My Jewish ancestry traces back generations to Ukraine. Much of my family perished during the Russian Revolution. And then again came under violence during the Holocaust, and so Ukraine holds the graves of my ancestors, and its culture is with me every day.
This family history motivates the work I do, aiding Ukraine’s freedom and independence with Slavic Voice for Ukraine. We mobilize hundreds of volunteers across 16 state chapters to advocate with elected officials, organize educational seminars and workshops, and through our journalism, we give youth in Ukraine a platform to share their experiences and stories. A highlight of our work has been passing legislation in the city and county of San Francisco creating a day in solidarity for Ukraine.
I also had the incredible honor of presenting key issues Ukraine is facing directly to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I felt so proud to advocate for Ukraine on the global stage.