Many Slavic immigrants have made their homes in the United States and brought their cultural heritage and traditions here, and today, the Slavic community is a vibrant and dynamic one. As a result of different waves of immigration, we have Bulgarian Americans, Serbian Americans, Czech Americans, Ukrainian Americans, Polish Americans, and other Slavic people who built their way here.
One of the most notable aspects of Slavic culture is the deep sense of community that many immigrants have maintained. Slavic people in the U.S. organize festivals and cultural events where they come together and celebrate their shared heritage. Such events include the Polish & Slavic Pulaski Day Festival, the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival, the Pittsburgh International Folk Fair, the National Slavic Festival, the Slavic Culture Festival in Portland, and many more. There are Slavic festivals held in Washington as well, such as the Seattle Polish Festival, the Slovak American Festival, and the Washington Ukrainian Festival. These festivals are a celebration of Slavic heritage, music, dance, and food. They provide an opportunity for Slavic people to meet and connect with each other.
Slavic Americans have made contributions to many fields, from the arts to business. Many Hollywood stars have Slavic roots, such as Angelina Jolie with Slovakian roots, Jared Padalecki with Polish roots, Mila Kunis with Ukrainian roots, and Ashton Kutcher with Czech roots. Other renowned American directors and actors of Slavic origin include Milos Forman, William H. Macy, and Rosemary Harris.
In business, Slavic Americans have achieved significant success with prominent entrepreneurs, including Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, and John Paul DeJoria, the founder of Paul Mitchell. Slavic Americans have also contributed to the development of technology, with prominent figures such as Marc Andreessen, the creator of the first web browser, and Andy Bechtolsheim, the co-founder of Sun Microsystems.
What is remarkable about Slavic people in the U.S. is their striving to help each other. This is proven by the large number of non-profit organizations that help Slavic people and were created by other Slavic people. For instance, there is the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America – this organization serves the Ukrainian-American community by promoting Ukrainian culture and heritage and providing support for Ukrainian-American women. The Czech-Slovak Protective Society is another organization that serves the Czech and Slovak communities in the United States by offering cultural, social, and educational events and supporting the needs of the communities.
In Washington, we also have thriving, nurturing communities that bring people together to cherish their culture and traditions. One such community is the Polish Home Association, based in Seattle. This association serves the Polish community in the Pacific Northwest region by offering cultural and social events, language classes, and support for the local Polish community.
The Spokane Slavic Association is another place where people support and help each other. We serve the Slavic community in Spokane, Washington, by providing a sense of belonging and guidance for those just starting out in the States.
As you can see, the Slavic community is made up of bright, kind people. Whether through festivals or organizations, Slavic people continue to celebrate their heritage and share it with others, making the United States a more diverse, multicultural place.
