The Ukrainian Cultural Center in Chicago hosted a ceremony to mark the 107th anniversary of the proclamation of the Act of Unity of Ukraine. The event was organized by the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division). The event brought together representatives of the diplomatic corps, American authorities, and civil society around a common idea – to support Ukraine at a crucial time for it.
This was reported by Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Illinois Division.
The celebration was attended by consuls of Ukraine, Lithuania, Canada, and Poland, members of the US Congress, representatives of federal and city authorities, public figures, leaders of organizations, as well as numerous representatives of the Ukrainian community of Chicago and the suburbs.
A special part of the event was the ceremony of presenting the honorary distinction “Person of the Year”. This year's laureates were Oksana Taratula, Roman Yatskovskiy, and Vasyl Mirutenko. They were awarded the award for many years of dedicated work, active civic position, and significant contribution to the development of the Ukrainian community, the preservation of national identity, and support for Ukraine in the United States of America. The event was dedicated not only to honoring the historical date, but also became a space for dialogue, unity, and awareness of responsibility for the future of Ukraine.
During the full-scale war, the concept of Unity, according to the organizers and participants, acquired special depth. This was the topic of the speech of the event's main speaker, political analyst and journalist Yevhen Hlibovytsky, founder of the Pro-Mova think tank, who arrived in Chicago directly from Ukraine.
“Unity today is not about borders on the map. It is about unity of hearts and responsibility for each other. Our strength is not in declarations or paper acts, but in the common will to be free. It is what makes us invincible,” he emphasized.
His speech sounded like an appeal to the American community and the Ukrainian diaspora, emphasizing that Ukraine’s victory is possible only if we unite our voices. Yevhen Hlibovytskyi separately emphasized the role of the Ukrainian community in the United States as a permanent, clear, and influential voice of Ukraine in the world – a voice that does not allow the international community to get used to war or postpone responsibility.
The program included a ceremonial part, a joint dinner, and networking. The event included a discussion of the challenges facing Ukraine, as well as ways to strengthen international support, preserve cultural heritage, and strengthen public interaction. The organizers emphasized that the goal of the event was to unite leaders of the Ukrainian community, American politicians, and friends of Ukraine around a common mission – to shape a vision for the future of a strong, united Ukraine.
The event on the occasion of the Day of Unity was held as part of the annual commemoration of the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence on January 22, 1918, and the Act of Union of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic. The event was held under the slogan “Peace is possible only through force” and marked the beginning of the Year of Global Ukrainian Unity, proclaimed by the Ukrainian World Congress.
Photo: Elena Diadenko
Author: Danylo Pievchev