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НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ • Липень 2025 15 100 Years of the UNWLA’s Cultural Journey Oksana Piaseckyj , UNWLA National Culture Chair Preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture was a primary objective when the UNWLA was estab - lished 100 years ago as Soyuz Ukrainok Ameryky, emphasizing this objective in its formational plat - form: “inform the free world about events in Ukraine, spiritually and materially support the homeland and promote the preservation of Ukrain- ian national identity, cultural heritage and ethnic traditions in the United States.” The founders knew that Ukrainian folk art was a cohesive bond with Ukrainian immigrants and that it would establish strong ties with the non-Ukrain - ian public through its beauty and multifaceted ex - pressions. Also, with russification policies endan - gering Ukrainian culture, it had to be preserved outside of Ukraine. The intelligence of the found - ing women of Soyuz Ukrainok Ameryky created a foundation that would persevere through the most difficult times in the U.S. In 1926, Soyuzianky created an exhibit of Ukrain - ian arts at the prestigious Astor Hotel in New York City. To further awareness of Ukraine’s heritage, they knew the importance of creating special pro - grams that would educate the public. Commemo - rative occasions honoring Ukrainians such as Lesia Ukrainka, Taras Shevchenko, and Olha Basarab were encouraged throughout Ukrainian communi - ties in the diaspora. At the first Women’s Congress in America, held in April 1932, one of the significant presentations was by Pavlyna Avramenko about “Ukrainian Wom - an and Folk Art.” Our founding women knew that through culture there could be more pathways to gaining support for Ukraine at such a difficult time. Stalin’s purges were rampant, and the Holodomor was devastating the Ukrainian nation. Soyuz Ukrai - nok brilliantly engaged Vasyl Avramenko to cre - ate dance groups throughout the U.S. that would captivate large audiences outside the Ukrainian community, bringing awareness that a country like Ukraine did exist! In 1933, Soyuz Ukrainok organized and funded a folk art pavilion at the Chicago’s World Fair. During UNWLA parade to open the Ukraine Pavilion at the Chicago World’s Fair, 1933. Парад СУА на відкритті павільйону України на Всесвітній виставці в Чікаґо, 1933. Koliada staged at a public library, 1963. Коляда у публічній бібліотеці, 1963.
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