2011
May 12
Focus: Culture
Spotlight on Poland's Jewish Revival: A panel presentation and public discussion about the remarkable revitalization of Jewish life and culture currently taking place in Poland, and its significance for Jewish and Polish communities in Poland and worldwide, as well as for Jewish-Polish relations.
April 20
Focus: Government
The Warsaw Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International welcomed Polish police officer to Chicago in an exciting exchange part of bilateral cooperation between Chicago Police Department, Office of Emergency Management and Communications and Warsaw Metropolitan Police. Lieutenant Mikolaj Linda, Police Officer, Warsaw Metropolitan Police, stayed in Chicago for three weeks in part of a three part best practices exchange with City of Warsaw, City of Chicago, Warsaw Metropolitan Police, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Polish American Police Association, Chicago Sister Cities International, Illinois National Guard. A welcome reception was hosted by the Warsaw Committee at the Union League Club of Chicago.
2010
February 22
Focus: Culture
Chopin & Paderewski Year 2010 Kicks Off in Chicago with unique Chopin program at the Chopin Elementary School auditorium. This unique event was presented for the students of the Chopin School by The Organizing Committee for Chopin & Paderewski 2010 celebrations and The Paderewski Association, in collaboration with the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra and the Warsaw Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International
May 1
Focus: Culture
“Chicago for Poland, a commemorative concert honors President Lech Kaczynski” (April 20, 2010) in Millennium Park’s Jay Prizker Pavilion to commemorate the tragic loss of the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynska, the official delegation and others on board the devastating flight to Smolensk. This special tribute followed the 119th Polish Constitution Day Parade.
May 19
Focus: Sports
The Chicago Fire welcomed Legia Warsaw, Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Belgrade for First-Ever Chicago Sister Cities International Cup at Toyota Park.
July 4
Focus: Culture
U.S. Ambassador to Poland Lee Feinstein hosted an American Independence Day reception at his residence by celebrating the sights, tastes and sounds of five American cities: Chicago, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and Seattle. A delegation of six people traveled to Warsaw as Chicago's representation at the Ambassador's event as well as honored the 50th Anniversary of the Warsaw/Chicago Sister City relationship. Meetings were held with various Warsaw City Hall departments and U.S. Embassy representatives in the areas of business, education, and culture.
August 23-27
Focus: Culture
“Chopin in the Park” celebrated 200 years of Chopin and the 50th Anniversary of the Chicago-Warsaw Sister City relationship. Daily performances organized by the Paderewski Symphony Orchestra were held at Millennium Park’s Madison Street Balcony.
September 22
Focus: Culture
Polish Pianist Krystian Tkaczewski performed for Dame Myra Hess Concert series in celebration the Chopin bicentenary and was presented in partnership with the 50th anniversary of the Chicago-Warsaw Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.
2009
June 15-18
Focus: Culture
Kasia's Dlei represented Warsaw during the Sister Cities International Festival on Daley Plaza.
September 30
Focus: Culture
Mira Couture and Sylwia Designs represented Warsaw during the World Fashion Chicago runway show.
October 1-4
Focus: Healthcare
Dr. Robert Chmielewski from the Cancer Center Institute in Warsaw participated in the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium: Sister Cities Medical Initiative.
2008
April 14-16
Focus: Culture
The Chair of the Warsaw Committee, Pawel Chudzicki, represented the City of Chicago at the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising commemoration ceremonies in Warsaw. The commemoration included a series of events taking place from mid April to mid May. The main celebration featured a concert performed by the National Opera of Israeli National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes monument.
April - May
Focus: Culture
Libros Lege Project, inspired by the Koszykowa Library in Warsaw, is implemented in Chicago.
May
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee co-hosted an exhibition of Warsaw's modern architecture at the Richard J. Daley Center.
May 6-11
Focus: Government
The City of Warsaw sent a four-person delegation to Chicago to focus on security and crisis management as Warsaw is hosting the upcoming Euro 2012 soccer championship. The delegation had an in-depth tour of the 911 Center, as well as meetings with the Chicago Police Department and the Mayor’s Press Office.
June 2-6
Focus: Culture
Kasia's Deli represented Warsaw during the Sister Cities International Festival on Daley Plaza
October 2
Focus: Culture
Mira Couture represented Warsaw during the World Fashion Chicago runway show.
2007
April 23
Focus: Culture
WARSAW: On 4/23 the opening reception was held for the exhibit, “Towards Freedom: Polish Underground State, 1939-1945.” The City of Warsaw, the Committee, the General Consulate of the Republic of Poland, and National-Louis University are working together to organize this exhibition that will run from 4/24- 5/20 at National-Louis University.
