sister Cities International The Executive Committee and Board of Directors are appointed by the Mayor and meet regularly at the Chicago Cultural Center to oversee the program s direction, finances, committees and events. Mayor Richard M. Daley serves as the Honorable Chairman of the Board of Directors. Each sister city has a committee of volunteer members and a chairperson with cultural, commercial or ancestral ties to our sister city abroad. Chicago Sister Cities International projects and exchanges are committee-driven. The Sister Cities program has galvanized its volunteers commitment and their range of expertise. Volunteers
from the Board of Directors to committee members to volunteers at large are the producers of the program s activities and responsibilities for its success. Official Sister City Process To be official, a sister cities relationship must have the endorsement of local authorities that support the efforts of community volunteers. The respective Mayors then sign a Sister Cities agreement. This process opens global initiatives for participation by all people at local levels citizens, local governments, businesses, media, private voluntary organizations and educational institutions. Chicago Sister Schools Abroad Program Mission Statement Winner of the 2007, 2008 & 2010 Youth and Education Award from Sister Cities International The Chicago Sister Schools Abroad Program provides an opportunity for students, teachers and administrators in Chicago s schools to interact with their counterparts in schools in Chicago s 28 sister cities. The Sister Schools Abroad Program is active both in Chicago public and private schools and has ongoing programs that have directly engaged over 15,000 youth in global thinking. This program initiates, implements and supports the development of strong ties between Chicago schools and their international counterparts. Through academic exchanges that span language acquisition, cultural exploration, science education, sports and more, the Sister Schools Abroad Program gives Chicago students access to a truly global education, while introducing our international peers to our city s youth and our country s diverse and welcoming culture. Overall Program Goals To encourage Chicago schools to add a global perspective to their curriculum by fostering relationships with classrooms and schools in Chicago s 28 sister cities. To give students the desire and confidence to learn other languages To create a global environment for students to develop skills in diplomacy and international affairs To enable teachers and principals be share best practice methods in their classrooms and schools The Chicago Sister Schools Abroad program is a partnership between Chicago Sister Cities International Program and the Chicago schools Office of Language and Cultural Education. School Selection Process Chicago Public Schools The Office of Language and Cultural Education, a department of the Chicago Public Schools, assists in the identification of interested schools. Of equal importance are a strong interest in the sister city and its country, and the commitment to the program by the principal, the staff and the administrators of the school.
Non-Public Schools Independent, private or parochial schools should contact Chicago Sister Cities International directly and express their interest in participating in the Sister Schools Abroad Program. Schools Abroad The schools in Chicago s sister cities are recruited through efforts of the Education Sub-committee Chair of each sister city committee, in cooperation with the Chicago Sister Cities staff contact. Identifying schools in Chicago s Sister Cities can also be aided by contacts living in the sister city for example, the U.S. Embassies or members of that city s Department of Education and the Offices of Foreign Affairs. Getting the Partnership Started A primary contact person is named at the school in Chicago and also at the school in the sister city. Information is exchanged via school profile that includes the size of the student body, grade levels taught, languages spoken, outstanding programs, and outstanding achievements (the CPS Office of Language and Cultural Education or the Chicago Sister Cities International Program will supply this document; in the case of a non-cps school, the Education Coordinator at Chicago Sister Cities International can provide the school profile form). The participating schools determine the scope of the relationship; set short- and longterm goals, and create a plan for the development of projects and exchanges. Suggested Activities for Sister Schools Each Chicago school and sister school abroad have a unique character and personality. The bond between schools will be heightened as teachers and students collaborate on projects and integrate their relationship into their existing curriculum. In communication with your sister school, the below suggestions may be useful for planning curriculum-based activities which will highlight your sister school relationship. However, these are only some suggestions. The key is to be creative, dynamic and interesting. E-mail pal exchanges Pen pal exchanges Postcard exchanges (this way schools on both sides can see their sister cities) Video-conferencing Create a school photo album to exchange with your sister school Create an arts based lesson plan for exchange (i.e. students draw pictures of their school, city, themselves, their families, etc. to send abroad) Have students take photos of their school and neighborhood to send abroad Have students research specific aspects of their sister city s culture and deliver a report Create a website about your school to share with your sister school Contact the consulate representative form your sister city country to invite them to your school to meet your students Create a cookbook to exchange with your sister school Work with other schools paired with your sister city to exchange information and ideas Visit museums, with the aim of finding out more information about your sister school and city Create a bulletin board in your school about your sister city
