Diaspora Engagement Archives - Kazickas Family Foundation

On August 16, a Kazickas Family Sacred Music Hours concert was held at St. Casimir’s Church in Vilnius to commemorate the 85th wedding anniversary of the late Alexandra and Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas.

Alexandra and Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas’ 85th Wedding Anniversary – Music Connecting Lithuania and the Diaspora

Art & Culture, Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

Alexandra and Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas’ 85th Wedding Anniversary – Music Connecting Lithuania and the Diaspora

On August 16, a Kazickas Family Sacred Music Hours concert was held at St. Casimir’s Church in Vilnius to commemorate the 85th wedding anniversary of the late Alexandra and Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas. This special tradition, established through the Kazickas family’s initiative and patronage, brought together two seemingly distinct stories that share a common thread – the life journey of the Kazickas family and the Chicago Lithuanian Opera, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

The concert drew a large audience, with St. Casimir’s Church filled with listeners that evening. The program featured the 70-year-old Chicago Lithuanian Opera Choir, its artistic director and soloist Nida Grigalavičiūtė, as well as Lithuanian opera soloists Eglė Juozapaitienė, Vytautas Juozapaitis, and Liudas Mikalauskas. Renata Marcinkutė-Lesieur, artistic director of the Kazickas Family Sacred Music Hours, accompanied.

Throughout their lives, Alexandra and Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas nurtured their connection to Lithuania, Lithuanian culture, and the community. From the very beginning of the Sacred Music Hours, they were patrons of the concert series. Today, the Kazickas Family Foundation continues the tradition of support they established, making it possible for Vilnius residents and visitors to enjoy performances by outstanding Lithuanian and international artists free of charge.

The Chicago Lithuanian Opera Choir held a special place in this year’s concert as it celebrated its 70th anniversary. Founded in 1956 by Lithuanian emigrants, the ensemble has presented more than 40 opera productions over seven decades. From its very beginnings, performing in the Lithuanian language has been one of the choir’s central principles – even works of the world opera repertoire are performed in Lithuanian in Chicago.

The choir’s return to Lithuania for its anniversary was a particularly meaningful part of the evening. For many of its current members, it was their first performance in their homeland. The concert brought together Lithuanian musical traditions from the diaspora and Lithuania, while also reminding us that Lithuanian identity and culture can be nurtured regardless of time or distance.

The stories of the Kazickas family and the Chicago Lithuanian Opera are connected by a shared love of Lithuania and its culture, as well as a desire to pass this connection on to future generations. The concert became a meaningful meeting point for these two stories, with music bringing Lithuania and the Lithuanian diaspora together.

We invite you to view moments from the event in the photo gallery.

Photo credits: Jurgita Satkūnaitė

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On August 2, the 80th Lithuanian Summer Festival took place in Putnam – a long-standing tradition that brings the Lithuanian community together each year, celebrating culture, faith, and the enduring connection to Lithuania.

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Jurate Kazickas and Sr. Igne Reunite in Putnam

Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

A Walk Down Memory Lane: Jurate Kazickas and Sr. Igne Reunite in Putnam

On August 2, the 80th Lithuanian Summer Festival took place in Putnam – a long-standing tradition that brings the Lithuanian community together each year, celebrating culture, faith, and the enduring connection to Lithuania. For Jurate Kazickas, the traditional Putnam Picnic became a special opportunity to walk down memory lane and reconnect with Sr. Igne where the two first met and became friends 72 years ago while attending Camp Immaculata summer camp for girls.

We share Jurate Kazickas’s reflections on returning to the site and witnessing the vibrant continuation of Lithuanian traditions in the United States.

On Sunday, August 2, Putnam celebrated its 80th picnic on the grounds of the Convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The congregation was founded in 1918 in Lithuania, its first sisters arrived to the US in 1936 and moved to Putnam in 1943.

I was there on a sentimental day trip to revisit the site of Camp Immaculata for girls, that I had attended way back in July, 1954 but had not seen since!

I was met by Sr. Igne, a force of nature. She is a senior sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor, and an active promoter and supporter of Lithuanian and Christian traditions within Lithuanian communities in the US and Canada. Sr. Igne is a recipient of the Knight’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania by the President of Lithuania in 2020. From 1970 -1996 she led Lithuanian children’s camp Neringa (est. 1969) in Brattleboro, VT and is the author of its curriculum.

Sr. Igne whose name then was Grazina Marijosiute, and I had been best friends during those camp days. Happily, we had stayed in touch over the many years, meeting up now and then in the US and Vilnius.

We walked around the grounds and old buildings and little by little, some memories came trickling back. The dormitory rooms where five girls slept on cots (and hid our comic books under the pillows), the flag pole where each evening we sang the Lithuanian national anthem, the classrooms where I learned how to embroider, weave sashes, play the kankles, perform folk dances, and sing Lithuanian songs. (I still remember all the verses to “atskrend sakalelis”) and of course, to improve my Lithuanian grammar, the language of my homeland. All in all, those four weeks when I was 11 were among my happiest memories.

The Putnam Picnic was a celebration of Lithuanian culture. There was plenty of amber for sale, beautifully crafted woodwork, “Tree” cakes, books, tri-colored T-shirts (notably the iconic Grateful Dead tie-dye). Lunch was served – my favorite kugelis, beet soup, sausage and sauerkraut! Heaven!