April 20-25
The Mayor of Warsaw, The Honorable Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and a two-person delegation from Warsaw visited Chicago for the opening of the exhibition, "Towards Freedom. Polish Underground State 1939-1945" at National Louis University. During their visit in Chicago, Mayor Gronkiewicz-Waltz had meetings with Mayor Daley, Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn, the Department of Environment, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Polish American Alliance and the International Women's Association.
September 25
On 9/25, the City of Chicago welcomed the President of Poland, Lech Kaczynski. During his one-day visit, he presented Mayor Daley with the prestigious award, Commander Cross of the Order of Merit, spoke at a Chicago Council on Global Affairs event, met with Governor Blagojevich, and hosted a free and open to the public concert in Millennium Park of Polish folk and pop music.
2006
April 20-25
Focus: Mayoral Delegation Visit
WARSAW: From April 20-25, the Mayor of Warsaw, The Honorable Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, and a two-person delegation from Warsaw visited Chicago for the opening of the exhibition, "Towards Freedom. Polish Underground State 1939-1945" at National Louis University. During their visit in Chicago, Mayor Gronkiewicz-Waltz had meetings with Mayor Daley, Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn, the Department of Environment, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Polish American Alliance and the International Women's Association.
April 25
Focus: Culture
Mayoral Parade Reception
Harold Washington Library
2006 Mayoral Parade Reception for the Polish Constitution was held at the Harold Washington Library Center. This event was attended by most of the committee members and had the chair of the committee, Pawel Chudzicki formally honored for his contribution from the Polish Community to the City of Chicago. This event was organized by the Mayors Office of Special Events.
May 4
Focus: Culture, Education
Lecture, “Writing Their Lives: The Worlds of European Jewish Youth Before WWII”
Spertus Institute. The Warsaw Committee and Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies will co-host a lecture by historian Sean Martin, “Writing Their Lives: The Worlds of European Jewish Youth Before WWII,”to coincide with an exhibition on Anne Frank at that time at the Spertus Museum. This lecture will take place as part of the Spertus public programming that occurs during the evenings. Presented by the Spertus Institute and the Warsaw Committee of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program. We have taken care of the travel and lodging for Dr. Martin, as well as the advertising for this event.
Focus: May 25th- mid September
Colors of Identity: Polish Art at Home and Abroad, 1890 – 1939
Smart Museum-University of Chicago
In the late nineteenth century, driven by what became known as the Mloda Polska (Young Poland) movement, polish art, literature, architecture, and music flourished even as the country remained partitioned under the foreign rule of Russia, Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Influenced by encounters with foreign art practices, the work of Polish artists spanned the Symbolism and Synthetics of the 1890s, the Cubism of the teens, and the Neo-Classicism of the 1920s. Though disparate in the styles they practiced, the artists united in their pursuit to create modernist art from a uniquely Polish perspective. Some Polish painters and sculptors, including members of Krakow's influential group, Sztuka (Art), focused on developing a modernist style imbued with a Polish consciousness. Others – some in forced exile but most by choice – worked abroad, residing in Paris, Munich, and other artistic centers across Europe. These developments inspired a lively international exchange and resulted in a Polish modernist art movement that was remarkably diverse. With more than fifty paintings, sculptures, and drawings, all on loan from the private collection of Tom Podl, The Colors of Identity traces the complex expression of national identity and international perspective that define this critical period of Polish modern art.
November 16
Focus: Culture
Abakanowicz’s “Agora” Sculpture dedication reception
Chicago Athletic Association
The Warsaw Committee sponsored a luncheon reception in honor of the dedication of Magdalena Abakanowicz’s “Agora” a new sculpture that was dedicated to the city of Chicago from the artist and the Agora means ‘meeting place,’ is comprised one hundred an six cast iron figures. The committee had donated $5000.00 of their committee funds to host the reception. CSCIP worked with Parkways, the Park District and the Mayor’s office on the entire event.
2005
October 16-21
Focus: General
Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife Maggie traveled to Warsaw to meet with business, government, educational and religious leaders and to promoting relations with between the two sister cities.
In Warsaw, Daley spoke to city officials about Chicago’s crime fighting strategy, which includes a nationally recognized community policing program and state-of-the-art technology.
Daley met with Poland’s President Alexander Kwasniewski; Warsaw Mayor Lech Kaczynski, U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe; Joseph Cardinal Glemp; Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow; and American and Polish business leaders.
The Polish itinerary also included a visit to the World War II concentration camps at Auschwitz and Birkenau.
