Kalejdoskop Polski Minnesota Project

Today, you can make a difference by donating to the Minnesota Polish Medical Society.

The Kalejdoskop Polski MN project was initiated in 2019 with the primary objective of documenting and celebrating the Polish-American Community, particularly focusing on the stories of post-World War II immigrants who settled in Minnesota. The overarching goal is to enrich Minnesota's cultural heritage by shedding light on the postwar Polish American immigrant experience in the state and the broader context of America.

Through this project, the aim is to raise awareness and educate the public about immigration-related issues, highlight the diversity of Minnesota's population, and emphasize the significance of immigration history narratives. The project delves into various universal values such as solidarity, dignity, freedom, resilience, post-traumatic growth, community building, inclusiveness, health access, and equity.

Success for the Kalejdoskop Polski MN project would be measured by the sense of inclusion that Polish Americans feel in Minnesota's immigration story and the deep empathy that observers experience when engaging with the stories, presented through a positive and compassionate lens.

To achieve its objectives, the project combines oral history interviews with documentary photography, beautifully captured by the photographer Grzegorz Litynski (www.litynski.com), who has already completed two phases of the project. Dr. Katarzyna Litak serves as the project manager, exhibits curator, and graphic designer, playing a pivotal role in conducting the oral history interviews.

The project is planned to span multiple years, divided into five distinct phases, with the first two phases already completed.

Phase One of the project focuses on Polish Solidarity-era refugees. https://www.pamsm.org/copy-of-kalejdoskop

Phase Two of the project focuses on Polish WWII survivors in Minnesota. https://www.pamsm.org/copy-of-kalejdoskop-1

We have had multiple exhibitions and presentations since December 2021 and have plans for future events and publications.

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