Tag: Ukrainian

Dreams are the touchstones of our character

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This week is my father’s birthday. (Mnohaya Lita, Tato.)

When I was a child, my father was a policeman who decided to run for alderman to make a change in our neighborhood. He lost that election but later ran for Illinois Senate, and against the odds, he won. Family and friends spent hours going door to door, handing out fliers, working on a truly grassroots campaign. My father never had an easy election.  Each one was challenging and nerve-wracking, but again and again my father rallied people around him with his vision, integrity, and enthusiasm.

Coffee with my father, Walter. Winter 2010. (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

From my father, I learned that hard work can make amazing things happen, that it’s possible to honor where you come from while reaching for what people may deem impossible. The son of immigrants traveled around the world and met with world leaders. His adventures sparked in me an intense determination and a fierce optimism.

He’s retired from the Senate, but my father keeps dreaming big. In recent years he has talked about wanting to create a statue of a Ukrainian Kozak:

“During my travels to Ukraine over the years, I was never able to find a statue that depicted the true essence of what I perceived a true Ukrainian Kozak should look like. I would usually come across a caricature or a humorous depiction of either an intoxicated or overweight cossack that would ridicule instead of give an accurate portrayal of my proud heritage.

So, I collaborated with my son-in-law, Michael DiBartolo, who is a professional toy designer and came up with a line of realistic Kozak  statues that are truly worthy of status as Ukrainian Kozak warriors. Kozak Designs was created and we have just released our first statue titled ‘Taras.'” (Walter W. Dudycz)

Once again, my father saw an idea through from inspiration to creation. You can read more about the Kozak statue here. My father and brother-in-law plan to make several different statues, and they are also looking into creating bronze versions. The signed prototype was auctioned off last weekend at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art for $450.00. Interested parties can check out the ebay listing for Kozak Designs.

Taras Statue by Kozak Designs (Photo by 8 Eyes Photography)

Speaking of dreams, back to edits on the second book…

Ukie Fusion

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I love Brussels sprouts. I never had them as a child. They just were not on the rotation.

I tried them as an adult and liked them, but hadn’t attempted to prepare them at home until recently.

I’ve been playing with different ways to serve them and was inspired to create a variation on Ukrainian holubtsi (stuffed cabbage leaves). Instead of stuffing the leaves, I sauteed Brussels sprouts (they are in the cabbage family, after all) and added them to the rice, onion, and ground beef mixture (vegetarians can use a rice, onion, and mushroom mixture instead).

I placed it all in a casserole dish, added tomato sauce, and baked it in the oven.

It was delicious!

Unity & Collaboration

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I was invited to speak at a one-day conference tomorrow (Ukrainian Unity Day) in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village.

The holiday of Ukrainian Unity is celebrated annually on the day of Reunification Act declaration of the Ukrainian National Republic and West Ukrainian National Republic, held in 1919. Officially, Ukraine Unity Day (Den’ Sobornosti) is celebrated since 1999.

I was contacted a few weeks ago by Daria Kaleniuk, a Fulbright scholar from Ukraine studying in Chicago. She and several other Ukrainian students had decided to organize Zlukacamp. This from their website:

ZlUKACAMP is a barcamp-conference, where Ukrainian students in the USA and Ukrainian Diaspora will unite efforts to search the ways for Ukraine to overcome the economic and political crisis. Conference will be held in the format of a barcamp, where every participant can become a speaker.

I’m excited to be a part of the event, looking at ways to bring the Ukrainian and Ukrainian American communities together. My own talk will focus on:

  • Preserving and sharing Ukrainian culture in Diaspora Literature
  • Magic realism as an exploration of the immigrant experience

With an impressive lineup of speakers, all the topics look fascinating and engaging. A sneak peek:

  • How diaspora managed to preserve the Ukrainian heritage in a society that called itself a “melting pot.”
  • Social Scientific Research on Ukraine: Why we should get involved
  • USA/USA program: raising new leadership in Ukraine and promoting Ukrainian language through “Word a Day” project
  • The strategy of return to Ukraine
  • Perspectives and Initiatives of Ukrainian Student Movement in State of Illinois as an origin and USA in general
  • Why and How Ukrainian students in the USA can be involved in projects of Diaspora
  • Crimean Tatar people. Who are they? History, deportation, struggle for life, and current situation. Story of one family.
  • The need and value of archaeological researches in Ukraine

There will also be group work and a dinner gathering. As you know, I really appreciative collaborative work, and I look forward to talking with the students who put this event together and will be in attendance.

I’m not sure where this will lead, but the possibilities are exciting!

If you’re interested in attending, it’s not too late! They will be registering participants at the Ukrainian-American Federal Credit Union Selfreliance (2332 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60622) at 9:30am on Saturday, January 22. The event with be Ukrainian/English (I’ll be speaking in English.)

I hope to see some familiar faces there!