The Piast Institute is excited to announce the publication of the 2021 Polish Americans Today book following the 2020 Polish American Survey. This updated volume is the most comprehensive look at the Polish American community to date.

The newest 2020 survey by Piast Institute, under the direction of Virginia Skrzyniarz, CEO and Co-Founder, and Dr. Dominik Stecuła, Colorado State University, will offer updates, relevant information and answers about Polonia attitudes and trends to us and countless researchers, scholars, community organizations, and others interested in Polish Americans. This 80 page book highlights key insights on Polonia beyond basic demographics. Polish Americans Today clearly describes the shared values and experiences of Polonia. “There isn’t much reliable data available on the Polish American community beyond the Census data, which focuses on demographics,” said Dr. Stecula, the author of the book. “Our national survey of nearly 1800 Polish Americans is therefore the best source of information about our community: who we are, what we believe, how connected we are to Poland…all of these questions are answered in the book.” 

Piast Institute has a rich history of conducting surveys of Polonia. The 2020 survey is the fourth large survey of Polonia that the Institute has conducted since being founded in 2003. The new book is an update to the Polish Americans Today that was initially published in 2010, based on an extensive, national survey of Polonia that highlighted the basic demographic, social, economic and political profile of the Polish American community. Co-authored by the co-founder of the Piast Institute, Dr. Thaddeus Radzilowski, and Dominik Stecula, the author of the updated edition, it was the first large-scale survey of the community in decades. The original book went through several printings and has been popular in both the United States and Poland. It has been a subject of a variety of forums and conferences throughout the United States, and has been acquired by several Polish universities, public opinion firms, and public officials. The digital version of the 2010 edition is available to download for free on the Piast Institute website. 

The new 2021 book Polish Americans Today is available for purchase on the website January 2022 under the “Store” tab.

Founded in 2003, the Piast Institute is a nationally recognized think tank focusing on Polish and Polish American affairs as well as one of two Census Information Centers (CIC) in the state of Michigan. The Piast Institute develops conferences, seminars, publications, public programs, lectures and exhibits that provide information about Poland, Poles and Polish Americans. For additional information about the Piast Institute, visit its website at: www.piastinstitute.org or call at 313-733-4535

POLISH:   Piast Institute organizuje test STAMP4S dla celów Seal of Biliteracy, który odbędzie się 15 stycznia 2022 r. o godz. 11.00 rano. Z powodu Covid-u egzamin odbędzie się online. Należy wypełnić Seal Honor Pledge i wysłać go na adres owinski@piastinstitute.org. Link do Seal Honor Pledge znajduje się we wniosku rejestracji. Proszę o przekazanie informacji o możliwości wzięcia testu wszystkim zainteresowanym. Wszystkie szczegóły dotyczące zdawania egzaminu znajdują się w rejestracji, do której link znajduje się poniżej. W sprawie pytań - proszę dzwonić 248 613 6751 lub napisać email owinski@piastinstitute.org
https://forms.gle/5GJc46Sfs2CDPpZ4A


ENGLISH:  Piast Institute is organizing the STAMP4S test in order to receive Seal of Biliteracy in the Polish language. This exam will take place on January 15th at 11am EST. Due to COVID-19, the exam will be held online. Applicants must complete the Seal Honor Pledge and send it to owinski@piastinstitute.org. A link to the Pledge is included in the registration application. Those interested in taking the exam are invited to fill out the registration form below. All details about taking the exam can be found in the registration link. For questions - please call 248 613 6751 or write an email to owinski@piastinstitute.org
https://forms.gle/5GJc46Sfs2CDPpZ4A

​The Piast Institute, a national non-profit 501(c)(3) research and social resource organization that is devoted to Polish and Polish American affairs, is pleased to welcome Stella Szczesny to the Piast Institute Board of Directors. Ms. Szczesny has been elected unanimously at the September 29th meeting.
 
Stella Szczesny has been an active member of the Polish community on a local and a national level. Previously serving as the President of the Polish National Alliance (PNA), Lodge 1758 and the President of Polish National Alliance, Council 122. She has also served on the Central Citizens Committee, Polish American Congress, the Friends of Polish Art, the Polish Womens Alliance / First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association.
 
Ms. Szczesny has been previously involved with the Piast Institute in various capacities including the Dekaban Committee, Polish Womens Hall of Fame project, and more recently on its drug free coalition, the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC).
 
Stella Szczesny has received her B.A. from Madonna College in Social Science and her M.B.A. from the University of Detroit. She has also studied Education and Reading Instruction from Eastern Michigan University and Business and Accounting from Marygrove College.
 
Virginia Skrzyniarz, Piast Institute CEO and Co-Founder, stated “Ms. Szczesny will be an incredible addition to the Piast Institute board, bringing years of experience serving Polonia”.
 
Piast Institute is also one of fifty-two United States Census Information Centers (CIC), and one of two located in Michigan. The Piast Institute develops conferences, seminars, publications, public programs, lectures and exhibits that provide information about Poland, Poles and Polish Americans. A key element of its community service is the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC) which the Institute founded in 2007 to serve the immigrant, racial and ethnic groups of the community and its youth.
 
If you would like additional information about the Piast Institute, call: 313-733-4535 or visit our website at: www.piastinstitute.org.

Konsulat Generalny RP w Chicago organizuje w Hamtramck dyżur konsularny w dniach 19 i 20 listopada br. (piątek - sobota).
Na dyżur obowiązują wcześniejsze zapisy telefoniczne.
Zapisy będą prowadzone w dniach: 3, 4 i 5 listopada 2021 roku.
W celu dokonania zapisu na dyżur, prosimy dzwonić w wyżej wymienione dni pod numer telefon:
312 608 9229, w godz. 11am do 1pm EST
Podczas dyżuru będzie możliwość złożenia wniosku o wydanie dokumentu paszportowego.
Dyżur odbędzie się w Piast Institute, 11633 Joseph Campau Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212.

