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Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Yoopers for Ukraine raise community awareness with Walks for Ukraine, global actions for Ukraine, more ...

By Michele Bourdieu

On a rainy July 20 afternoon, Angi Denesynko of Ukraine serves Ukrainian dumplings that she made to participants in the Walk for Ukraine in Houghton. Her younger daughter, Riana, with umbrella and sunglasses, is prepared for rain or shine. Pictured at right are Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, and Ženia Vorodis, active member of the group. Click on photos for larger versions. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)
 
Since July 4, 2022, Yoopers for Ukraine have been active in creating awareness of the tragic five-month-long war in Ukraine by continuing their weekly Walk for Ukraine across the Portage Lift Bridge, participating in community events and fundraisers, and joining international groups in their global actions condemning Russian President Putin's aggressive attacks and war crimes.

July 20 Walk for Ukraine

Just before the July 20 Walk for Ukraine began, participants posted this banner they had created for their July 16 participation in #terroRussia -- a worldwide, coordinated action that calls upon our political leaders and policymakers to officially name Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism (see below) (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

As it began to rain on Wednesday, July 20, Yoopers for Ukraine postponed for a short time the beginning of the Walk to enjoy some tasty Ukrainian dumplings made by Angi Denesynko of Ukraine who recently moved to Houghton with her daughters, Alisa and Riana.

Angi Denesynko serves some Ukrainian dumplings she made for participants in the July 20 Walk for Ukraine. Click on YouTube icon for larger video screen. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Angi and her daughters, Alisa, left, and Riana, pause for a photo with Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine (behind Alisa), and Nadija's father, Vytautas Packauskas. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Walkers head across the Portage Lift Bridge to Hancock as rain lets up. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Kids are undaunted by the windy, wet weather as they cross the Portage Lift Bridge from Hancock to Houghton to complete their walk, displaying signs and flags to rush-hour traffic. John Loosemore of Hancock, carrying NATO sign, and his three children -- Kaitlyn, Jethro and Jacob -- have been participating in almost all the Walks for Ukraine. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

July 16: #terroRussia Action 

This poster calls attention to a call for action to name the Russian Federation under Putin a state sponsor of terrorism. (Image courtesy Yoopers for Ukraine)

On Saturday, July 16, with a demonstration on the Houghton waterfront, Yoopers for Ukraine joined Women for Ukraine and other groups in an international day of the action #terroRussia, a worldwide, coordinated action that calls upon our political leaders and policymakers to officially name Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

At Bridgeview Park on the Houghton waterfront, Yoopers for Ukraine displayed posters and other media to call attention to the #terroRussia action. (Photo © and courtesy Adelina Oronova)

Part of the #terroRussia display at Bridgeview Park, these paper airplanes painted with red symbolize Russia's attacks on Ukraine. (Photo © and courtesy Adelina Oronova)

Yoopers for Ukraine has also called attention to Senate Resolution 623, introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham on May 9, 2022, which says the Senate views the actions of the Russian government, at the direction of President Vladimir Putin, as acts of terrorism and calls on the Department of State to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

In addition, Women for Ukraine has started a Change.org petition to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi "to formally recognize the Russian Federation as a state sponsor of terrorism under the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. This same legislation named Syria, North Korea, Iran, and Cuba as state sponsors of terrorism. The Russian Federation, per these benchmarks, 100 percent qualifies as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law."*

July 13 Walk for Ukraine

The Wednesday Walks for Ukraine attract some regular supporters and, each week, new participants. On July 13 Keweenaw Now spoke with Dawn Anderson and Bob Turner, local residents who are now offering English lessons (ESL) to immigrants from Ukraine who have recently arrived in the Keweenaw.

 
Dawn Anderson and Bob Turner tell Keweenaw Now why they are participating in the July 13, 2022, Walk for Ukraine in Houghton. They also announce their plans to give English lessons (ESL) to refugees from Ukraine. (Video by Keweenaw Now)
 
Local residents Joe Morgan and Jill Martin also showed up to support the July 13 Walk for Ukraine.

Martin said, "It seems like the Ukrainians need so much heart and so much help."

Joe Morgan, left, and Jill Martin display their signs of support for Ukraine during the July 13 Walk for Ukraine in Houghton. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Participants in the July 13 Walk for Ukraine return from Hancock to Houghton on the Portage Lift Bridge, displaying their signs to passing traffic. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

July  9: Yoopers for Ukraine in Strawberry Festival

On July 9, 2022, Yoopers for Ukraine participated in the annual Strawberry Festival parade in Chassell, winning first prize in the Patriotic category for their float!

Vytautas Packauskas of Yoopers for Ukraine stands proudly with the group's prize-winning float during the July 9 Strawberry Festival parade. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

"The crowd was so loving and stood up and cheered for Ukraine," said Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine. "It is always great to see public support for Ukraine and to bring new awareness! Thank you to the Chassell Lions club for extending a personal invitation for us to march! Thank you, Underdog Ukraine and Women For Ukraine  жінки для України for the ideas and our poster!"

