About Evanston
Evanston-Belize Sister City Celbration August 14, 2009
Come join us in celebrating our Sister City this Friday, August 14 from 7 p.m to midnight at the Levy Center located at 300 Dodge Avenue. There will be wonderful Belizean food along with great Belizean music. For additional information, contact Deputy Fire Chief Samuel Hunter at 847/866-5927.
SISTER CITY
In the early 1990s, the City of Evanston began its Sister City Relationship with Belize City. A resolution was signed by both governing bodies but, for some unknown reason, the relationship fell by the wayside.
The City’s present relationship began in March 1999. The Evanston/Belize Sister City Committee was established and is made up of seven volunteers. Annually, the City of Evanston holds a celebration in the honor of the Sister City Relationship, an event called the Evanston/Belize Day in the Park.
Since 1999, the City of Evanston has assisted our Sister City with the aftermath of two hurricanes (Iris and Keith) by sending clothing, shoes, food, toys, and generators to assist with the relief efforts for those two storms.
In addition, the City of Evanston has also donated four vehicles to the Belize City Council; performed life safety inspections on numerous buildings; and held an exchange of city officials. Belize City Council’s town planner and City engineer spent time in Evanston reviewing our procedures, and Evanston sent its City Engineer to Belize to assist with traffic patterns, bus and emergency routes.
Evanston hosted Belizean firefighters for two weeks of training and also hosted two Belizean School Teachers. The City has sent items to assist with the reform of the prison and school supplies and funds to assist with medical emergencies and the AIDS Alliance Organization. City of Evanston staff has presented fire safety talks at various schools while in Belize City.
Larger scaled projects with the Sister City are on the burner now. The City is looking to establish several dialysis clinics throughout Belize as a whole to benefit not only the average Belizean but also those who reside in Evanston who are on dialysis and wish to go home.
The Sister City Committee plans to bring more Belizean culture to Evanston in the near future and establish a real exchange program between city departments.
ABOUT EVANSTON
Sister City