SSCHICAGO — In a showcase of international collaboration, State Senator Robert Peters will welcome U.K. Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson and British Consul General in Chicago Richard Hyde for a tour of Chicago’s South Side on Friday, Aug. 15.

“Today’s visit is an opportunity to acknowledge the real impact international partnerships have on local communities,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “The South Side represents the kind of neighborhoods where investments in science education, small business and tourism create noticeable benefits for our residents.”

The visit highlights growing ties between Illinois and the United Kingdom across tourism, innovations in science and economic development in small business and education. It also shines a light on the Chicago South Side’s growing status not just as a center of modernization, but an attraction for global visitors. Tourism and small businesses play vital roles in the South Side’s local economy, creating jobs and displaying the cultural wealth of Chicago – from ethnic restaurants to family parks.

The delegation will visit Harper Court, meeting small business leaders from Strugglebeard Bakery and attending youth STEM presentations from the Southside STEM Station summer camp. To spotlight the region’s growing leadership in science and advanced tech, the group will also make stops at the Museum of Science and Industry – one of the most visited science museums in the world – and the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park.

“When our state welcomes global attention, it’s the everyday businesses and families who feel the difference,” Peters said. “Having our U.K. partners in the district underscores the importance of collaboration, small businesses and tourism for our economy and shared sense of community.”

The visit will reinforce relations between the U.S. and U.K. – emphasizing Chicago’s role as a destination for global tourism, a hub for modern industry and a magnet for unique small businesses.