History of Exchange

Milan, ’s Sister Since 1973

Chair: Joe Monastero

1973

Focus: Signing Agreement and Chicago signed a sister cities agreement in 1973.

1985

The relationship was strengthened in 1985 with exchanges between students of Chicago's School of the Art Institute and Milan, which now participate in yearly exchanges.

1986

Focus: Culture The Apparel Mart conducted a series of exchanges with Milan.

1989

Focus: An exchange program placing Italian students in Chicago universities was headed by a delegation of Italian college presidents and faculty members who traveled to Chicago to make the arrangements.

1991

Focus: Culture The Oggi-Milano event, featuring five designers from Milan, showcased their latest in an event produced by Marchetti Special Events at the Field Museum.

Focus: Education Chicago's St. Xavier University established a campus in Milan offering an accredited MBA program to Italian and U.S. graduate students.

Focus: Culture In conjunction with the Italian Trade Commissions, the Milan Committee brought the "Compasso d'Oro (Golden Compass Award) Exhibit to Chicago with the assistance of the Chicago Athenaeum. The Golden Compass Award is Italy's most prestigious award.

1992

Focus: Culture The "Elegant Techniques: Italian Furniture Design 1970 - 1990" show was held at the Chicago Cultural Center and organized by the Italian Trade Commission.

1993

Focus: Culture Milan poet Franco Cajani participated in the 1993 Chicago Poetry Festival at Navy Pier.

Focus: Education The Milan Committee and the Institute of European Studies awarded several scholarships to American students to study in Milan.

1994

Focus: Government The Milan Committee hosted visiting members of the Milan Chamber of Commerce at a luncheon, which included guests from the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development.

1995

Focus: Economic Development Several members of the Milan Committee participated in an Italian-American Chamber of Commerce event, "Operating Strategies for doing business in Italy," serving as speakers and moderators for the event.

Focus: Economic Development The Milan Committee hosted and scheduled appointments with city officials and business counterparts for a Milan delegation. The visitors included the minister for Economy and for the Region of and a councilman from the City of Milan.

1996

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee sponsored the Riccardo Luppi Quartet from Milan to participate in the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park.

Focus: Government The Honorable Marco Formentini, of Milan, and Mario Felicetti, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, visited Chicago to expand the sister cities relationship.

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee hosted a dinner and theater fundraising event for the "Milan Garden" project. The Milan Committee is sponsoring the restoration of the section of Grant Park along Michigan Avenue from Balbo to Roosevelt Road and a special garden to honor the Milan sister city relationship. The restoration is a collaborative project between the Chicago Park District, city of Chicago, the Chicago Hilton and Towers, and the Chicago Sister Cities International Program.

1997

Focus: Culture The national Italian travel magazine WEEKEND Viaggi sent Mariatersa Montaruli, travel writer, to report on Chicago. Members of the Milan Committee entertained her during her visit.

Focus: Culture The Chicago Children's Choir performed in Milan.

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee played host to a preview party for the show at The Art Institute of Chicago. Proceeds benefited the Chicago Children's Choir trip to Milan in July.

1998

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee held a fundraiser featuring Andrea Marcovicci at the Casino.

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee participated in the Columbus Day Parade and surrounding activities including A World in a Weekend featuring Milan and performances by opera singers at Daley Plaza.

Focus: Education The City of Milan sponsored an exchange among 15 high school students in Chicago and Milan for two weeks each.

Focus: Government Mayor Richard M. Daley met with Mayor Albertini in Milan.

1999

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee arranged a reception for Frances Mayes, author of Under the Tuscan Sun, who presented a lecture at the Newberry Library.

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee developed a festival to celebrate the master crafts of Italy. Milano Square featured 13 master craftsmen who demonstrated their skills, including the restoration of antique fabrics, paintings, pottery and musical instruments; jewelry design; silversmithing; textile weaving; mask making; paper marbling; and ceramics.

In addition, the four day event featured including Commedia dell’Arte, puppetry, lectures on cuisine and travel, and film. Milano Square was previewed by attendees at a gala benefit.

2000

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, and the City of Milan are collaborated to present Landmarks of Chicago and New York: A Tale of Two Cities, a collection of 150 black and white photographs featuring each city’s architectural treasures.

The exhibition has had successful showings in Chicago’s sister cities and and was on display November 23 through December 10 at the Palazzo Reale Milan. Hosted by the City of Milan, the exhibit opened with a gala reception sponsored by the Milan office of Chicago-based advertising firm Leo Burnett.

