Consulate Highlights
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| W.E.B. DuBois. MalcolmX. Martin Luther King. Rosa Parks |
Black History Month 2010: The History of Black Economic Empowerment
4 February 2010
Each February, Black History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau there are more than 41 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population. The theme for 2010, “The History of Black Economic Empowerment,” recognizes the lives of black men and women who have had successful business careers.
In 2009, the inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s first African-American president, lent Black History Month a special significance. Obama took the oath of office January 20, the day after Americans honored the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with a federal holiday and national day of service. In his inaugural address…
More Information on Black History Month
Presidential Proclamation on National African American History Month
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Latest Headlines From the Consulate |
City of Krakow and Consulate General Agree to Open Language Resource Center
February 5, 2010
Consul General Allen Greenberg , Public Affairs Officer Benjamin Ousley, Krakow Vice Mayor Elzbieta Lecznarowicz and Ewa Jaskowiec, the Head of Comprehensive School # 1 signed on February 2, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Consulate General and the City of Krakow to create a Young Learners Resource Center.
Young Learners Resource Centers are a cornerstone of Mission Poland’s English teaching program and an invaluable resource for Polish teachers of English teaching young children age 4-11. The YLRCs fulfill a need for qualified English teachers in Poland and promote knowledge of the United States’ history and culture through American teaching materials. The centers introduce books from U.S. publishers that are unknown or unavailable in the local teaching market. Each Resource Center also has equipment with which teachers can prepare their own materials. The YLRCs also provide an opportunity for teachers to exchange ideas and establish networks.
The Krakow center, which will be jointly operated by the U.S. Consulate and the City of Krakow, is planned to open in time for the next school year.
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| President Barack Obama |
"Duty to Remember": President Obama delivers video message for Auschwitz Liberation Anniversary January 27, 2010
"Duty to Remember": January 27, 2010 -- President Obama gave remarks by video commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Auschwitz concentration camp's liberation at the conference "Auschwitz - Memory, Responsibility, Education" held at the Center of Dialogue and Prayer, in the Polish town of Oswiecim, and also at the International Holocaust Forum "Let My People Live" hosted by the European Jewish Congress in Krakow.
President Obama expressed his gratitude to Poland's leadership and the people of Poland for "preserving a place of such great pain for the Polish people [...] a place of remembrance and learning for the world."
In his remarks, the President emphasized our "sacred duty to remember," as well as "the burden of seeing our common humanity; of resisting anti-Semitism and ignorance in all its forms; of refusing to become bystanders to evil, whenever and wherever it rears its ugly face."
In addition to recalling the evil committed at Auschwitz, President Obama spoke about "man's capacity for good," and recalled acts of "compassion" and "resistance" including the "Polish Rescuers and those who earned their place forever in the Righteous Among the Nations."
He also praised those who survived the Holocaust as "living memorials to the loved ones you left here. And to the spirit we must strive to uphold in our time."
Sara Bloomfield, Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum honored in Poland January 28, 2010
January 27, 2010 - American Sara Bloomfield, the Director of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) in Washington, DC received the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland during ceremonies marking the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. President of Poland Lech Kaczynski presented Ms. Bloomfield with the award for her educational and museum achievements in commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust and for the development of Polish-Jewish dialogue. Ms. Bloomfield has been the Museum director since 1999 and established the Museum's National Institute for Holocaust Education, Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, and Academy for Genocide Prevention. She also created a series of innovative leadership training programs for law enforcement, the judiciary, and the military.
