WASHINGTON, DC -- Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, and her 93-year-old Dad, Vytautas Packauskas, shared their experiences meeting with Ukrainans and their supporters at the American Coalition for Ukraine Action Summit held April 12-16, 2024, in Washington, where they met with legislators to seek support for Ukraine in that country's defensive war against Russian aggression.
On Monday, April 15, Nadija met with Keweenaw Now in the National Botanic Gardens near the Capitol to recount several stories she learned from defenders and supporters of Ukraine she met at the Summit.
In an interview with Keweenaw Now following several days at the recent Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, Nadija Packauskas, co-founder of Yoopers for Ukraine, speaks about the attendees at the Summit and recounts stories she heard from both Ukrainians and Americans who lost family members in the war against Russian aggression. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)With Nadija was Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko of Grand Rapids, Mich., who spoke about her home town in the northeast of Ukraine and the death and suffering caused by Russian attacks. Kovalenko, who studied drama and film in the US, is now directing her talents to founding a non-profit to help refugees from Ukraine in Michigan.
After attending the Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, Ukrainian American Anna Kovalenko tells Keweenaw Now about her home town in Ukraine and how it has suffered from Russia's war of aggression. She also speaks about the need to help refugees from Ukraine.
Kovalenko added her reason for attending the Summit was a request from her own Dad, who recently fought on the front lines in the Ukrainian military until his retirement at age 65 and who lost friends and fellow soldiers in the fighting.
On April 15, 2024, Anna Kovalenko, Ukrainian American living in Michigan, tells Keweenaw Now she was attending the Ukraine Summit in Washington, DC, at the request of her father, a military veteran of the war in Ukraine.
Nadija and her Dad met with Michigan First District Congressman Jack Bergman, who represents the Upper Peninsula and part of northern lower Michigan, in his office on April 15 to seek his support for Ukraine funding legislation.
"We brought (to Bergman) drawings from several children in Houghton that were done at International Neighbors during spring break," Nadija said, "and then the Loosemore family gave me a hand-drawn picture and the Rotary Club gave us letters! A community event!"
Nadija described the visit with Rep. Bergman as a mostly positive experience.
Nadija Packauskas tells Keweenaw Now about her visit with Congressman Bergman following the Ukraine Summit she attended in Washington, D.C. She speaks about Rep. Bergman's claim of support for Ukraine.
Nadija and her Dad also visited with Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. Rep. Tlaib is the first Palestinian American woman to serve in Congress and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.
Nadija describes the visit as "Our best meeting! She was gracious and kind!"
In addition to the Summit, Nadija and her Dad met some wounded soldiers and veterans of the Ukraine war.
Speaking of Denis E., Nadija said, "He arrived at Dulles Saturday and we were honored to be invited to meet him and another soldier as they arrived. They are here for rehab and prosthetics. His joy on his face was so moving and so sincere! A moment I will never, ever forget!"
Another memorable experience of the week, Nadia added, was an invitation to view Porcelain War, the 2024 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Prize Documentary Winner, and to meet some of the artists in the film.
Nadija found the film, in which artists defend their culture as well as their country, powerful and inspiring.
"Art has always been a tool to bring beauty, peace, and power into the world," she commented. "The tenacity and resilience of the Ukrainians is brought forth in this magnificent film that brings the whimsical, quiet, nature loving hearts of ordinary citizens in Ukraine who have had to put down their palettes and paint brushes and pick up weapons to defend their homeland right into the minds of all who watch. There is no greater sorrow in this world than to see beauty being erased systematically by evil and yet no greater joy than seeing Light win! This film shows the horrors of war and the peace of stolen moments in time. It truly brings to the world what Ukraine is facing -- both the large pain and the everyday forgotten struggles of staying human in the most dire of times. Slava Ukraini! The heroes are showing us how to be brave, how to love, and how to live. A privilege of a lifetime to meet with Slava and Anya and the brilliant producer after the film -- and sweet Frodo -- who traveled 5 days to be with us. Open your hearts and feel the strength of Ukraine in each clip.
"Humility was my reaction," Nadija added. "We can never do enough to support Ukraine."
Nadija's final message to Keweenaw Now and our readers was a call to action to stop this war:
Nadija calls on Americans to pressure their legislators to support Ukraine in order to stop Russia's aggressive war. She also speaks about the effects of that war on children.
United Help Ukraine -- a non-profit charity that supports Ukraine with medical aid, humanitarian aid, defenders aid and raising awareness -- stated the following on April 18, 2024:
"In a pivotal moment for Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled the long-awaited text for the Ukraine aid bill. United Help Ukraine, along with many organizations in the Ukrainian community, views this action as a significant step towards bolstering Ukraine's resilience in the face of adversity."
The bill includes $61 billion earmarked for Ukraine, including humanitarian aid and economic support. Click here for details.
You can find your representative in Congress by putting your zip code in the upper right corner HERE. Write or call your Congressional Representative to encourage him/her to support Ukraine at this crucial time.
