Naperville gets another Sister City: Patzcuaro, Mexico

The world? It's not such a big place these days.

That's what officials are saying about a ceremony Saturday, Nov. 13, to formalize Naperville's relationship with a second Sister City Patzcuaro, Mexico.

Eight Patzcuaro leaders will be in attendance for the official signing and flag raising that seals a union between the two cities that likely will include the future exchange of students, cultures and even sharing of ideas about public and global heath, said Sami Siddiqi, co-chairman of the Naperville Sister Cities Commission.

“The world is getting smaller and this relationship is a reflection of that,” said Siddiqi, who visited Patzcuaro last October.

During that visit, Siddiqi struck up conversations with students outside a school. One, who spoke English fluently, told him he has friends and family in Naperville.

“I was very surprised,” Siddiqi said. “It's amazing how small the world is getting.”

Patzcuaro is in the centrally located state of Michoacan, slightly more than three hours from tourist destinations Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa and Troncones.

It was chosen from a list of candidate cities based on its leadership, cultural and mutual understanding benefits, distance and ease of travel. Sister Cities Commission members were drawn to Patzcuaro's emphasis on education, history and the arts.

Additionally, it boasts a robust and historic downtown with cobblestone streets, stone benches and large fountains that highlight its Tarascan Indian descendants.

“There is a growing diversity in Naperville,” Siddiqi said. “In recent times, it has become the hub of multicultural participation. We found that there are a lot of similarities between the two.”

Naperville first became a Sister City in 1993 when it formalized a pact with Nitra, Slovakia, a city of about 100,000 located about 90 miles east of Vienna.

Since then, that union has led to numerous cultural and educational exchanges such as hosting artists and musicians, sports competitions and exchanging and training people of all professions, including pediatricians and camp counselors.

Sister Cities Commission members are especially pleased the union with Patzcuaro comes at no cost to residents of Naperville.

“We've taken this initiative without using a single dollar of taxpayer money,” Siddiqi said.

Funding came from private donors and businesses that have dealings in that region.

Visiting Patzcuaro city leaders include Mayor Antonio Garcia Velazquez, City Manager Gilberto S. Garza Falcon and economic and industrial development officials, as well as representatives from the Mexican Consulate General's office in Chicago.

The visitors were to spend Friday with Naperville city leaders touring historic sites, schools, Naper Settlement and the police and fire departments.

The signing and flag-raising ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Naperville Municipal Center lobby, 400 S. Eagle St., Naperville.

For details, call (630) 420-6018.

If you go

<p>What: Naperville Sister City signing and ceremony</p>

<p>When: 9:30 a.m. Saturday</p>

<p>Where: Naperville Municipal Center lobby, 400 S. Eagle St.</p>

<p>Cost: Free</p>

<p>Info: (630) 420-6018</p>