Also honored at Wednesday's ceremonies, were Piotr Cywinski , Director of the Auschwitz Museum, who received the Officer's Cross of the Order of Poland Reborn, and Avner Shalev, Chairman of Yad Vashem, who was also awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
President Obama Delivers "State of the Union" Address January 28, 2010
On January 27, President Obama delivered the annual State of the Union Address before a joint session of the U.S. Congress. It is a unique moment for the President to address the public on a broad spectrum of issues, including economic recovery and job creation. This year, the White House is using technology to make sure the President's State of the Union Address reaches as many people as possible. Full Text of the Speech
Next week, the President will answer questions in a special online event, live from the White House. Visit YouTube.com/CitizenTube to participate. (more)
Other Links on the State of the Union:
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| FCC Chairman Genachowski |
White House Announces U.S. Delegation to the Anniversary of Auschwitz's Liberation Jnauary 26, 2010
President Barack Obama announced his selection of distinguished Americans who will serve in the U.S. Presidential Delegation to the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp on January 27. The Honorable Julius M. Genachowski, Chariman of the Federal Communications Commission, the son of Holocaust survivors, and with two decades of experience in the public and private sectors, is heading the delegation. Chairman Genachowski is joined by the Honorable Lee Feinstein, the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, the Honorable Hannah Rosenthal, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, the Honorable Susan S. Sher, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to First Lady Michelle Obama, and Roman R. Kent, Chairman of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Vice-President of the International Auschwitz Committee, also an Auschwitz survivor. Also joining the U.S. delegation are two more Aushwitz survivors, Charlene P. Schiff and Edwarda Sternberg-Powidzki. The delegation embodies America’s commitment to our common duty to remember and preserve the tragic memories and lessons of the Holocaust.
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| Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton |
Secretary Clinton on Internet Freedom: "A Foundation for Global Progress" January 22, 2010
In a major policy address broadcast yesterday from the Newseum in Washington D.C., Secretary Clinton addressed the issue of Internet Freedom. The Secretary stated, "The spread of information networks is forming a new nervous system for our planet. There are more ways to spread more ideas to more people than at any moment in history... The internet is a network that magnifies the power and potential of all others."
Full Text of Speech | More on 21st Century Statecraft | Secretary Clinton's Statement on Google Operations in China
Secretary Clinton Visits Haiti January 20, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Haiti on January 16, 2010, where she met with Haitian President Preval and USAID Administrator Shah. Following their meeting, Secretary Clinton said, "We had a very good meeting about all the priorities of his government. We are focused on prioritizing humanitarian assistance - water, food, medical help, to those who are suffering.... We discussed the priorities of restoring communications and electricity. We agreed we would be coordinating together ...to achieve these goals." Speaking on U.S. relief efforts in Haiti, Secretary Clinton said “I’m so proud… of our private citizens, the generosity of the American people. This is a terrible, horrible catastrophe for the people of Haiti, but I think that the outpouring from America and beyond should give them some reason to hope.” (more)
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| Ambassador Feinstein and Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Senate |
Ambassador Feinstein and Marshal of the Polish Senate Open U.S. Historical Exhibit January 12, 2010
On January 12, U.S. Ambassador Lee Feinstein and Bogdan Borusewicz, Marshal of the Polish Senate, proudly opened the exhibit "The U.S. in Polish Historiography and Periodicals from 1764-1919." The exhibit illustrates how the U.S. was perceived by Poles in those years, and is a fascinating and compelling reminder that the relationship between the Polish and American peoples extends much further back than the formal relationship between our two countries. It is composed of materials from the collection of Warsaw Public Library, including newspapers, memoirs, photographs, and drawings. Special attention is given to key topics, including the American Revolution, the U.S. Declaration of Independence and Constitution, Polish immigration after the November Uprising in 1830, Polish participation in the U.S. Civil War, American relief efforts for Poland during World War I, and the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1919. The exhibit was previously displayed at Warsaw Public Library and the Silesian Library in Katowice, and is now on display at the Polish Senate. (more)
Secretary Clinton on Development: "A Strategic, Economic and Moral Imperative" January 8, 2010
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday to a packed house at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, DC, where she outlined the U.S. approach to development. The Secretary emphasized that development is "as central to advancing American interests and solving global problems as diplomacy and defense." She stated, "We are adopting a model of development based on partnership, not patronage [and] working to elevate development and integrate it more closely with defense and diplomacy in the field."
