Marcin Pączkowski is a composer, conductor, digital artist, and performer working with both traditional and electronic media. Born and raised in Poland, he earned Master’s degrees in both Music Composition and Symphony and Opera Conducting from the Academy of Music in Kraków. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS) from the University of Washington. Dr. Pączkowski serves as the Music Director for the Polish Choir Vivat Musica in Seattle and
Last week we presented the Seattle‑Gdynia Sister City Association and the organizer of the Seattle Polish Film Festival. Today, we continue our series by introducing another important institution shaping our local Polish community: the Polish American Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest (PACCPNW).
Founded in 2012 by a group of local entrepreneurs and volunteers, PACCPNW has become a key resource for Polish businesses exploring opportunities in the United States. Over the years, the Chamber has hosted numerous government and business delegations from Poland and has served as a primary point of contact for companies seeking to enter the U.S. market.
Since 2016, PACCPNW has also partnered with the Indie Games Poland Foundation to support Polish video game studios exhibiting at PAX West—the largest video game trade show in the United States and one of the biggest in the world. This collaboration has helped showcase Poland’s rapidly growing gaming industry and has opened doors for many emerging studios.
More information about the Chamber, its mission, and its programs is available on its website.
The Polish American Chamber of Commerce Pacific Northwest (PACCPNW) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit business and professional organization dedicated to promoting Polish‑American industry, entrepreneurship, and innovation. The Chamber works to build strong, lasting bridges between Polish and American enterprises and enhances the economic vitality of its members through networking, mentoring, and education. PACCPNW collaborates with academia, NGOs, government agencies, and a wide range of industries across the Pacific Northwest, throughout the United States, and internationally. Through
The Seattle Polish Film Festival has announced the winner of its 2026 Poster Competition — Everett Goodyear, a Vancouver‑based screenwriter and graduate student in Cinema and Media Studies at the University of British Columbia. His bold, cinematic design was selected from 59 submissions, reflecting one of the strongest and most diverse pools of entries the festival has seen in recent years.
Festival organizers expressed gratitude to all participating artists, noting that the quality of this year’s submissions made the selection process both exciting and challenging. They emphasized that they “wish [they] could use all of the amazing designs” and encouraged artists to return with new work next year.
(What one visit to a museum can cause) A sharp focus on a fragment of one’s life can open suddenly on an early afternoon in a city that contains in its air a scent of the Pacific and is washed by a light of a low winter sun. The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver is perched above a vast expanse of water through which ships enter the city’s harbor. A range of mountains to the
We all know this quote, and we all understand that making a difference in the community means getting involved. Seattle has many Polish community organizations that have been supporting people for decades. Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight some of them. A shared challenge for all these groups is the shortage of volunteers. If you want to connect with fellow community members, give back, learn new skills, or share your knowledge, now is the perfect time to reach out and join.
GiveBIG 2026 wrapped up as another great success, thanks to everyone’s generosity. The Seattle Polish Foundation raised over $6,000 for cultural events, and this humble newsletter received $75. We’re truly grateful for every dollar contributed.
Hope to see you all tonight at the Polish Home Biesiada.
Three University of Washington faculty members have been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Their work spans environmental science, computing and engineering, addressing challenges ranging from climate resilience and ecosystem sustainability to artificial intelligence and accessible healthcare technologies. Founded in 1780, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences recognizes leaders across disciplines whose work advances research, public policy and the common good. The Academy elects roughly 250 members each year. One of the scientists elected to this prestigious Academy is
Światowe Spotkanie Młodej Polonii „Polonia_Camp 2026” to wydarzenie dla młodych Polaków z całego świata. Wydarzenie odbędzie się od 23 do 26 lipca 2026 roku na kampusie Szkoły Głównej Gospodarstwa Wiejskiego w Warszawie. Polonia Camp_2026 zostało objęte patronatem Marszałek Senatu Małgorzaty Kidawy-Błońskiej. Zgromadzi 1500 uczestników – studentów, liderów lokalnych społeczności, przedsiębiorców, aktywistów – ludzi zainteresowanych poznaniem kraju swoich przodków. Celem wydarzenia jest stworzenie przestrzeni do wymiany doświadczeń i budowania relacji między młodymi Polakami z różnych krajów,
Seattle Gdynia Sister City Association, an organization connecting Seattle with Gdynia, is looking for new members. SGSCA organizes the annual Seattle Polish Film Festival and brings students from Gdynia to Seattle to participate in Washington Business Week. The association also cooperates with other Seattle Sister Cities (there are 19 of them) on joint events. If you want to get engaged and help them with the work on these programs, or just simply want to support
Congratulations to Ryszard Kott for receiving the prestigious “Outstanding Pole” (Wybitny Polak)” award in a West Coast US edition of “Teraz Polska” Foundation contest. Ryszard was recognized in the Personality category for his outstanding achievements and remarkable contributions to the Polish community in Seattle over the last few decades. The official award presentation took place on April 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, bringing together community leaders, distinguished guests, and consular staff, during the Polish Constitution
2026 GiveBIG is TODAY, May 5th, 2026,! Donors already gave $1.4 million across all GiveBIG fundraisers, and almost $5,000 for the Seattle Polish Foundation.