2004
June 4
Focus: Education
Over 300 guests attended a special Chicago preview screening of CNN Presents Warsaw Rising: the Forgotten Soldiers of WWII in Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center. This screening was the kick-off event for the Warsaw Uprising Project – 2004 programming.
August 30 – October 9
Focus: Education
As part of the Warsaw Uprising Project – 2004, the exhibition The Warsaw Uprising: Photographs of Sylvester Kris Braun was shown at CenterSpace, Galley 37 Center for the Arts. This exhibit was a joint collaboration between Gallery 37, the Warsaw Committee and Bogdan Horoszowski and Wesley Adamczyk.
August 30 – October 19
Focus: Education
The Warsaw Committee co-sponsored a series of events commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. The events, collectively known as Warsaw Uprising Project – 2004, included a commemorative event, a photography exhibition, lectures, readings, discussions, concerts, and an oral history project. The commemorative event for Polish Home Army Veterans will take place September 16, 2004, at the Chicago Cultural Center, in Preston Bradley Hall. The evening’s program will include US Marine Honor Guard (2nd Battalion, 24th Division), AK Veterans, the Paderewski Choir, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, a presentation about the Uprising by Dr. Marek Jan Chodakiewicz, and Veterans of the U.S. 8th Air Force 100th Bomb Group.
2003
September 13-20
The Warsaw and Petach Tikva Committees worked in concert to organize the weeklong visit to Chicago of Reverend Weksler-Waszkinel, a Catholic priest who learned as an adult of his history as a hidden child and Jewish heritage. The Reverend shared his story and his personal cause of improving Jewish-Catholic relations to over 1000 people in the Chicago area. While in Chicago, Reverend Weksler-Waszkinel met with two Jewish-Catholic dialogue groups, high school students, members of the Congregation Ezra-Habonim and with the general public.
2002
January 25
Focus: Government
The Warsaw Committee held a welcome luncheon for new Consul General Franciszek Adamczyk.
March 6
Focus: Culture
Radoslaw Sobczak, a classical pianist from Warsaw, performed at the Chicago Cultural Center as a part of the Dame Myra Hess Concert Series.
July 12 – September 12
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee collaborated with the DePaul University Art Gallery to organize the exhibition, Jazz in Poland: Polish Posters from the Rosenberg Collection. A special preview reception was held the night before the exhibit opened to the public.
August 3
Focus: Culture
The Mayor of Northbrook, IL performed a piano concert in the Paderewski Park in Warsaw, Poland. This Polish tour was a part of Mr. Damisch’s continuing mission to promote harmony and peace through music to countries throughout the world.
November 2
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee hosted a reception for Polish authors Adam Zamoyski and Antoni Libera, who participated in the 2002 Chicago Humanities Festival.
Education & Religion
2001
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee hosted a reception and private tour for the In Between: Art from Poland exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Focus: Medical & Social Work
The Warsaw Committee hosted the Director from the Friend’s of Litewska Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Focus: Government
The Warsaw Committee hosted a farewell luncheon for the Consul General of the Republic of Poland.
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee hosted a concert by the internationally renowned Cantores Minores, the St. John’s Boys Choir from Warsaw. More than 400 people attended the free concert in Preston Bradley Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center.
2000
Focus: Medical & Social Work
The Polish American Medical Society Physicians Ball organized a benefit for the Warsaw Committee.
1999
Focus: Government
Warsaw Mayor Piskorski and a delegation met with government and business leaders in Chicago for four days.
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee collaborated with the Polish American Association on a fundraiser at The Art Institute of Chicago for the opening of The Land of the Winged Horsemen - Art in Poland, 1572-1764. More than 400 guests attended the reception and preview, including Mayor and Mrs. Daley.
1998
Focus: Sports
The Warsaw Committee assisted the Chicago Polish Sailing Club, which sailed in Russia.
Focus: Economic Development
A Polish business delegation traveled to Chicago to attend an international computer convention.
Focus: Economic Development
The Polish Real Estate Conference took place in Chicago.
Focus: Medical & Social Work
The Warsaw Committee assisted in creating the itinerary and hosting the Polish Minister of Health in Chicago.
Focus: Culture
Warsaw’s Mayor Piskorski and Poland’s President Swiecicki visited Chicago. Their itinerary in Chicago included a meeting with Mayor Daley and attending the unveiling of a sculpture created by Jerzy Kenar and students of Anderson Elementary School.
Focus: Culture
A World in a Weekend featured Warsaw.
1997
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw and Kyiv Committees co-sponsored a fundraising concert at the Chicago Cultural Center in Preston Bradley Hall to help raise money for the Protégé Philharmonic 1997 Summer tour.
