Thirty university students and young professionals from Canada and the United States attended the first School for Leaders of the North America Polish Community (Szkoła Liderów Polonijnych Ameryki Północnej), organized June 29-July 12 under the patronage of the Speaker of the Polish Senate, Bogdan Borusewicz. A second session for young people from Western Europe is planned for August 24-September 6. (Picture: with Lech Wałęsa)
Poland in the Rockies alumni were well represented at the inaugural session constituting one-fifth of the contingent, while last May’s Quo Vadis conference organized in Ottawa by Kamil Mroz (PitR2006) inspired some QV participants to attend. PitR was pleased to hear that our Canadian initiative was discussed and cited as an inspiration for these new developments.
As firm believers that cooperative efforts bring results far greater than the sum of their separate effects, we note this development with pleasure, especially the inquiries that have come – full circle -- about PitR as a result. It’s this kind of synergy that will produce further exciting developments in the future.
As has been pointed out, the worldwide Polish diaspora – Polonia – is 21-million strong, a great asset to Poland. The Polish communities abroad are diverse, multilingual, with well established roots in their new countries; most no longer speak Polish as a first language and some not at all, but they do have an emotional connection and it is gratifying to see new outreach programs that will, over time, strengthen this large, transnational, Polish community. CR
