Poznan, Poland

The sister city relationship between Toledo, Ohio and Poznan, Poland came to realization in 1991 through the efforts of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who fostered the sister city relationship between the Mayor of Toledo and the Mayor of Poznan. This interest began when the communists were toppled from power in Poland in 1989, and efforts to foster the rule of democracy were encouraged. Poznan was chosen because it was the general departure point for most of Toledo's immigrants from Poland.

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Poznan is located in one of the most commercially active regions of Central and Eastern Europe. As the home of year-round international trade fairs, Poznan represents a gateway to the emerging markets of Eastern Europe.

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+Father Paul Kwiatkowski, pastor of St. Hedwig's Church on LaGrange Street, the oldest Polish parish in the city, along with David Chelminski, historian, provided data to support the choice of Poznan for a sister city.

"The purpose of the agreement is to develop business, agricultural, and education exchanges and implement trade between the two cities" (Toledo Blade, 3-18-91), was announced at a press conference in the Maritime Plaza, by Congresswoman Kaptur. A representative of the Port Authority and President Frank Horton were present. The University of Toledo will seek an agreement with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan and other universities in Poland and Germany.

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The signing of the agreement between the two cities was held in chambers of the City of Toledo in February. A delegation of some 15 local citizens were scheduled to travel to Poland in April to sign the agreement in Poznan.

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The Toledo Poznan Alliance created a Board of Trustee: on non- profit organization. The board has been faithf elect officers and board members, drawn from the Pol Alliance invited members to the annual meetings, an seasonally, edited by Kathy Grabel, and aided by Richard
Alliance invited members to the annual meetings, and received a regularly published Alliance Newsle seasonally, edited by Kathy Grabel, and aided by Richard Kozbial, Patricia Konwinski, and Walter Palicki.

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Visitors from Poznan began as early as July, 1991, when the Mayor of Poznan, Wojciech Kacmarek was honored at a reception at Lourdes College (now University), hosted by President Sister Ann Francis, a founding member of the TPA.

Lech Walesa visited in 1999. In 1996, a boys' choir from Poznan, was hosted and performed in the area; from 1994-1998, a Holiday Tree created by board members collected gifts and support for the orphans in Poznan run by a group of religious women; Lourdes College provided Presidential Scholarships to students from Poznan in 1996, '97, '99, and 2000, and local families provided housing; TPA board members played an active role in the 2002 SCI International Conference, providing Polish ethnic items for sale, contributed to the quilt created during the Conference by local high school students; supported other local non profit organizations, commissioned and created a mural in the Lagrange Branch Library with TPA Logo; hosted and arranged for performances of Dixie Company Jazz band from Poznan in 2014 at the University of Toledo Recital Hall; began the support for a proposed Polish Cultural Center spear-headed by Tom Wasinewski and joined the Polish American Community of Toledo, Dixie Company Jazz band from Poznan in 2014 at the University of Toledo Recital Hall; began the support for a proposed Polish Cultural Center spear-headed by Tom Wasinewski and joined the Polish American Community of Toledo, the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America and the Toledo Pc The signature event of a fall Harvest dinner, Dozynki celebrated a 25th founder, Lucy Szafarowicz. The event provides funding for the support been supported by TPA since its founding.

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The 25th anniversary of the signing of the agreement with Poznan was celebrated in 1916, dinner honoring the founding members of the board and other guests and a "memory book persons, events, visitors, and activities of TPA was produced by founding board member, Sister Ann Francis Klimkowski.