Naperville and Patzcuaro, Mexico, to become Sister Cities at Nov. 13 signing ceremony
Public Invited to Attend Ceremony and Flag Raising to Honor City's Second International Alliance
The city of Patzcuaro, Mexico will officially become the City of Naperville's second Sister City at a Saturday, November 13 signing and flag raising ceremony. The public is welcome to attend the ceremony scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Naperville Municipal Center lobby, located at 400 S. Eagle St. Refreshments and music will be provided after the program at a reception for dignitaries, community leaders, residents and friends.
The City of Naperville and its Sister Cities Commission will host an eight-member delegation from Patzcuaro, including Mayor Antonio Garcia Velazquez, City Manager Gilberto S. Garza Falcon and economic and industrial development officials. The event will also feature representatives from the Mexican Consulate General's office in Chicago. The dignitaries will spend Friday, November 12 visiting with city leaders and touring historic sites, schools, Naper Settlement and the Police and Fire departments.
“The commission is excited to celebrate our new relationship between these two great cities,” said Sami Siddiqi, Sister Cities Commission co-chairman with Roberto Ramirez. “We hope to see citizens join us in this new initiative.”
Patzcuaro was chosen as the city's second Sister City from a list of candidate cities that were evaluated with a scoring system and placed on a readiness chart. Key drivers in the process were leadership, cultural and mutual understanding benefits, distance and ease of travel.
Patzcuaro was chosen in part because of its similarities to Naperville, including its strong emphasis on primary, secondary and higher education, its honor of history and the arts, a strong and growing economy and ease of transportation. The purpose of the Sister Cities relationship is to encourage cultural exchange between the two communities and establish lasting educational and economic ties.
Among interesting facts about the new Sister City:
• Patzcuaro was named by the United Nations as one of the 100 Historic Treasure Cities, and has dedicated money for restoration of its Tarascan heritage. The main plaza area, with its cobblestone streets, stone benches and large fountain highlight its Tarascan Indian descendents.
• The city is the market hub of the region. Handmade products include copperware, black pottery, musical instruments, woven textiles, woolen blankets and straw and reed baskets. Its central location draws artists and craftsmen from a multitude of neighboring villages.
• Lake Patzcuaro is a tourist highlight. Its proximity to the ancient ruins of Ihuatzio and Tzintzuntzan make it a well-visited location for shopping and sightseeing.
The City Council officially voted on Patzcuaro as a Sister City in June. The commission and its foundation have raised money to support travel and exchange opportunities between Naperville and Patzcuaro over the next three to five years, said Co-Chairman Roberto Ramirez.
For more information, view the commission website at www.naperville.il.us/sistercities.aspx or contact Mayor's Office Secretary Cheryl Johnson at (630) 420-6018.