Possible use of Sister Cities International Program with 3 rd grade Social Science Curriculum Chicago: Our City The 3 rd grade Social Science curriculum - Chicago: Our City students will explore the city of Chicago past and present. Students will learn about the history that shaped the Chicago of today. Students will touch on Chicago geography, politics, economics and cultures and will conclude by comparing Chicago to other cities around the world. During the 4 th quarter students compare Chicago and other Global Cities. We might be able to put something together so that the students would be learning specifically about Chicago s 28 Sister Cities. Students explore the city of Chicago past and present. Students will learn about the history that shaped the Chicago of today. Students will touch on Chicago geography, politics, economics and cultures and will conclude by comparing Chicago to other cities around the world. During the 4 th quarter of third grade students compare Chicago and other Global Cities. On the Sister Cities Website for each of Chicago s 28 Sister Cities there is information on that city that can be used when comparing Chicago to other cities around the world. Chicago s Sister Cities Accra, Ghana Amman, Jordan Athens, Greece Belgrade, Serbia Birmingham, England Bogota, Columbia Busan, Korea Casablanca, Morocco Delhi, India Durban, South Africa Galway, Ireland Gothenburg, Sweden Hamburg, Germany Kyiv, Ukraine Lahore, Pakistan Lucerne, Switzerland Mexico City, Mexico Milan, Italy Moscow, Russia Osaka, Japan Paris, France Petach Tikva, Israel Prague, Czech Republic Shanghai, China Shenyang, China Toronto, Canada Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland For more information www.chicagosistercities.com
Possible use of Sister Cities International Program with 5 th Grade Social Science Curriculum The Americas The 5 th Grade Social Science - The Americas Students explore North and South America, past and present. The geography and history of the Americas will feature prominently, as will North and South American economic, political and cultural development. Specifically looking at the 2 nd Quarter North America Today and the 4 th Quarter South America Today this provides the opportunity to include information about the appropriate Sister Cities in North and South America. Students explore North and South America, past and present. The geography and history of the Americas will feature prominently, as will North and South American economic, political and cultural development. In the 2 nd Quarter North America Today and the 4 th Quarter South America Today, provides the opportunity to include information about the appropriate Sister Cities in North and South America. Chicago s Sister Cities Accra, Ghana Amman, Jordan Athens, Greece Belgrade, Serbia Birmingham, England Bogota, Columbia Busan, Korea Casablanca, Morocco Delhi, India Durban, South Africa Galway, Ireland Gothenburg, Sweden Hamburg, Germany Kyiv, Ukraine Lahore, Pakistan Lucerne, Switzerland Mexico City, Mexico Milan, Italy Moscow, Russia Osaka, Japan Paris, France Petach Tikva, Israel Prague, Czech Republic Shanghai, China Shenyang, China Toronto, Canada Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland For more information www.chicagosistercities.com
Possible use of Sister Cities International Program with 6 th Grade Social Science Curriculum Cultures of the World The 6 th Grade Social Science - Cultures of the World- Students will have their first in-depth investigation into the major non-american Cultures around the world. There will be a heavy emphasis on the Geography and history of the peoples studied; but there will also be room to explore these cultures today. This provides the opportunity to include information about the appropriate Sister Cities when looking at North Africa, South and South East Asia, Eastern and Western Europe. Students will have their first in-depth investigation into the major non-american Cultures around the world. There will be a heavy emphasis on the Geography and history of the peoples studied; but there will also be room to explore these cultures today. This provides the opportunity to include information about the appropriate Sister Cities when looking at Africa, Asia, Eastern and Western Europe. Chicago s Sister Cities Accra, Ghana Amman, Jordan Athens, Greece Belgrade, Serbia Birmingham, England Bogota, Columbia Busan, Korea Casablanca, Morocco Delhi, India Durban, South Africa Galway, Ireland Gothenburg, Sweden Hamburg, Germany Kyiv, Ukraine Lahore, Pakistan Lucerne, Switzerland Mexico City, Mexico Milan, Italy Moscow, Russia Osaka, Japan Paris, France Petach Tikva, Israel Prague, Czech Republic Shanghai, China Shenyang, China Toronto, Canada Vilnius, Lithuania Warsaw, Poland For more information www.chicagosistercities.com