Day: September 10, 2015

MAYOR NUTTER PROCLAIMS TODAY ‘SOLIDARITY DAY OF THE WORLD HERITAGE CITIES’ IN PHILADELPHIArnPrnosted on September 8, 2015 by City of PhiladelphiarnrnPhiladelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter declared Tuesday, September 8, 2015 as “Solidarity Day of the World Heritage Cities” in Philadelphia through a proclamation issued at a joint press conference with the Global Philadelphia Association.rnrnThe City of Philadelphia is the only city in the United States that is an observer member of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). The Global Philadelphia Association and Mayor Nutter’s administration have been working collaboratively since 2012 on an initiative to make Philadelphia a full member of the Organization and thereby achieve status as the first World Heritage City in the U.S.rnrn“As the proud home of Independence Hall – the birthplace of democracy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 – Philadelphia stands in solidarity today with all World Heritage Cities as our city aspires to become the first World Heritage City in the U.S.,” said Mayor Nutter.rnrnA decision on Philadelphia’s proposal to become a full member is expected when the OWHC’s 13th World Congress convenes in the city of Arequipa, Peru November 3-6, 2015. A delegation of representatives from the City of Philadelphia and the Global Philadelphia Association will attend the Congress.rnrn“Today’s proclamation is an affirmation of Mayor Nutter’s support of the mission of the Organization of World Heritage Cities and his belief that our great city, with its rich history and a heritage of diversity, has shared interests and common bonds with the international community,” said Alan Greenberger, the City’s Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Director of Commerce.rnrnJohn F. Smith III, Chair of the Global Philadelphia Association’s Board of Directors, said, “We believe that designation as a World Heritage City would promote understanding of the region’s remarkable history – a history built on respect for many cultures, freedom, and democracy – and at the same time enhance Philadelphia’s global stature as a destination for international commerce, culture and tourism.”rnrnLast September 8, the City of Philadelphia marked Solidarity Day of the World Heritage Cities by renaming Walnut Street between 5th and 6th streets “World Heritage Way,” in a ceremony at Independence Hall.rnrnDriving home the World Heritage message, the Global Philadelphia Association will stage GlobalPhilly™ 2015, a 60-day exposition to showcase the city’s many international assets, starting Thursday, September 10. The expo will offer a lineup of 150 events and programs centered on international themes and issues. Member organizations will present events in eight categories: Advocacy, Arts, Commerce, Cuisine, Education, Heritage, Science & Technology and Sports. The opening ceremony for the Expo will be Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the studios of WHYY, Independence Mall West, 150 N. 6th Street, in Philadelphia. To learn more about GlobalPhilly™ 2015 and the scheduled events, visit http://www.globalphiladelphia.org. GlobalPhilly™ 2015 runs through mid-November.rnrn rnrnAbout the Global Philadelphia AssociationrnrnThe Global Philadelphia Association (GPA) was founded in 2010 by leading international organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its mission is to:rnrnAssist – and encourage greater interaction among – the many organizations and people who are engaged in international activity within the Greater Philadelphia region;rnPromote the development of an international consciousness within the region; andrnEnhance the region’s global profile. rnGPA is a nonprofit organization with more than 190 members, including businesses, organizations and internationally-minded individuals. rnrnMAYOR NUTTER’S PROCLAMATIONrnrn WHEREAS, the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) was founded in Fez, Morocco on September 8, 1993, in order to promote the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, encourage cooperation and the exchange of information and expertise on matters of conservation and management, and develop a sense of solidarity among its member cities; andrnrn WHEREAS, the OWHC has grown over the years and now has over 250 member cities across the globe; andrnrn WHEREAS, the City of Philadelphia became an observer member of the OWHC in 2013 and, as such, has participated in the Organization’s activities since that time; andrnrn WHEREAS, given Philadelphia’s historical and cultural contributions to the world, their embodiment in the City’s fundamental design, its physical spaces, and structures – including Independence Hall, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 – and the City’s innovative efforts to preserve, re-use, and re-invent those spaces and structures in a manner that honors their history, Philadelphia feels a special kinship with the member cities of the Organization; andrnrn WHEREAS, the City has joined with the Global Philadelphia Association in an initiative called Project World Heritage for the purposes of promoting an understanding on the part of our citizens and the larger world community of the value of the City’s heritage and the importance of its preservation, achieving full membership in the OWHC, developing relationships with other member cities for our mutual benefit, and learning from them and sharing our learning with them concerning the growth, health, and preservation of cities; andrnrn WHEREAS, one year ago, on September 8, 2014, the City of Philadelphia officially recognized Solidarity Day by naming Walnut Street, between 5th and 6th streets, which is the site of Independence Hall, as “World Heritage Way”;rnrn NOW THEREFORE: rnrn I, Michael A. Nutter, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, do hereby proclaim September 8, 2015 to be celebrated asrnrnSolidarity Day of the World Heritage Citiesrnrnin Philadelphia, and urge all citizens to take advantage of this day both to share and promote our own heritage and to recognize the work of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in promoting heritage world-wide.rnrn rnrnMichael A. NutterrnrnMayor