New Memorandum of Understanding to be
signed by Mayors of Cincinnati and Kharkiv

In an online signing ceremony Setptember 19, Mayor Aftab Pureval and Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov will sign the new Memorandum of Understanding that will guide the activities through 2028. 

Singatories to the MoU and present in Kyiv will be CKSCP Pesident Bob Herring and Kharkiv-Cincinnati Sister City President Iryna Bakumenko.

Bob Herring and City Council Member Mark Jeffreys will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine September 16 to meet with Mayor Terekhov and attend the Kharkiv Restart Forum where ideas will be presented for our Sister City's rebirth after the end of the war. 

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Kharkiv," said Jeffreys.  "It's really looking ahead for when the war does end — what do they need? They need physical infrastructure, for sure. But then even things like medical professionals ... so we're approaching it from the standpoint of listening and hearing their needs, and then coming back and sharing that with not only our city, but the broader community."

"Our presence at the Forum sends the message to our friends in Kharkiv that they are not alone, that we will be with them in the weeks and months and years to come” said Herring.

Over the past 34 years collaboration on hundreds of projects has deepened the understanding of each other and fostered strong friendships.  

Glory to Ukraine

A Special Exhibit of Contemporary Ukrainian Art

Background & Exhibit Introduction

Russia invaded Ukraine in the early morning hours of Feb 24, 2022. This marked the beginning of a deadly conflict. Now an estimated 18 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.

The featured Ukrainian artists in this exhibit are just some of the heroes that cut through these dark times. They hail from different regions and work in a multitude of different mediums. In unison they all show their outrage against and share hopes for a quick end to this conflict.

These artists show resilience and patriotism for their nation, to have the courage to show and speak out about these topics via artistic expression takes courage. There is a name for courageous individuals, they are called heroes.

Artists are adept with expressing topics and events in a personal light that the news is not capable of achieving. That is why this exhibit is important and historical.

View the website for the Special Exhibit of Contemporary Ukrainian Art.

About the Curator
Joseph Vesper passed the Ohio BAR exam in 2020, and founded J.R. Vesper Law where he has represented artists from around the world with their intellectual property matters. He is also an avid artifact and art collector. Phone: 513-702-6769 Curator Email: jrvesper.esq@gmail.com

The Sister City Partnership between CIncinnati and Kharkiv began in 1989.  Click here to learn more about this incredible story.

The Russian Invasion

It's been a year that we did not anticipate and has been unlike anything we've ever experienced.  This is the story.