2001

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee hosted a concert at the Chicago Cultural Center to honor Verdi, presented by Maestro Bartoletti.

Focus: Culture The Milan Committee hosted a post-concert reception for Paolo Conte at Orchestra Hall.

Focus: Government The Milan Committee hosted a delegation led by Senator and Vice-Mayor Riccardo De Corato. One purpose of the visit was to present a $20,000 donation to the Milan Committee for the creation of the Milan Garden.

Their itinerary included visits to Millennium Park, Streets and Sanitation, Graffiti Blasters, the Office for People with Disabilities and the Department on Aging. Senator De Corato met with Alderman Burke and Mayor Daley.

2002

May 12 Focus: Culture Members of the Committee will host a delegation from Milan to promote cross-cultural exchanges and tourism.

May 15 Focus: Culture On the Wings of Italy: Exhibition and Civic Celebration includes rare Futurist posters and memorabilia featuring the flight of Francesco De Pinedo, the first Italian Aviator to reach the . Location: Richard J. Daley Civic Center, 5:30-7:30pm.

2004

December 4 Focus: Culture A cocktail reception was held at the Hilton Towers to raise funds for the Milano Garden.

2006

May Focus: Culture Reception and Lecture at Museum of Science and Industry in collaboration with the Leonardo DaVinci Exhibit and visit by L3 from Milan. There was also a fundraiser held for the Milano Gardens.

December 12 Focus: Culture & Education Members of the Committee traveled to Milan to sign a Sister City School Agreement to meet with Fashion institutions, the , the L3, and a photographer to encourage art, culture, and education exchanges.

Lucia Mauro spoke about her latest photographs and sign her new book, "Frieze Frame II: Textures & Colors of Italy" at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura of Chicago.

2007

March 3-16 Focus: Education Twelve students from Darwin Elementary visited Milan, , , and . This exchange was initiated during the Committee trip to Milan in November 2006.

May 1-6 Focus: Government A delegation was in Chicago to further strengthen Sister City School relationships and also to experience Chicago. During their stay they went on a riverboat architectural tour, a VIP tour of Millennium Park, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Art Institute, and the Museum of Contemporary Art. They also visited Darwin Elementary, Schurz High School, Andrew Jackson Language Academy, Otis Elementary, the Istituto Italiano Di Cultura, and had a luncheon at Paula D'Angelo's and CPS headquarters.

2008

February 8 Focus: Education & Fashion The Milan Committee hosted a presentation on insight into the Milan Fashion System, the Domus Academy Approach, and information on the Milan Summer Program (6/30 - 7/4).

April Focus: Education Three Principals from Milan traveled to Chicago in April. They visited their sister schools and also met with an administrator at Sayre Language Academy to explore establishing a Sister School Relationship with a school in Milan. They also visited a parochial school and a Chicago Public School selective enrollment school.

June 18-20 Focus: Government A delegation of five City Councilors and their interpreter visited Chicago. During the visit, the delegation had a demonstration of the City of Chicago’s graffiti blasters at work, tours of the 911 Center, the Roof Garden on City Hall and the Center for Green Technologies, met with Aldermen Rugai, Burnett and Waguespack, the Chicago 2016 Team, After School Matters and CAIR Chicago (Council on Arab-Islamic Relations).

February 8 Focus: Fashion The Milan Committee presents an insight into the Milan Fashion System, the Domus Academy Approach, and information in the Milan Summer Program (6/30 through 7/4).

The Milan Committee was proud to announce the special guest lecturer for the seminar, Mrs. Barbara Trebitsch, Head of Fashion Department at Domus Academy, Milan.

March 22 Focus: Theater The Milan Committee invited guests to join them for a talk and demonstration by Antonio Fava, renowned Italian comic actor.

Focus: Fashion & Education The Milan Committee in collaboration with the renowned Domus academy in Milan presented an intensive five day program for advanced fashion students, graduates and young professionals that explore the Italian fashion business, its relationship with cutting edge art and design, and the sourcing of trends and ideas that will inspire the new generation of artists and designers.

2009

March Focus: Education Darwin Elementary students traveled to Milan for a fashion exchange where students read a novel and sketched the clothes they visualized the characters in the novel to be wearing.

June 25-26 Focus: Government The Honorable Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, Commissioner for Culture for the City of Milan.

October 9 Focus: Culture The committee hosted “A Taste of Italy” event in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall from 6-9:30 p.m. A $50 ticket entitled guests to wine and tasting portions from Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, the Italian Village Restaurants, Italiasia, Piccolo Sogno, Trattoria Isabella and Volare. Attendance was 110.

