CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
Proclamation
Proclamation in Celebration of the 30th anniversary of Sebastopol and Chyhyryn’s Sister City Relationship
Whereas, Sebastopol and Chyhyryn, Ukraine established a Sister City relationship in 1993, leading to three decades of cultural exchanges, education and friendship, and;
Whereas, Sebastopol and Chyhyryn have exchanged student and adult ambassador delegations, allowing for significant and impactful activities, education and understanding; and
Whereas, youth exchanges were suspended in 2014 due to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, and remain so until the present day; and
Whereas, following Ukraine’s assured victory, City of Sebastopol and Sebastopol World Friends are to resume youth and adult exchanges, and;
Whereas, in 2008 Sebastopol World Friends hosted a delegation of citizens from various parts of Ukraine as part of the Open World Program, a United States Congressional program that sponsors community leaders from former Soviet countries to visit communities in the US to learn first-hand about democracy and open governance. Over time, five additional Ukrainian delegations have visited Sebastopol through the Open World Program, and; Whereas, in 2016, Sebastopol World Friends partnered with Project C.U.R.E., an international non-profit specializing in distribution of donated medical supplies, undertook fundraising and logistical planning to deliver a cargo container of donated medical supplies to the hospital in Chyhyryn. These needed medical supplies were delivered in the spring of 2018, and; Whereas, from March to June of 2022, Sebastopol World Friends, in conjunction with the Sebastopol Regional Library and Analy High School, organized a community peace flag project, allowing the people of Sebastopol to express their hopes and wishes for peace for their Ukrainian friends; and
Whereas, starting in August of 2022, Sebastopol World Friends, in partnership with the Sonoma County Japanese American Citizen League, undertook a project to fold 1000 origami cranes, a Japanese symbol of healing and peace, for each of Sonoma County’s three Ukrainian Sister Cities- Chyhyryn, Chekassy, and Kaniv , as a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine.
Therefore, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Sebastopol and Chyhyryn’s Sister City relationship, Sebastopol World Friends sends 1000 cranes, a collection of Peace Flags, and other symbols of friendship to Ukraine to celebrate this important milestone.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Neysa Hinton, on behalf of the City Council of the City of Sebastopol, do hereby recognize the 30th anniversary of Sebastopol and Chyhyryn’s Sister City Relationship IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the Great Seal of the City of Sebastopol this 8th day of August 2023.
Neysa Hinton
Mayor, City of Sebastopol