WARREN, Mich. – The Ukrainian Cultural Center of Detroit on February 23 held a full-capacity public event on the occasion of “Soyuzianka Day” (a Soyuzianka is a member of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America [UNWLA]). This year the UNWLA Detroit Regional Council celebrates its 85th anniversary.
Emphasis this year was given to the celebration and presentation of several awards to a prominent public figure in the metropolitan Detroit area, Vera Andruskiw.
Ms. Andrushkiw – an educator and active member of the Ukrainian American community – led Detroit’s Committee in Defense of Human Rights in Ukraine in the years 1972-1976. In 1974-1979 and 1981-1888 she taught Ukrainian language, literature, culture and history at Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School in Hamtramck, Mich., where she began the tradition of staging Ukrainian-language plays with her colleagues.