 
Assembly Resolution No. 677
 
BY: M. of A. Gallagher
 
          COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of the Polish
        and Slavic Center
 
  WHEREAS,  It is the custom of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to  recognize  and  pay  tribute  to  those
organizations  which  foster  ethnic  pride  and  enhance the profile of
cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of  the  communities  of
New York State; and
 
  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body is justly proud to commemorate the
50th Anniversary of the Polish and Slavic Center; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  idea  to  establish  the  Polish  and  Slavic  Center
originated  in the early 1970s, when Reverend Longin Tolczyk was working
with Polish immigrants who had just arrived in New  York  City  and  was
familiar  with their needs and the obstacles they faced; these ideas and
dreams became a reality in 1972 when the Polish and  Slavic  Center  was
formed; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Five  years  later,  through the Polish and Slavic Center,
Reverend Longin Tolczyk formed the  Polish  and  Slavic  Federal  Credit
Union; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Since  that  time,  the Polish and Slavic Center has grown
tremendously to become a true staple for the Polish community, promoting
the culture and heritage of Poland, and supporting over  40,000  members
and  their extended community by providing social and legal services and
enriching cultural experiences; and
 
  WHEREAS, Located in Greenpoint,  Brooklyn,  the  Polish  and  Slavic
Center  occupies  two  buildings  which  feature  performing  stages,  a
fully-functioning kitchen, and community meeting spaces; and
 
  WHEREAS, Today, the Polish and Slavic Center offers a  robust  array
of social services programs aimed at improving the lives of those in the
local Polish-Slavic communities; and
 
  WHEREAS,  For  nearly  five  decades, the Polish and Slavic Center's
Extended Social Services Program has helped countless elderly members of
the community access important social benefits programs; and
 
  WHEREAS, This vital  organization  provides  essential  information,
help,  and  assistance in obtaining benefits related to Social Security,
retirement, disability, Medicare/Medicaid,  housing,  unemployment,  and
more; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Furthermore, its dedicated program team assists clients in
various  ways  such  as  filling  out   and   completing   applications,
prescreening    for    eligibility,   translating   various   documents,
understanding the New York City laws  and  regulations,  and  using  its
network  of  agencies  and  services  to  provide the best assistance to
members; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Krakus  Senior  Center  has  been  serving the senior
community for over 30 years by  offering  a  full  schedule  of  social,
health  and  wellness  programming, as well as low-cost daily nutritious
meals both on site and through the City Meals on Wheels program; and
 
  WHEREAS, The Krakus Senior Center is truly a second  home  for  many
senior citizens, enriching their lives and strengthening their community
ties; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Within  the Krakus Senior Center, members participate in a
range of educational and recreational activities which include  a  choir
group,  computer  classes,  lectures  from  medical  professionals,  and
regularly scheduled trips, as well as book, cross-word and chess  clubs;
and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Polish  and  Slavic  Center's  Immigration  and Legal
Services program offers free immigration  and  legal  services,  helping
immigrants  prepare  and  file legal documents regarding US citizenship,
family sponsorship, Green Card extensions, and travel documents; and
 
  WHEREAS, Its bilingual staff also offers preparatory courses for the
US-citizenship test and provides legal advice and personal assistance in
landlord/tenant disputes, and child support and divorce matters; and
 
  WHEREAS, In addition to these services, the Polish and Slavic Center
offers innovative and high-quality programming on Polish  art,  history,
and  culture,  partnering with both established and up-and-coming Polish
artists,  musicians,  and  performers  to  host  exhibitions,  concerts,
special lectures, and other cultural events; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  organization  also  works with local youth to develop
their creativity and confidence to invest  in  the  next  generation  of
Polish artists; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  success  of the Polish and Slavic Center is in direct
correlation to the efforts of its President, Marian Zak, the members  of
the  Board  of  Directors,  staff,  volunteers and its dedicated donors,
whose  involvement  is,  and  always  has  been,  characterized  by   an
impressive  commitment,  an  unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising
standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf  of  the  organization
and the community it serves; and
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to  our
attention,  they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Polish and Slavic Center; and be
it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Marian Zak, President, Polish and Slavic Center.
Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Polish and Slavic Center

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