LYNNWOOD, Wash., November 19, 2021 – On October 5, a signal box art wrap was inaugurated at the city of Lynnwood at the Alderwood Mall Parkway and Alderwood Mall Boulevard. The inauguration is a collaboration between the City of Lynnwood and the Mexican city of Chilpancingo to strengthen the cities’ cultural and economic relationship.
Present at the virtual event were the Lynnwood city Mayor, Nicola Smith council member, Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, members of the Lynnwood Sister Cities Association, Association Lazos de Amistad Chilpancingo, Guerrero Association, staff from the current Governor and Governor Elect of Guerrero, and other participants from Guerrero.
Councilmember Altamirano-Crosby said during her opening speech that this is a good opportunity for the two cities to collaborate even more in the future. “It is an honor to participate in the inauguration of the Art Box that represents the union of two cultures. Artwork from Guerrero is on display in the heart of Lynnwood. This friendship city relationship fosters cooperation between both cities and strengthens the cultural, academic, tourist, and economic ties between them,” said councilmember Altimirano-Crosby, who is also the liaison for the Sister Cities Committee and has created opportunities to reconnect migrant families with their roots.
On September 14, 2020, in a virtual ceremony, Mayor Smith and Governor Héctor Astudillo Flores consolidated the friendship between the cities of Chilpancingo, Guerrero, and Lynnwood, WA. This collaboration comes after 35 years after the previous sister city.
“In March of 2020, the City of Lynnwood established a friendship city program by resolution as a part of the sister city program. The friendship city program connects us to people around the world and celebrates the diversity in our communities,” said Mayor Smith.
After expressing his gratitude to Mayor Smith and Councilmember Altamirno-Crosby, representative Daniel Agis Eslava, who was present on behalf of Evelyn Salgado Pineda, Governor Elect of the State of Guerrero, emphasized the importance of this relationship between the two cities in the future: “I reiterate the will of the Governor-elect to continue working for the binational relationship, the migrant community, and to strengthen the ties that exist in favor of our people; and in this sense, I cordially invite you to join us on October 16 at 6 p.m. to the Binational Cultural Festival ‘Guerrero across the borders,’” said Mr. Eslava.
“I am very happy to be able to share this space to celebrate the folklore, art, culture, and traditions of Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Guerrero, which from today will be represented in this Art Box,” concluded on behalf of the Governor-elect Mr. Eslava.
Others present at the inauguration include Wally Webster of the Lynnwood Sister City Association; Ana Lilia Leyva Sotelo, President of the Lazos de Amistad Association in Chilpancingo, Guerrero; Anthony Geist, President of Guerrero Association in Lynnwood; Daniel Agis Eslava, on behalf of Evelyn Salgado Pineda, Governor-elect of the State of Guerrero; and Fred Wong, Community Programs Coordinator of the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Department at the Lynnwood Recreation Center.
The art box represents a piece of Mexican culture and was created by the artists Roberto Artemio Iglesias Giz, Maricela Figueroa Zamilpa, and Gaudencio García.
Other Signal Box Wraps around Lynnwood
THANK YOU to Essential Workers
Location: 188th and 44th This design pays tribute to the thousands of essential workers in Lynnwood who have worked in the field during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions starting in March 2020. Many essential workers are our BIPOC neighbors. They continue to contribute to our health and well-being. We thank them.
Big Hair and Blue Eye Shadow
Location: 188th and 33rd Let’s poke a little fun at ourselves. This design celebrates a fun slice of Lynnwood’s past in the 1980s and 90s. “Big Hair and Blue Eye Shadow” were immortalized in a skit about the Lynnwood Beauty Academy from the local KING-TV show Almost Live.
Author: Gerti Katro
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