Mayors and government leaders from Chicago’s sister cities recently convened in Chicago as part of the Chicago Forum on Global Cities. The group included Leader of City Council John Clancy (Birmingham, United Kingdom); Mayor Frank Fahy (Galway, Ireland); State Minister for Urban Development and Housing Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt (Hamburg, Germany); Mayor Vitaly Klitschko (Kyiv, Ukraine); and Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz (Warsaw, Poland). 

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel met with the mayors to discuss the importance of the sister city relationships and continuing to work together on shared priorities.

Mayor Emanuel and Mayor Klitschko also signed a reaffirmation of the sister city agreement between Chicago and Kyiv on the  25th anniversary of the relationship between the two cities. In addition, visiting mayors attended meetings and receptions hosted by Chicago Sister Cities International (CSCI) committees.

CSCI provides leadership to develop, manage and coordinate comprehensive programs and projects with Chicago’s 28 sister cities, focusing on business, culture, education, immigration, and tourism. As the most active Sister Cities organization in the world, CSCI expands Chicago’s global reach to benefit the city, its residents, and its businesses.

CSCI and World Business Chicago are civic partners of the Chicago Forum on Global Cities. Nearly 600 delegates and 60 speakers from more than 30 countries participated in the 2016 Forum, hosted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Financial Times. Videos of sessions on the power and limitations of global cities, global threats, inclusivity, cultural heritage, combating violence, climate change, and many other topics are now available in a YouTube playlist.