Make your donation now and make a difference later! This year, the Seattle Polish Foundation participates in GiveBIG, a global day of generosity that celebrates the vital work nonprofits do in our communities, to raise funds for the Seattle Polish Foundation’s Cultural Fund.
Your donations help us support cultural events like the last week Marcin Pączkowski Orchestra concert to celebrate the Polish Constitution Day. If you missed it, here is the short video from the concert.
Note that this year, SPF Board of Directors will match all contributions up to $5,000! This means every dollar you give goes twice as far in sponsoring talented artists and enriching the programming at Polish Festival at Seattle Center, Seattle Polish Film Festival and the Polish Cultural Center.
On top of that, WA Give will host two Power Hours sponsored by Beneficial State Bank from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Also, there will be a Donor Appreciation Prize where one random donor who gave between 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. will be randomly selected to give an additional $100 to the nonprofit of their choice! Read more here->
If you like this newsletter, we hope that you can help us cover ongoing costs — website hosting, domain registration, and essential maintenance. Even $1 will go long way to help us keep the site running and accessible to the whole community.
From the bestselling author of How Fascism Works, a global call to action that tells us “why the past is a frontline in the struggle for a future free of fascism” (Jeff Sharlet, New York Times bestselling author) as it reveals the far right’s efforts to rewrite history and undo a century of progress on race, gender, sexuality, and class.
Dr. Ivona Kaminska-Bowlby was born in Warsaw into a life shaped early by loss and resilience. Her mother passed away before seeing her graduate from high school, and her father—himself a figure of remarkable strength—left behind a legacy forged in history. A member of the “Kolumbowie” generation and a soldier of the Armia Krajowa, he fought in the Warsaw Uprising, was wounded, captured, and ultimately escaped. From these beginnings, Ivona inherited not only endurance, but
GiveBIG 2026 wraps up on May 5, and this year the Seattle Polish Foundation is excited to invite you to support the Cultural Fund. Your donation not only helps preserve our traditions but also keeps them accessible to all. The fundraiser is already underway, with contributions coming in steadily. Check out the Seattle Polish Foundation page for more details. Thank you!
❤️ Support Our Volunteer‑Run Newsletter
Seattle Polish News is created entirely by volunteers, but we still have ongoing costs — website hosting, domain registration, and essential maintenance.
If you find our updates useful, a GiveBIG donation of even $1 helps us keep the site running and accessible to the whole community.
Competition is open to all artists. Posters may be created in any media, but must be submitted electronically. Entries will be judged on their originality and artistic merit. The poster design should capture the essence of Polish/American cinema.
Passport Appointments Now Open
If you need to renew your passport or apply for a new one, now is the time to reserve your appointment. All details are listed below.
❤️ Support Our Volunteer‑Run Newsletter
Seattle Polish News is created entirely by volunteers, but we still have ongoing costs — website hosting, domain registration, and essential maintenance.
If you find our updates useful, a GiveBIG donation of even $1 helps us keep the site running and accessible to the whole community.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * In the spirit of George Carlin and Christopher Hitchens, the son of a former Catholic nun and a Franciscan brother delivers a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred—a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who’ll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist. For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist
When you have guests from Poland visiting Seattle, instead of taking them only to the obvious tourist attractions, use Walkkie to show them the city’s hidden gems, local culture, and lesser-known spots that make Seattle feel more personal and authentic than a typical sightseeing tour. Walkkie is a location-based discovery app that helps you explore Seattle in a more meaningful and fun way. Walkkie guides you through Seattle Center, as well as neighborhoods like Fremont
Marzena Lilian Szlaga, born and educated in Poland, holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and pedagogy from the School of Music at Uniwersytet Wrocławski. She continued her studies in the United States, earning a Master of Music degree from the Chicago Musical College at Roosevelt University in 1995. Among her distinguished teachers were renowned pianists Włodzimierz Obidowicz, Halina Czerny-Stefańska, Barbara Hesse-Bukowska, Victor Mierzhanov, Paweł Chęciński, and Lidia Grychtołówna—who remains an active and
Michal Pietrzyk was born in Poland and emigrated to the United States at age two after his father was imprisoned as a member of the anti-communist movement Solidarity. His upbringing as an immigrant navigating two different cultures has strongly shaped his worldview and filmmaking voice. He has produced over 130 hours of documentary television for networks like Nat Geo and Netflix and continues working as a producer in his day job. His award-winning short documentary All on