The Piast Institute is pleased to announce a consular visit at its office on August 28th and 29th.
To register for this consular visit you can call this special phone line ONLY between 10am-Noon Central Time on August 17-20th, 2021.
(312) 608-9229

See Consular website below for additional information: (text is in Polish)
https://www.gov.pl/.../konsulat-generalny-rp-w-chicago...

You must have an appointment with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago. All persons that enter the Piast Institute building must adhere to the following:
1. Masks Must Be Worn
2. You must use Hand Sanitizer upon arrival
3. Please wait in your vehicle until your appointment time
4. Only one family allowed in the lobby at a time
5. No bathroom is available for public use
​6. Please bring a pen to your appointment
​
Konsulat Generalny RP w Chicago organizuje w Hamtramck (metropolia Detroit) w stanie Michigan dyżur konsularny w sprawach paszportowych w dniach 28-29 sierpnia br. (sobota-niedziela).
Na dyżur obowiązują wcześniejsze zapisy telefoniczne: 312 608 92 29, w godz. 10.00-12.00.

Zapisy będą prowadzone w dniach: 17-20 sierpnia 2021 roku (wtorek-piątek). Dyżur odbędzie się w Piast Institute 11633 Joseph Campau Street, Hamtramck, MI 48212.

Interested in working with the Hamtramck Drug Free Community Coalition (HDFCC)? We have a Full-Time Americorps VISTA Position available here at Piast Institute. (HDFCC is a project of the Piast Institute). 
Applicants must apply before August 5th in order to qualify.
Call the office at 313-733-4535.

The Piast Institute is pleased to announce several events in celebration of Polish Constitution Day, May 3, 2021.

• An online seminar for adults interested in the history of Poland, particularly the symbolism and impact of the Constitution on Poland will be held on May 3rd at 3:00 P.M. EST via Zoom. Register by CLICKING HERE.
• The Piast Institute together with the leaders of Polish Girl Scouts will present a lecture on Polish Constitute Day Celebration. Mrs. Violetta Kuzniar and Teresa Wiacek, Polish Girl Scout leaders will introduce the subject to Polish Girl Scouts on May 3, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. EST via Zoom.
• The Piast Institute is sponsoring a “Polish Constitution” Contest to students in grades 6-12. The contest is open to all Polish Language Schools and Polish Scouts but any student interested in exploring this area of Polish culture is very welcome. Guidelines will be provided upon registration.

 
For further information about any of these events, or to register please call Marzanna Owinski at 313.733.4535 or owinski@piastinstitute.org.

An update from the Consulate - February 2021

https://www.plindetroit.pl/passports?fbclid=IwAR1AONRMQFzzG8NJKUt2pBDEq7t0cLNXd3Gss2C2jNVK3-d3aBtC9e17p64

Polish passport renewals for Michigan residents are handled exclusively by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago.  The office of the Polish Consulate in Detroit is not authorized to renew Polish passports or make any appointments. Also, there are no planned visits to Detroit by the Polish Consulate in Chicago for passport renewals. Please directly contact the Polish Consulate in Chicago for passport matters.
Recently, the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago has changed its procedures to make appointments for passport matters, effective from February 16, 2021 until further notice, as follows:
Appointments for visits are now made only by directly calling the Chicago Polish Consulate by phone at: (312) 608-9229, Monday to Friday from 11:00 – 15:00 (Central Time), or 12:00 – 16:00 (Eastern Time). Booking appointments at the Chicago Polish Consulate is free of charge. Arranging passport visits via the e-Konsulat system is suspended until further notice.
NOTE: The Polish Consulate Chicago DOES NOT ORDER AND DOES NOT CONTRACT WITH ANY EXTERNAL ENTITIES IN MATTERS INVOLVING PASSPORTS, VISAS, LEGAL AND CITIZENSHIP. It will no longer be possible to arrange passport visits through external entities.
The telephone number (312) 608-9229 is to be used only to arrange visits for passport matters. Callers with other matters are asked to use the phone number provided on the main website of the consulate: https://www.gov.pl/web/usa/konsulat-generalny-rp-w-chicago  The office does not respond to text messages and voice messages.
ATTENTION:

• by calling the number provided, you can only arrange an individual passport visit for a specific day and time;
  
• visits for minors are arranged by parents or legal guardians;
  
• calls from restricted numbers will not be answered;
  
• it is not possible to book a passport visit by calling another phone number of the Consulate;
  
• all previously arranged dates of passport visits remain valid;
  
• the appointment system  via www.e-konsulat.gov.pl continues to operate in respect of visa, legal and citizenship matters;
  
• all visitors of the Consulate can be admitted only after a prior appointment has been made and in compliance with COVID-19 sanitary guidelines and regulations;
  
• the procedure for making appointments in other cases requiring the immediate intervention of the Consul remain unchanged.
  

The Piast Institute is accepting applications for a Americorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) position for its “Education and Reduction of Opioid Use Initiative” program directed at the area’s senior citizens, immigrant, ethnic and racial groups. The duties include focusing efforts on increasing the awareness of the dangers of opioids and prevention of opioid use disorders and the impact on their lives and their community.

Applicants must be 18 years of age and have basic computer skills, excellent writing and speaking skills and ability to work with the public in general and youth in particular.  Knowledge of a foreign language is a plus.
         
VISTA members receive a monthly stipend, health insurance and a grant for tuition or a monetary bonus after one year of service.  For more information please contact Virginia Skrzyniarz, CEO/Co-Founder at (313) 733-4535 or skrzyniarz@piastinstitute.org.