1996
Focus: Culture
The Andrzej Jagodzinski Trio, one of Poland's exceptional musical ensembles, performed jazz arrangements of Chopin's piano music at the Grant Park Music Festival. This concert was part of the Salute to Warsaw program commemorating the 400th anniversary of Warsaw as the capital of Poland.
Focus: Media
The Warsaw Committee hosted a press briefing at the Chicago Cultural Center for local Polish press and media to learn about upcoming activities planned by the committee.
Focus: Culture
The Warsaw Committee in collaboration with the Lira Ensemble, held a successful fundraiser that featured a piano performance by famed Polish composer Henryk Gorecki.
1995
November
Focus: Culture
In collaboration with the Mexico City Committee, the Warsaw Committee showcased their cities at Harold Washington Library's "Bookmania II" event.
Focus: Government
The Honorable Marcin Swiecicki, Mayor of Warsaw, came to Chicago to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Signing of the Chicago-Warsaw Sister Cities agreement. The signing of a reaffirmation agreement took place at a luncheon held at the International Terminal at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and was hosted by Mayor Richard M. Daley. Four Warsaw city government officials and six Warsaw press members accompanied Mayor Swiecicki. The event coincided with the opening of a 25-piece sculpture exhibition of the work of Jerzy Kenar, a renowned Chicago artist born in Poland.
1994
Focus: Culture
In collaboration with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, an exhibition from Warsaw commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising was exhibited in the Chicago Cultural Center.
Focus: Culture
As part of a sixteen-day tour of Russia and Poland, the Chicago Children’s Choir performed in Warsaw. The concert included folk songs from around the world, American spirituals, and Russian and Polish songs. The concert took place in Lazienski Park at the Chopin Monument, the traditional spot for renowned artists to perform.
1993
Focus: Culture
The winner of 1993's "Poem for Warsaw" contest, Edward Pinkowski, spent one week in Warsaw, Poland and was greeted by the Mayor of Warsaw. His winning poem was entitled "Katarzyna."
Focus: Government & Law
A group of ten attorneys, primarily from Warsaw, concluded three months of studies at the DePaul University Law School. Primary emphasis was on Human Rights and Constitutional Juris Prudence. The Chicago based Advocate Society, together with the Illinois Bar Association worked with the Warsaw Committee to arrange this program. A "twinning" agreement was signed by these two bar groups and the Polish bar based in Warsaw.
Focus: Culture
Warsaw participated in the 1993 "Poem For Warsaw" contest that was part of the Chicago Poetry Festival at Navy Pier.
1992
Focus: Culture
Academie Ruchu theater group from Warsaw performed at the International Theater Festival in Chicago.
1991
Focus: Government
In accordance with an agreement signed by delegates of the Warsaw Municipal Government during their visit to Chicago in July 1991 for the Sister Cities International Conference, a series of training programs were established for Warsaw municipal government staff. These programs included financial planning, city planning, personnel training, and health care administration, medical & social work
October – November
Focus: Culture
The photography exhibition, “Chicago Skyscrapers,” was on view in a prominent Warsaw gallery.
Focus: Medical & Social Work
The Warsaw Committee recruited a group of professionals to present a series of seminars on "Alcoholism Awareness and Treatment" to health care specialists who were visiting from Poland.
November
Focus: Humanitarian
A program to donate rehabilitated medical equipment to Warsaw was developed and the City of Chicago donated six ambulances to Warsaw.
1990
Focus: Government
Three Polish government officials participated in an exchange with local city officials, and took part in a training program overview. The officials were interested in technical assistance and instruction relating to basic civic government organization.
November
Focus: Culture
The Hubbard Street Dancers of Chicago performed in Warsaw.
1989
Focus: Government
Two government officials, a city planner, and an environmental engineer spent six weeks in Chicago studying programs and projects administered by various city departments.
Focus: Economic Development
Mayor Richard M. Daley declared October 27, 1989 "Warsaw Marriott Hotel Day" in Chicago, in recognition of the grand opening of the first western-managed hotel in Warsaw, Poland. The Warsaw Marriott is Marriott Corporation's 500th hotel and is a joint venture between Marriott, LOT Polish Airlines and ILBAU.
Focus: Government
The Mayor of Warsaw and his Chief of Staff visited Chicago for one week. During his visit, he met with Mayor Richard M. Daley and several city officials to discuss departmental operations applicable to the city of Warsaw. In addition, the delegation was warmly received by prominent Polish-American groups.
1960
Signing
The relationship with Warsaw, Chicago's first sister city, was established in 1960.
