The 50th anniversary celebration of the sister city program will last until the end of the year. Warsaw is also on the list - the first city that signed an agreement of cooperation with Chicago within the program.

The celebration began with a presentation of all sister cities on the premises of "international village" specially prepared for this purpose, located in front of Daley Plaza downtown. From the 5 through 9 of June visitors could collect information about every city and country as well as try local cuisines, purchase souvenirs and familiarize with the activity of consulates and their establishments. Among the numerous exotic stands representing cities such as Shanghai or South Africa, visitors could also pick up PLUS Magazine, taste Polish dumplings and listen to Polish band Lira Ensamble.

-It was the first happening of such scale organized by the committee of sister cities, sponsored by the City Hall and the department of culture. It can be seen that since Mayor Daley's visit to sister cities the program has been substantially revitalized. I think that the mayor has always understood the nature of the cooperation between cities, and he has recently appreciated the importance of liaison of the sister cities on the international stage. I am talking about cultural activities as well as attracting investors, scientists etc. to Chicago. - says Pawel Chudzicki chairman of the Warsaw committee.- I am glad that Lira Ensemble agreed to perform at the festival and represent Poland. I must admit however, that we had been anticipating a larger group of Polish business representatives, but I understand there were certain market regulations, which enforced limits. Despite the Polish stand was clearly visible.

-This event was very successful. All stands appeared very interesting and attracted large crowds. I believe that in this way we have accomplished one of our goals i.e. promotion and education of sister cities- says Danya Chazan, manager of the sister city program in Chicago. - I was even surprised how talented were the people representing all these different countries.

-The people were so much interested by the presented cities that many of them waked out with a handful of brochures and leaflets - says Natalie Campbell, public relations and marketing manager to the department of culture. - think that if you create a possibility for people to receive e.g. tourist materials about a certain city there is much greater possibility that they will actually travel there, as opposed to if they had to look for them by themselves.

Due to the popularity of the event, an idea appeared to organize such events every year. During the presentations people often approached the main stand of the sister city program and asked what are the required conditions for the cities to meet in order to participate in the program? - It is an agreement between two cities, authorized by the mayors. Usually the sister cities are matched according to their similarities- explains Danya Chazan.- I think that one of the reasons of this project was the fact that people felt that- even though they originate from different cities, and different countries - they are in their own common city, Chicago. And they do not have to feel as foreigner - says Danya.

Another large project planned as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the sister city program will be a film festival called "See the World Under the Stars, Sister Cities International Film Series".

-As the sister city program office we have never organized any festivals combining the activity of all 25 committees in Chicago. Therefore we decided to organize an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of signing the first agreement with sister city. It was important to us to organize the celebration so that it could be extended in time and simultaneously expose our city and the existing international cultures - says D.Chazan.

Within the scope of the film presentations taking place every Wednesday, starting from 14 June (through 13 December) film presentations of different sister cities will be shown in the roof top Gallery 37 Center for the Arts (66 Randolph Street), (alternative venue in case of rain will be Randolph Street Café at the Chicago Cultural Center).

The Polish presentation is anticipated on the 4 October, although we are not certain yet which film will be shown. - Every committee offered us a film of their choice. We selected films, which are not particularly commercial and which you can rent from Blockbuster, but the ones that are more difficult to find, and the ones that show the realities of the societies where they originate. I think that everyone will be satisfied with the selection - says D.Chazan.

The admission fee is $15. The performance will be connected with lectures and presentations of the sister cities. Every film, which is not in English version, will have subtitles. For more information visit www.chicagosistercities.com.

The last large project as part of the 50th anniversary of the sister city celebration will be the Greater North Avenue Association Parade. Every year the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association organizes in the Windy City large event consisting of street performances, light shows etc. This year's event will be part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the sister cities program. All representatives of the 25 sister cities will participate as well as the star of The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival, The Noggler Guuggemusig from Lucerne Switzerland. It should be an interesting cultural happening. The Warsaw committee has also prepared their own project. - We are working on a multimedia exhibition about the modern history of Poland. It was prepared in Warsaw. In Chicago it will be presented at National Louis University. It was quite an expensive project since it is a very modern exhibition it requires adequate equipment shipped from Poland and it must comply with the local labor regulations for the people who will operate the equipment- says Pawel Chudzicki.

The exhibition will be open for visitors from 15 November until the end of December. The exhibition is planned to be opened along with the 11 November celebrations.

-In the nearest future we will also join the exchange of police chiefs between sister cities. - says P. Chudzicki. - It is mayor Daley's initiative that was born following the Warsaw conference regarding security and the CAPS program.

Warsaw authorities were interested in the Chicago's experience with the CAPS program, which is similar to a program, conduced in the Polish capital. The two cities plan to expand their cooperation regarding this subject.

- I would also like to mention that representatives from Warsaw will be visiting Chicago in August and plan to organize similar festival to Taste of Chicago in the Polish capital. They are coming to see how it is done in the Windy City - explains P. Chudzicki.

-I should point out that the Warsaw committee is the oldest committee of sister cities in Chicago. Additionally Chicago is home to the largest Polish community living outside of Poland. I think that it should be recognized that a committee, which is municipal organization actively, takes different initiatives and that they are met with such positive response.

The international sister city program was initiated in 1956 by the President of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower. Warsaw was the first sister city that signed an agreement with Chicago (1960). Although because of the political situation at that time, the program of cooperation between the capital of Poland and Chicago was suspended in air for 29 years and not much was happening in terms of mutual contacts. Authorities of both cities refreshed their relations in 1989. The agreement binds partner cities to make and solidify contacts in areas of culture, education, business and economical. In practice, the cooperation may take on different forms. Sister cities may for instance organize joint cultural exchange, exhibitions as well as organize performances of bands, visits of city authorities or exchange of employees and trips for the youth. Undoubtedly, one of the advantages of such cooperation is the possibility of learning from the experiences of the partner city in different areas. Currently the Windy City cooperates with 25 cities from all over the world.