Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1 / 40
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ • Липень-Серпень 2023 5 Meet Oksanna Gudz Earlier this year, Oksanna Gudz became President of the UNWLA’s Detroit Regional Council. We asked Oksanna to tell us about herself, and she obliged with this com - prehensive narrative. To protect five-year-old Mykola and three- year-old Luba from the danger of war in their area, my parents, Stefan and Maria Hryhorczuk, left their farm in Ukraine and traveled to Austria, where I was born in a refugee camp several months later. In 1947 we immigrated to the U.S. and set - tled in Detroit, where my youngest sib - ling, Stefania, was born. Our parents raised us to be proud Ukrain - ians, and although I have never been to Ukraine, like many of my sister Soyuzianky, I was committed to preserving my Ukrain - ian heritage and culture. My siblings and I attended Immaculate Conception Ukrain - ian Catholic School (IC) and Ridna Shkola on Saturdays. We joined Plast. We sur - rounded ourselves with Ukrainian friends and all things Ukrainian. At the age of four, I took Ukrainian folk dancing lessons from the renowned Vasyl Avramenko and developed a love of dancing that continued during my high school and college years. Besides dancing, I played the bandura and sang with the Girls’ Bandurist Chorus and in Trembita, a community choral group. My first camping experience was at a Plast camp at the age of seven, and it continued for many years, first as a participant (no - vachka and yunachka) and later as a counselor and head coun - selor (komendantka). These camps took place in Buffalo and in the Detroit area at Zelenyi Yar, which is adjacent to Dibrova. We are fortunate to have Dibrova, a beautiful park where Ukraini - ans can vacation for weeks or picnic on summer days with fam - ily and friends. My husband of 55 years, my three children, and especially my grandson enjoy being there often. I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree and obtained my teach - ing certificate from Wayne State University and upon gradu - ation accepted a job at IC, where I taught for four years. Al - though I moved on to a public school system, my relationship with IC continued. For several years I co-chaired the Winter Carnival food division and worked at many fundraisers. In the years before joining the UNWLA, I had the opportunity to share information about Ukraine. I taught pysanka deco - rating at the International Institute. As Miss Ukraine Detroit (1963), I represented the Ukrainian American community at various events and was able to meet Mayor Jerome Cavan - agh and Governor George Romney. I became a member of the UNWLA in the 1970s; one of my first activities was teaching at our branch-sponsored pre - school for several years. Although I was active in my branch (baking for bake sales, chairing a silent-auction fundraiser, etc.), this is my first time being involved in the regional coun - cil. In these troubling times, it is important to share infor - mation about Ukraine in our communities and media. This is where my strength lies; I am bilingual and am comfortable communicating with community leaders and government of - ficials. I am also fortunate to have a wonderful, experienced group of women in our regional council on whom I can rely to help me carry out my duties as president. With their sup - port, I hope to follow in the footsteps of the very capable and committed presidents who came before me.
Page load link
Go to Top
×
Donate to support Ukraine!
Contributions can be made via:
Via check:
Make check out to:
UNWLA
and mail to:
UNWLA,
203 Second Ave.,
5th Floor
New York, NY 10003
Via PayPal:
click here
FaceBook:
Ukraine needs you!
