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
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
Wendy Rader-Konofalski is an artist based in Kirkland, Washington. She regularly shows her work at venues in Seattle and the Eastside. She has twice shown her work at the Polish Home Association Art wall. Her medium is acrylic on canvas often using collage and mixed media materials. She paints abstract works and landscapes as well as mixed media works with inks and collage on paper. Recently she has begun to experiment with water colors on
Celeste Caliri — a member of our Polish community and longtime volunteer with the Seattle Polish Film Festival — would love to introduce Pilates, a great fitness routine and way to rehab injuries, to our Seattle Polish community. With over 20 years of experience, Celeste specializes in rehabbing and quivery muscle work, without it feeling like daunting physical therapy drills. Celeste works a muscle in a very unassuming way, taking a practice that can be
Seattle Polish News sends warm wishes for a wonderful Easter.
As in previous years, the 2026 GiveBIG fundraiser is happening this May. The Seattle Polish Foundation invites you to support its Cultural Fund. Your donation not only helps preserve our traditions but also keeps them accessible to all.
The Seattle Polish Film Festival is asking for donations to cover venue rental costs. Like last year, all screenings are free, making your support more important than ever.
At Seattle Polish News, we’re hoping our subscribers can help us cover the costs of running this service.
2026 GiveBIG is quickly approaching! On May 5th, 2026, we are proud to once again participate in this global day of generosity that celebrates the vital work nonprofits bring to our communities.
This year, SPF invites you to support the Seattle Polish Foundation’s Cultural Fund. Your contribution does more than preserve our traditions—it ensures they remain accessible to everyone.
Thanks to your generosity, our programs offer free and open access to those who need it most, making Polish culture available to all members of our community, regardless of their circumstances.
Congratulations to the new board of directors and trustees, and a big thank you to the team that led the association last year—fantastic work! Even great things can improve, so feel free to reach out to the new PHA administration with your feedback and ideas. Keep reading →