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The Polish American Awareness Foundation, NFP was founded in Chicago, IL as a joint effort by a few young Polish-American professionals in 2007. A small group of businessmen, publishers, investors, journalists and activists realized that they share the same ideals. The PAAF founders are fully integrated and proud Americans with Polish heritage. They believe in freedom, equality and democracy. They stand against bigotry, racism and any kind of nationalism. They proudly display their rich Polish heritage. Their real life experiences define the concept of being a Polish-American. Over fifty years of the Soviet sponsored communist regime in Poland during the cold war era made an impact on how Poles are perceived by the American community. Therefore the PAAF founders realized a need for a fresh approach when dealing with Polish ethnicity, Polish-American legacy and the contemporary picture of Poland and Poles around the world. This is how they make their plans become reality: Action The Polish American Awareness Foundation works on establishing channels and activities, venues and tools that allow Polish-Americans, Americans of Polish descent and Poles in America to re-define their ethnic identity, re-shape and re-build a positive view of their heritage and contemporary achievements. Re-vitalizing and re-telling the great story of Poles and Poland and making this new voice heard in mainstream America is our main goal. By designing and executing a wide array of live events and both print and digital media initiatives, PAAF aims to create, collect, promote and freely share vast amounts of information and knowledge pertaining to Polish history, culture and contemporary issues involving Poles and Polish-Americans. Communication In order to achieve the goals described herein, PAFF needs to be an open platform for discussion. Discourse, that we would like to start and nourish, will focus on the "Polish dimension" of contemporary America. We are seeing a number of grassroot groups, formal organizations and publications performing work based on similar ideas and motivated by the same values; yet, their activities seem to keep hidden from the eyes of the majority of interested public. Thus PAAF aims to provide a 'common place' where these trends will grow and gain greater impact. Cooperation The very nature of a cross-organizational, cooperative and collaborative environment gives exceptional advantages to all its members. Working together means working better, faster, with a greater knowledge base, and therefore with greater results. Cooperative enterprises of all kinds experience powerful growth letting them turn yesterday's dreams into today's goals and tomorrow's reality. Community PAAF is a community based on common interests, needs and values, inviting everybody to join the conversation, participate in the effort and enjoy the effects. We strongly believe in communicative and cooperative empowering of those, whose everyday activities, plans and dreams collide with 'the way things are' in today's mainstream America. Celebrating diversity and democracy, PAAF calls for removal of institutional and self-imposed barriers preventing Poles and Polish-Americans from engaging fully in our nation's cultural, business and civic life. By creating a mutually supportive environment, PAAF will inspire new leaders and new relations, enriching our society on all levels.
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