Ukrainian American Cultural Center Opens in Cromwell

by Mark Jahne

Editor

For more than nine decades, Ukrainian immigrants and Americans of Ukrainian ancestry in Connecticut have had a place to come together to share and preserve their culture, language and history.

They gathered at the former Ukrainian National Home in Hartford, just across the Wethersfield town line. A variety of reasons led them to seek newer and more spacious quarters and the renamed Ukrainian American Cultural Center of Connecticut relocated to 5 Commerce Dr. in Cromwell.

Cathy Zastawsky is the president of the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of Connecticut. Petro Gluch is the vice president. (Mark Jahne)

In addition to serving as a nonprofit cultural organization, the UACC is home base for two Ukrainian vocal ensembles, Yevshan and Lanka-Halychanka. The Zolotyj Promin Ukrainian folk dance ensemble also is based there.

But that’s not all. Two cultural youth organizations, Plast (a scouting program that is similar to Boy Scouts) and the Ukrainian American Youth Association meet there. Add to that ballroom dancing classes and bandura lessons; the bandura is a uniquely Ukrainian plucked-string folk instrument somewhat like a lute or zither and can have as many as 68 strings.

President Cathy Zastawsky said the cultural organization, founded in 1935, purchased the Cromwell building in September 2023 after spending decades in Hartford.

There were handicapped accessibility issues at their old building and the cost of maintaining and repairing an aging structure was rising.

“It served us well for 55 years. We were looking for a newer and more central location. We kind of outgrew the old building in many ways,” she said.

There was a time when Ukrainian immigrants were concentrated in Hartford and New Britain but that’s no longer the case. They live all over the state now and Cromwell is as centrally located as one can get.

“Every night of the week we’ve got something going on,” Zastawsky said.

“We’re kind of evolving,” added Vice President Petro Gluch.

On the night of this interview it was weekly dance practice for the younger crowd. The place was packed with dancers and their parents and everyone spoke Ukrainian. The culture places a priority on maintaining the language in the New World.

A Ukrainian language school continues to operate in Hartford. They said enrollment is maxed out and at its highest level since the 1960s.

“We still plan to have an open house” but that is not yet scheduled, Zastawsky said.

The building also is home to the Ukrainian SelfReliance Federal Credit Union, which used to be located a few doors away from the former Hartford facility. This is the sixth location for the cultural organization and they hope to be in Cromwell for many years to come.

Olga Dutka enjoys cooking on Thursday nights. She is a member of the cultural center’s board of directors and holds the position of secretary. (Mark Jahne)

They recently transitioned from a construction mode to an operational mode as renovations on their new home near completion. Town government, after some delays, approved their request to rent space for various kinds of events, which is an important source of income.

Everyone involved in this organization is a volunteer. Gluch said there is a high level of interest in the folk dance and youth groups. The cultural center has welcomed new immigrants who fled the war in Ukraine that is now more than three years old.

“People cherish their Ukrainian culture and want to preserve that for their kids as well,” he said. “Our youth groups and choirs are our biggest ambassadors.”

That’s important because they want to share their culture and raise awareness about what is going on in Eastern Europe.

The association no longer holds organized charitable drives for the people and military of Ukraine, but many individuals still send a wide variety of items to their homeland as it continues to fight off the Russian invasion.

“Myron Kolinsky does a lot. He collects medical items,” Zastawsky said.

“We’ve always had support” for these efforts. She added that many Ukrainians still have family back home and have suffered from the fighting.

“We’ve lost family members,” she said of herself and other UACC members. “My cousin calls me every two weeks to let me know how it’s going over there.”

It took a while to deal with the countless details involved in such a move but the work is almost done and they are now ready to welcome the wider community.

The main hall can accommodate 160 guests with tables and chairs and 200 guests with chairs only. It can be partitioned into three smaller halls with private entrances for 40-80 people. The floor is made of oak and suitable for dancing.

There is also a conference room that can handle as many as 15 people. It has a wide-screen TV, Wi-Fi and a white board. Rentals are available for such occasions as wedding receptions, anniversary and retirement parties, bridal and baby showers, banquets, business meetings, bazaars, trade shows and private parties. RHL

For more information call 860-296-5702 or visit uacc-ct.org. Rental requests may be emailed to rentals@uacc-ct.org or call 860-296-5702.