Northwest Ohio is a richly diverse community of different ethnicities, from German to Hungarian to Arab and so on. Among them is a large population of Polish-Americans, some stemming from 5th generation immigrants.
To encourage this rich history and culture not be forgotten, members of the Northwest Ohio Polish Cultural Center (NWOPCC) have broken ground on Front Street to build a hub for cultural exchange, education and community events.
Advisory board members Aly Krajewski and Tom Waniewski hope that by sharing the plentiful history and showcasing the art, food and knowledge of Polish Americans in Toledo that the community will engage with and support this new center.
Understanding and sharing heritage
Aly Krajewski is more connected to her Polish-American heritage than most others in her millennial age range and wants to share that heritage with the community. “My family has lived in the Lagrange neighborhood for six generations, my father is a professional musician who has played in various polka bands and I was a folk dancer for fifteen years with Echoes of Poland.” Having this intimate understanding of the culture has made the excitement of having a center for it all the more palpable.
Meanwhile, Tom Waniewski has had the privilege of connecting with many locals of Polish heritage and considers hearing their stories to be enjoyable and valuable. He recalled a conversation with the widow of artist Adam Grant about his survival of Auschwitz and how his paintings helped him survive. He hopes that the center will provide a place to preserve these stories. “It would be sad to see that history evaporate,” Waniewski said. “My daughter and niece ask me questions about our Polish heritage so I hope to see these stories continue beyond my generation.”
A new locale
There are two distinct Polish neighborhoods in the city: Lagrinka near Lagrange Street in North Toledo and Kuschwantz on the southern outskirts. Instead of finding a home in either area, the new cultural center will be built on Front Street across from the National Museum of the Great Lakes and down the road from Glass City Metropark. “The dynamic of this location is really exciting. Front Street is booming and we want to be a part of it,” Waniewski noted.
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In response to the decision for this new locale, Krajewski said, “It’s a catch-22 of wanting to do as much as you can to preserve and honor locality as best you can but also understanding limitations of what time has done.” Both Krajewski and Waniewski also hope that by centralizing the location it will encourage people who aren’t Polish to come check it out and learn something new.
Grassroots fundraising
In order to raise the funds for this exciting project the NWOPCC plans to put on a variety of events to spread awareness for this cause. Many of the events will center around food as with any culture, food is the easiest way to get people excited and immersed in the culture. There will be pierogi and kielbasa cooking classes as well as potential collaborations with other local Polish organizations such as Echoes of Poland, Toledo Polish Genealogical Society and Polish American Community of Toledo (PACT), among others. The goal is that small events will lead to bigger events like private dinners with silent auctions, Polish movie showings and maybe one day a festival.
The NWOPCC is also encouraging membership and selling merchandise as supplementary ways to raise money for the center. The merch features a red and white crest with symbols of a crowned eagle reminiscent of the Polish flag, a spark to represent the element of motion of open skirts of folk dancers, the flag itself and the logo for the cultural center. Waniewski notes, “The membership will include discounts on events like the cooking classes as well as merchandise and there are different tiers of membership so there’s something for everyone.”
The Northwest Ohio Polish Cultural Center can be found on Instagram and Facebook @nwopcc. More information and donation links can be found at: nwopcc.com
