Panel Discussion “Creating a Safe Haven for Children Escaping War and Persecution – from the Polish Children of Good Maharaja to the Children of Ukraine.”

November 18th, 2025, at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM).
Consulate General of Poland in New York

233 Madison Ave (Jan Karski Corner)

New York

Join us for an impactful panel presentation exploring the historical and ongoing trauma faced by children during wartime. We will reflect on the forced relocations of Polish families to Siberian labor camps during WWII and draw parallels to today’s Ukrainian children fleeing the war.
Hear from experts and storytellers, including author Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska and Polish American Imogene Salva, about resilience and remembrance. Learn trauma-informed strategies from educator Alexandra Hernandez supporting displaced Ukrainian children, and experience a poignant dance illustrating these historic and personal stories.
Together, we’ll honor the resilience of children affected by war and explore ways to create safe, empathetic spaces for healing.
Panelists and Moderators:

• Monika Kowaleczko-Szumowska - Polish author, scriptwriter, producer, president of Nil Desperandum Foundation
• Imogene Salva - Author of One Star Away, story based on the childhood of her mother - Ziuta Nowicka
• Alexandra Hernandez - Bilingual Special Education Teacher, Trauma-Informed Educator
• Elsa Nunez - Bilingual Educator and Advocate for Multilingual Learners
• Apeksha Niranjan-Bharatnatyam dancer, choreographer, granddaughter of Polish refugee Wanda Nowicka

The number of seats is limited.

Register via the following link: https://forms.gle/T2GLqSkCcjanfSKw9