 The Piast Institute will be showcasing Polish Americans during Polish Heritage Month (October) on their social media handles.
Not following along yet? Check us out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Piast.Institute/ HDFCC: www.facebook.com/hamtramckdrugfree/ Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piastinstitute HDFCC: https://www.instagram.com/hamtramckdrugfree/  The Piast Institute is proud to work with the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers to provide Citizenship classes in Hamtramck, MI. Classes start October 12, 2026 and will run through the November. They will be held from 4:30-6:30 P.M.
The classes will be held Mondays and Tuesday at the Piast Institute office - 11633 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck MI 48212. Interested in registering? Use the link below. Join the Piast Institute for a special Polish Heritage Month Open House celebrating the traditions, stories, food, and artistry that continue to connect generations of Polish Americans. Our featured guest speaker, Magdalena Środek, will present “The Influence of Polish Heritage in Today’s Culture and Home Life,” exploring the ways Polish traditions continue to shape our families, homes, and communities today. The afternoon will also include opportunities to share and celebrate Polish culture together:
Bring a Little Treasure, Support a Great Cause We are also collecting unused or unwanted jewelry for a special fundraiser raffle benefiting the Piast Institute. If you have jewelry sitting unused in a drawer, consider donating it and turning that forgotten treasure into support for Polish American programs and community work. Come celebrate your heritage, discover something new, share a recipe or story, and help support the Piast Institute. Everyone is welcome! Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 2:00–5:00 PM Piast Institute | 11633 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck, MI
 Piast Institute and Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition Seek Project Director to Advance Community Prevention Effort HAMTRAMCK, Mich. — The Piast Institute and its Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC) are seeking a passionate, community-minded professional to serve as Project Director, helping lead substance use prevention initiatives that strengthen the health and well-being of residents throughout the Hamtramck community. The Project Director will coordinate evidence-based prevention programs, engage youth and families, collaborate with schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, and community partners, and support grant-funded initiatives that address emerging community needs. The position also includes program planning, evaluation, public education, and grant development.  "We're looking for someone who is passionate about making a difference through prevention, education, and community collaboration," said Lara Girdwood, Executive Director of HDFCC. "This is an opportunity to have a meaningful impact while working alongside dedicated partners committed to building a healthier community." Candidates with strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, along with an interest in public health, prevention, or community development, are encouraged to apply. Grant writing experience and public speaking skills are preferred. The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to obtain professional prevention certification through the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals (MCBAP). Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected].  The Piast Institute is a national nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to serving the Polish and Polish American community while advancing education, public health, and community development initiatives. HDFCC, a program of the Piast Institute, works with residents and community partners to prevent youth substance use and promote healthier, safer communities through education, collaboration, and evidence-based prevention strategies.
As financial scams targeting older adults continue to increase across the United States, the Piast Institute is helping local seniors protect themselves through free educational presentations focused on Medicare fraud prevention, identity theft, financial scams, and emerging cyber threats.
Over the past several months, the Piast Institute has hosted fraud prevention workshops for older adults throughout the community, providing practical tools to recognize scams, safeguard personal information, and report suspicious activity. These educational sessions brought together seniors to learn about today's most common fraud schemes while fostering social engagement through interactive discussions and community activities. The need for this education has never been greater. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Report, adults age 60 and older reported $7.748 billion in losses from 201,266 complaints in 2025—a 59% increase in reported losses compared to the previous year. The report underscores the growing financial impact of fraud on older Americans. "Education is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent fraud before it happens," said Malgorzata Tulecki, Executive Vice President of the Piast Institute. "Scammers are constantly changing their tactics, using phone calls, emails, text messages, artificial intelligence, and social media to target victims. By teaching people how to recognize these scams and respond appropriately, we can help protect their financial security and independence." During the workshops, participants learned how to identify and avoid a wide range of scams, including:
The presentations emphasized practical steps everyone can take to reduce their risk, including verifying the identity of callers by contacting organizations directly, never sharing personal or Medicare information with unsolicited callers, using strong passwords and multifactor authentication for online accounts, and consulting trusted family members or financial professionals before making significant financial decisions. Because many fraud victims never report scams due to embarrassment, fear, or uncertainty about where to turn, experts believe the true financial impact of fraud is significantly higher than official reports indicate. This makes public education and awareness essential components of fraud prevention. Although older adults often experience the greatest financial losses, fraud affects people of every generation. The Piast Institute encourages individuals and families to stay informed, discuss common scams with loved ones, and remain vigilant against evolving fraud tactics. These educational presentations reflect the Piast Institute's ongoing commitment to improving the health, financial well-being, and quality of life of the communities it serves. By partnering with local organizations and bringing trusted information directly to residents, the Institute continues to empower individuals with the knowledge and confidence needed to protect themselves from fraud and financial exploitation. About the Piast Institute - The Piast Institute is a national nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to serving communities through research, education, outreach, and public service. Through its health education, prevention, and community engagement initiatives, the Institute works to improve quality of life, promote healthy aging, and connect individuals and families with trusted resources that strengthen communities. Congratulations to our very own, Franciszek Buciek! We are proud to celebrate Franciszek as he will be receiving the MCRUD 2026 Rising Star Award (Youth Under 21) at the 30th Anniversary for MCRUD Annual Meeting & Award ceremony (Southfield, Michigan) in recognition of his outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact in our community. Franciszek Buciek joined the Piast Institute as a high school intern during his freshmen year. Five years later, his work in the community with the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC) is being celebrated by others. Frankie's commitment, participation and feedback as a minor was crucial for projects such as State of Michigan Synar checks, community scans, and substance misuse prevention activities. Frankie, your hard work and passion inspire those around you, and we couldn't be more proud of this well-deserved achievement. Keep shining and making a difference—we can't wait to see all that you'll accomplish in the future! #RisingStarAward #CommunityLeadership #YouthLeadership #PiastInstitute #HamtramckDrugFree #MakingADifference #Congratulations  The Piast Institute is proud to announce it has been awarded $125,000 through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to support youth substance use prevention initiatives serving Wayne County and surrounding communities.
The funding, made possible through Michigan's opioid settlement investments, will support prevention programming through the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC), a program of the Piast Institute that has been working to prevent youth substance use since 2007. The grant is part of a statewide investment of nearly $3.75 million awarded to 12 organizations focused on helping young people build healthy futures through prevention, education, mentorship, and positive community engagement. |