2010

August 23-27 Focus: Arts & Culture Mazzone’s Italian Ice represented Milan during the 5th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival in Millennium Park.

November 9 Focus: Arts & Culture A private dinner and cooking demonstration for the U.S. launch of the Mamma Agata cookbook benefiting the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, took place at Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush Restaurant. Approximately 50 people attended the event, and $1,000 was raised for the Milan Committee.

2011

March 7 Focus: Arts & Culture The Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest in collaboration with the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International hosted a dinner in celebration of Italy’s 150th Birthday at the National Italian American Sports Hall of . Special guests included Alessandro Motta, Consul General of Italy in Chicago and Renato Turano, former Senator of the Italian Republic.

June 24 Focus: Arts & Culture In honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of Italy, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago and the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International presented a public theatrical performance based on I promessi sposi (The Bethrothed), in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater. Performers included Massimiliano Finazzer Flory, Gilda Gelati, Elsa Martignoni and David Gibbons. A reception was held afterwards in the G.A.R. Rotunda, where guests were able to mingle with the performers

2012

March 20 Focus: Arts & Culture After a successful sold-out performance in June of 2011, the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago and the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International once again presented a public theatrical performance based on I promessi sposi (The Bethrothed), in the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater.

August 6-10 Focus: Culture The 7th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival transformed Daley Plaza into an international village filled with merchants, food, music, and dance from Chicago’s 28 Sister Cities. Merchant by Gina sold traditional Italian souvenirs representing the culture and heritage of Milan.

October 4-7 Focus: Medical The 14th Annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium was a professional educational event highlighting the most recent clinical and scientific advances in breast cancer . Dr. Pamela Biondani from Instituto Nazionale Dei Tumori participated and represented Milan in the 2012 symposium.

December 24 Focus: Culture Benjamin Kelner, Communications Manager of CSCI was featured on ABC 7 Chicago talking about Christmas traditions in some of Chicago’s Sister Cities. Traditional bread was highlighted in the segment representing the culture and heritage of Milan, Italy.

2013

March 14 Focus: Culture The Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International and the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago presented Massimiliano Finazzer Flory’s Pinocchio, the Story of a Puppet, at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater. The performance was brought to Chicago from Italy in celebration of the 2013 Year of Italian Culture in the United States.

April 23 Focus: Culture In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the sister city relationship between Chicago and Milan, the 2013 Year of Italian Culture in the United States and the bicentennial of the birth of , the Milan Committee of CSCI sponsored a free concert performance of Verdi’s Requiem Mass for two pianos and four soloists. The concert was presented by the Italian organization “Waiting For…” which works to promote culture and through events and initiatives that enhance the creativity and talent of young artists. This particular performance is titled “Waiting for Verdi.”

June 6–August 16 Focus: Culture The Milan Committee of CSCI presented the large scale exhibition Wings of Italy: Italian Aeropainting from 1910–1935 in the lobby of the Willis Tower from –August 16, including an opening reception on June 21. Wings of Italy presented an outstanding selection of avant- garde posters by such artists and illustrators as , Umberto di Lazzaro, Alberto Mastroianni, Luigi Martinati and many others, who captured the drama of flight and documented the unfolding saga of Italian aviation in images of exceptional beauty and power.

One of the earliest and most effective means of mass communication, the poster was the perfect medium through which to stimulate popular interest in the aeronautical endeavors and achievements of the day. Aviation began to develop in Italy around 1910, and by the end of the First World War, only Great Britain could boast greater aeronautical prowess. The inter-war years witnessed a tremendous expansion of civil aviation, as well as a number of record- breaking flights.

Wings of Italy was presented by the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, and curated by Massimo & Sonia Cirulli Archive, New York. Support was provided by the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit, the National Italian American Foundation, The Boeing Company, the Italian American Chamber of Commerce, Phil and Karen Stefani and other generous donors.

June 27 Focus: Culture Members of the Milan Committee of CSCI went on a group outing to see di Milano’s Inner Voices at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

August 5-9 Focus: Culture The 8th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival transformed Daley Plaza into an international village filled with merchants, food, music, and dance from Chicago’s 28 Sister Cities. Merchant Designs by Gina sold traditional Italian souvenirs and Caffé Gelato sold gelato, both representing the culture and heritage of Milan. September 25-29 Focus: Medical The Chicago Sister Cities International Medical Initiative Program took place in conjunction with the 15th Annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, a professional educational event highlighting the most recent clinical and scientific advances in breast cancer research. Dr. Arpine Gevorgyan from Istituto Tumori Milano participated and represented Milan in the 2013 symposium.