Poster created for Yoopers for Ukraine Strawberry Festival participation. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

The Loosemore children -- from left, Jethro, Jacob and Kaitlyn -- ride on the Yoopers for Ukraine float during the July 9 Strawberry Festival parade in Chassell. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

July 6 Walk for Ukraine

On Wednesday, July 6, Yoopers for Ukraine had good, sunny weather for their weekly Walk for Ukraine across the Portage Lift Bridge.

Several new participants joined the regular supporters for the Walk. One of those was the newly appointed pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Sarah Diener-Schlitt, who brought the youngest participant in the Walk -- her four-month old son, MacKenzie.

The Rev. Sarah Diener-Schlitt, new pastor at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton, holding her son, MacKenzie, explains her reason for participating in the July 6, 2022, Walk for Ukraine. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Two local high school students, Rachael Pellizzaro and Bailey Megowen, also joined the July 6 Walk for Ukraine for the first time. 

Two local high school seniors, Rachael Pellizzaro and her friend Bailey Megowen, speak with Keweenaw Now on the ways they learned about the Walk and the Ukraine issues. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Michigan Tech student Stelle Barone, a media specialist who has worked with Yoopers for Ukraine, participated in the July 6 Walk for Ukraine and spoke about his work for the cause.

Stelle Barone tells Keweenaw Now how he picked up media design as a hobby and uses his skills to make flyers and posters to create awareness of the need for peace and justice in Ukraine. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Anna Hill, right, walked with the new Ukrainian family in town -- Angi Denesynko and her two daughters, Alisa (left) and Riana -- on July 6.

Participants in the July 6, 2022, Walk for Ukraine head to the Portage Lift Bridge for their walk from Houghton to Hancock and back. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Pausing on the Hancock side of the Bridge, walkers display their flags and signs to passing traffic. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Supporters for Ukraine cross the Portage Lift Bridge for their return to Houghton on July 6. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Displaying flags, sunflowers and the Independence Day poster for Underdog Ukraine (see below), Tom and Beth Maki of Lake Linden, whose son, Matt, is in Ukraine, join walkers on the Houghton side of the Portage Lift Bridge on July 6. (Photo © and courtesy Adelina Oronova)

July 4 in Dollar Bay

For Independence Day, July 4, Yoopers for Ukraine participated in an international picture event created by Underdog Ukraine, a group of soldiers in Ukraine. 

"They created the graphic and asked us to take 100 pictures which were then sent to the front lines," Nadija Packauskas explained. "We, in Houghton, were the first to send pictures as we started taking them at the Fireworks at Lake Linden July 3rd. It was a powerful movement and so many were pleased to participate. We then took them (the graphic) to the parade at Dollar Bay on the 4th."

On a rainy July 4, 2022, participants in the Dollar Bay parade pause for a photo with the poster created by Underdog Ukraine -- one of 100 photos to be sent to soldiers in Ukraine. (Photo © and courtesy Nadija Packauskas)

July 23: Silent Solidarity for Ukraine's Widows

This display calls attention to the July 23 event in honor of Ukraine's widows held at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton. (Photo courtesy Yoopers for Ukraine)

On Saturday, July 23, Yoopers for Ukraine held an event to express silent solidarity across the globe for Ukraine's widows at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton. Participants held a 30-minute silent vigil outside the church, beginning at 3 p.m. A video of part of the event can be seen on Facebook here.

Nadija Packauskas reported the following description of the July 23 event on the Yoopers for Ukraine Facebook page:

"Today was a beautiful, solemn day. We stood together with women and men around the world in silent solidarity to honor widows and widowers of this tragic war.

"As we stood in silence staring at our 'fallen soldiers,' looking at our coffin lid, listening to the Ukrainian anthem being played so beautifully, we were reminded of all the widows and widowers, families, children, parents, siblings, loved ones who have lost so much in this brutal daily attack by Russia.

"After our 30-minute vigil, we had a discussion about the 151 days of war, the hours, the minutes, the seconds of horror that our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are facing!

"We impore you to call your elected leaders, ask for more arms for Ukraine, ask for S. Res. 623* declaring Russian Federation as a state that sponsors terrorism and H. Res. 1205** recognizing Russia's actions as genocide to pass!

"We MUST end this war.

"No more widows. No more war!

"Slava Ukraini!!"

Yoopers for Ukraine will hold their weekly Wednesday Walk for Ukraine on Wednesday, July 27. Meet at 5 p.m. on the Houghton side of the Lift Bridge.

Notes:

* Click here for a video of Nadija Packauskas's presentation during the July 16 #terroRussia event at Bridgeview Park. Click here to sign the Change.org petition.

** Click here for H.Res.1205 - Recognizing Russian actions in Ukraine as a genocide.

From the Editor: Michigan Tech graduate Kateryna Lapina, originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine, now living in Colorado, has started a new fundraiser. Kateryna is raising money to buy night-vision goggles for the people defending her hometown of Kharkiv so that they can safely drive at night without their headlights on to go on their missions and deliver humanitarian aid to their neighbors. Your donation will help to save lives of Kharkiv residents. Kateryna and friends will also be climbing very high mountains in Colorado to call attention to Ukraine. Click here to learn about her fundraiser and contribute if you can. Inset photo: Kateryna Lapina in the mountains she loves to climb. (Photo from her Facebook page)