Denise Taylor, a member of the Grand Rapids Sister Cities International Board, presented a program on our Sister City connections in Italy, Poland, Ghana, Mexico, and South Korea. Dnipro, Ukraine was just announced as a “friendship” city in June of this year.
This link leads to a PowerPoint presentation update with more information. The picture descriptions are listed below. Enjoy!
Slides 1,2,3- The GRSCI logo and mission statement.
Slides 4,5-Our participation in the city parades (flags of our sister city countries are on the back of the city float).
Slides 6,7-Our participation in the Ethnic Heritage Festival held each year at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.
Slides 8,9,10,11- Photos from the GRSCI Gala event held at the JW Marriott in June 2023.
Slides 12, 13,14 – The Mayor and delegation trip to Omihachiman, Japan with the Mayor of Omihachiman. The Omi committee participating in the Asian-Pacific Festival in June 2023.
Slides 15,16 –Polish Heritage Festival held August 25 and 26 at Calder Plaza.
Slide 17- A group from the Ga West District of Ghana, including the Ga committee’s representative in Ghana, attended our gala in their traditional African clothing. He is pictured here with the chairs of the Gangnam-gu committee, the Zapopan committee, and the Ga West committee.
Slide 18-The Ga West committee collaborated recently with the Rotary Club to send a container of medical supplies to the Ga West District.
Slides 19- Medical students from Calvin and GVSU go to Ghana as part of a volunteer program.
Slides 20,21-The Korean Connection and the Gangnam-gu committee helped sponsor a celebrated graffiti artist, Royyal Dog from South Korea, to come here to GR and paint this mural on the Hopson Flats Building, across from Founder’s Brewery. It’s amazing and he created this with spray paint!
Slides 22,23- Mayor Bliss and a delegation from GR traveled to Gangnam-gu this summer to celebrate the addition of our 6th sister city.
Slide 24- There were three students from Perugia, Italy here this school year attending Grand Rapids Christian High School. The Perugia committee accompanied them on a trip to City Hall to meet Mayor Bliss.
Slide 25-The anniversary of the Perugia-Assisi peace march was commemorated by members of the Perugia committee at the St. Francis of Assisi Sculpture Garden on the ground of the Dominican Center at Marywood on Fulton St.
Slide 26-The Zapopan committee sponsored several beer brew masters from Zapopan to participate at the Wine, Beer and Food Festival at DeVos Place in November.
Slide 27-Perugia committee members at the Fiera dei Morti Market in Italy, selling goods from GR to support our scholarships and events throughout the year.
Slide 28- Perugia committee and Club Italia members cooking at the Renucci House for the families of patients staying at Corewell Health (Spectrum) hospitals.
Slide 30- Ukrainian community picnic this summer
Slide 31- Map of Ukraine, showing the location of Dnipro, Grand Rapids’ newest “friendship” city, soon to be our 7th sister city.
Slide 32-The skyline of Dnipro, Ukraine.
Slide 33,34- The St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church on Gold St. Here in Grand Rapids.