November 23, 2013-January 12, 2014 Focus: Culture The Milan Committee of CSCI sponsored an Italian crèche at the exhibition Art and Faith of the Crèche: The Collection of James and Emilia Govan at the Loyola University Museum of Art.

2014

July 19-26 Focus: Sports The Milan Committee of CSCI sponsored a youth soccer team from , Italy to travel to Chicago to participate in the first annual Chicago KICS Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament.

July 20 Focus: Sports The Milan Committee of CSCI hosted a welcome reception at the Chicago Cultural Center to welcome the youth soccer team and coaches from Como, Italy, who the committee sponsored to participate in the first annual Chicago KICS Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament from July 19-26.

2015

August 12 Focus: Culture The Milan Committee of CSCI hosted a fundraiser at Kendall College on August 12 to celebrate the upcoming Chicago Week in Milan. The featured elements Chicago highlighted in Milan, including celebrity chefs, specially crafted beer, and entertainment.

September 3-5 Focus: Business, Culture, Education, Tourism CSCI presented Chicago-themed events in Milan to highlight the strong relationship between the two cities during Expo Milano 2015, the world’s fair. Over 40 member of Chicago’s business, cultural, culinary and civic communities comprised the delegation who traveled to Milan to celebrate the Chicago-Milan sister city relationship. • September 3 Reception Celebrating the Chicago Milan Sister City Relationship Over 200 guests from Milan and Chicago gathered at Milan’s City Hall, , to celebrate the Chicago-Milan sister city relationship. The event featured food by Chicago Chefs John Coletta, Jason Hammel and Matthias Merges; Bella Bacinos Italian Bistro & Pizzeria; Eli’s Cheesecake; and traditional Milanese dishes. Lagunitas’ Mozango! was served. JC Brooks performed for the crowd after a speaking program featured representatives from both cities. • September 4 Chicago-Milan Luncheon Chefs John Coletta, Jason Hammel and Matthias Merges joined with famed Italian Chef Gualtiero Marchesi at his restaurant Il Marchesino for a special luncheon. The four chefs each prepared a course for 75 guests. • September 4 Pilot Light Culinary Education Program Pilot Light representatives Chefs Jason Hammel and Matthias Merges, along with Pilot Light Executive Director Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn, taught 30 teenaged school children from Milan the history of Chicago through the Chicago Hot Dog. The teens learned about Chicago and had the opportunity to try Chicago’s own version of the dog. • September 4 Soup and Bread Fundraiser Based on Chicago’s own Soup and Bread at the Hideout Chicago, Chefs John Coletta, Jason Hammel, Matthias Merges and Gualtiero Marchesi each prepared a special soup that was served to over 75 guests. Guests donated funds that were given to Pane Quotidiano (Daily Bread), a not-for-profit organization that works on food security issues in Milan. • September 5 Chicago Concert with JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound and Ray Band Chicago’s own JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound performed a free outdoor concert at the famed La , with Ray Band opening the evening with classic Chicago blues and rock.

November 5 Focus: Medical The Chicago Sister Cities International Medical Initiative Program took place in conjunction with the 17th Annual Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, a professional educational event highlighting the most recent clinical and scientific advances in breast cancer research. Dr. Valentina Gambi from Cancer Center participated and represented Milan at the 2015 symposium.

November 9–13 Focus: Culture A delegation from Milan, led by famed architect , traveled to Chicago from November 9–13 to take part in events associated with the Chicago Architecture Biennial. On November 12 at an award ceremony in Chicago, Mr. Boeri’s “Bosco Verticale” (Vertical Forest) received the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s prestigious award for “2015 Best Tall Building Worldwide.”

On November 10, a reception took place in honor of the delegation at Kendall College with a screening of the short film The Flying Gardeners, about the botanists who care for the Bosco Verticale’s trees and plants while suspended from the top of the building.

2016

February 17 Joseph Monastero was appointed as a new Co-Chair of the Milan Committee of CSCI by the Advisory Board of CSCI.

March 30 Focus: Delegation Mayor Rahm Emanuel hosted a private dinner with 175 guests for Italian Prime Minister at the Art Institute of Chicago.

May 14 Chicago Sister Cities International hosted a Eurovision Song Contest viewing party at Old Crow Smokehouse. Since 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has been one of ’s most popular television programs and one of television’s longest running music shows. Over 200 people came to cheer on their country.