The Secretary also stressed the need to increase America's investments in innovation, and to put women and girls in the front and center of our development work. She commented, "Well, you know the proverb, ‘Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, but teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime?' Well, if you teach a woman to fish, she'll feed the whole village.
"Development, democracy and human rights can and must be mutually reinforcing. We pursue development for many reasons: to improve lives, fight poverty, expand rights and opportunities, strengthen communities, secure democratic institutions and governance; and in doing so, to advance global stability, improve our own security, and project our values and leadership in the world." (more)
The full text of the Secretary's speech can be found here.
What Does Democracy Mean To You? January 8, 2010
The U.S. Department of State has launched the second edition of the Democracy Video Challenge for young filmmakers and democracy activists across the globe. Contestants (age 18+) complete the phrase "Democracy is..." in a short video (three minute maximum). Three video finalists will be selected from Poland, and will compete in the worldwide competition for the grand prize. The grand prize consists of an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, New York and Hollywood to attend gala screenings of the winning videos, gain exposure to the U.S. film and television industry and meet with creative talented, democracy advocates, and government leaders.
Last year's grand prize winner, Łukasz Szozda of Poland, traveled to the United States in September 2009, where he and five other grand prize winners from around the world met with U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, as well as democracy activists and members of the film and television industry. The videos by Mr. Szozda and the other regional winners were featured in a gala screening hosted by the Motion Picture Association of America. (more)
Heightened Flight Security Measures for International Travelers to the U.S. January 4, 2010
The Transportation Security Administration issued new security directives to all United States and international air carriers with inbound flights to the U.S. effective January 4, 2010. The new directives include long-term, sustainable security measures developed in consultation with law enforcement officials and our domestic and international partners.
Because effective aviation security must begin beyond the U.S. borders, and as a result of extraordinary cooperation from our global aviation partners, TSA is mandating that every individual flying into the United States from anywhere in the world traveling from or through nations that are state sponsors of terrorism or other countries of interest will be required to go through enhanced screening. The directive also increases the use of enhanced screening technologies and mandates threat-based and random screening for passengers on U.S. bound international flights. The latest information may be obtained here.
President Obama Announces Reviews of Terrorist Watch List and Travel Screening Systems December 31, 2009
Addressing the media, on December 29th the President commented on administration efforts to review and improve security and intelligence in wake of the attempted bombing on Christmas Day. The day earlier, the President referred to the attempted bombing of a U.S. airliner as "a serious reminder of the dangers that we face." He added that "We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle, and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us." In the same statement, the President also condemned the Iranian government's recent suppression of its own citizens. (more)
Study of the United States Institutes 2010 - Applications Accepted until January 25, 2010! 23 December 2009
The U.S. Embassy in Warsaw is pleased to invite candidate nominations for the Summer 2010 Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) for University Faculty and Secondary School Educators. University-Level and Faculty members participate in intensive post-graduate level academic programs with integrated study tours. The programs provide foreign university faculty and other scholars the opportunity to deepen their understanding of American society, culture and institutions. The ultimate goal is to strengthen curricula and to improve the quality of teaching about the United States in academic institutions abroad. Secondary School Educators attend a six-week post-graduate seminar in the United States. All of the institute programs will be held this summer at different U.S. universities and colleges beginning in mid-June 2010. Space in the institutes is very limited. To be competitive, candidates must have excellent proficiency in English and outstanding qualifications. Application Deadline: January 25, 2010. (more)
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U.S. Embassy Warsaw will administer the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) on March 3 (and 4th only if demand warrants it), 2010. (more)
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Contact information:
U.S. Consulate General in Krakow
ul. Stolarska 9
31-043 Krakow
Tel.: +48 12 424-5100
Fax: +48 12 424-5103
Consular Agency in Poznan
ul. Paderewskiego 8
61-770 Poznan
Tel.: +48 61 851-8516
Fax +48 61 851-8966
Other Links:
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