But the highlight of the day was the singing and dancing by campers bused in from Camp Neringa’s Vermont location. Choreographer Edgaras Snipaitis from Kaunas in only two weeks had taught more than 130 children to do those classic skipping and twirling moves of Lithuanian folk dances.

I was truly moved by the sight of so many young people, dancing so proudly and exuberantly. I watched them with delight, vaguely remembering my own nervous excitement as a new camper trying not to miss a step on that very same field.

But the picnic for me was more than nostalgia for days gone by. It was a reaffirmation of the love all these people – dozens of families, children, senior citizens – had for the culture and traditions of Lietuva. We all came together that day to celebrate our common heritage.

I congratulate all the hard-working organizers of the Putnam picnic and thank them and Sr. Igne for this joyful – and inspirational – walk down memory lane.

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Nine Years of Bring Together Lithuania: 30 Young Professionals from Seven Countries Discover Modern Lithuania

Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

Nine Years of Bring Together Lithuania: 30 Young Professionals from Seven Countries Discover Modern Lithuania

This summer, the Bring Together Lithuania internship and cultural immersion program brought together 30 young people of Lithuanian heritage from seven countries.

Over the course of six weeks, participants completed professional internships in life sciences, cybersecurity, finance, information technology, communications, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, and other fields. Outside of work, they took part in educational activities, met with representatives of the Lithuanian government and leading companies, and traveled across Lithuania.

Since 2018, Bring Together Lithuania, an initiative of the Kazickas Family Foundation, has provided young members of the Lithuanian diaspora with opportunities to gain professional experience, strengthen their connection to their heritage, and discover today’s Lithuania. Selected from more than 100 applicants, this year’s participants stood out for their academic achievements, leadership, and active involvement in Lithuanian communities around the world.

According to Neila Baumilienė, Executive Director of the KFF in the US, it has always been important to the Kazickas family that young people growing up outside Lithuania not only preserve their Lithuanian identity but also build a meaningful connection with the country as it is today.

“That is why it is especially rewarding to see Bring Together Lithuania bringing together talented young Lithuanians from around the world and helping them discover Lithuania not only through their heritage, but also through personal experiences, professional opportunities, and new relationships,” said N. Baumilienė.

During the program, participants met with Lithuania’s First Lady, Diana Nausėdienė, and visited the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, where they spoke with former Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, Member of Parliament Laurynas Kasčiūnas, and former Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States Žygimantas Pavilionis. They also visited the Ministries of National Defence, the Economy and Innovation, and Foreign Affairs, engaging in discussions on Lithuania’s security, economy, and foreign policy.

To explore Lithuania’s business and innovation ecosystem, participants visited companies within the Tesonet group, Light Conversion, and other leading businesses, and met with Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.

“The program was launched with a clear vision: to help young members of the Lithuanian diaspora discover contemporary Lithuania through professional growth, meaningful connections, and real career opportunities. Today, we see that the program has become an important milestone in the careers of many participants, while Lithuania has become a place where they build professional networks, establish international partnerships, and often return to work, collaborate, or invest,” said Kamilė Perminė, Director of Bring Together Lithuania.

Over the past nine years, Bring Together Lithuania has become one of the leading professional development programs for young members of the Lithuanian diaspora, helping strengthen their connection to Lithuania while opening doors to meaningful career opportunities.

The program is also supported by the Lithuanian Foundation, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and entrepreneur and innovator Vladas Lašas.

Photo credits: Giedrius Matulaitis (Kaip Gerai) and the Bring Together Lithuania team. Photo with the First Lady – Photo credit: Robertas Dačkus.

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XVII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America

Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

XVII Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America

From July 10–12, Chicago hosted the 17th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival of North America, Between Two Shores, one of the largest Lithuanian diaspora cultural events in recent decades. The festival brought together more than 2,000 dancers representing 78 folk dance groups from Ireland, Scotland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Lithuania and others.

For many years, the Kazickas Family Foundation has proudly supported North American Lithuanian Song and Folk Dance Festivals, helping preserve Lithuanian culture, traditions, and national identity within the diaspora. The Foundation remains committed to initiatives that strengthen ties between Lithuanians living abroad and their homeland while ensuring that Lithuania’s cultural heritage is passed on to future generations. Neila Baumilienė, KFF Executive Director in the US, attended this year’s festival.

The tradition of the North American Lithuanian Folk Dance Festival began in 1957, when the Lithuanian community in Chicago organized the very first festival. Since then, it has become one of the most important cultural traditions of the Lithuanian diaspora, bringing together thousands of dancers and spectators every few years to celebrate their shared heritage.

The three-day celebration featured not only spectacular folk dance performances but also concerts, art exhibitions, educational programs, and creative activities that showcased the richness of Lithuanian culture and the strength of the global Lithuanian community.

Photos: Highlights from the festival, including alumni of the Alexandra Kazickas Lithuanian School – Leila, Kai, and Aiden Genender.

Photo credit: Gintautė Genender

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Business Trip to Estonia: Strengthening Baltic and Diaspora Connections

Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

KFF Business Trip to Estonia: Strengthening Baltic and Diaspora Connections

Estonia is one of Lithuania’s closest regional partners, with well-established diaspora, academic, and cultural networks that continue to offer strong potential for cooperation.

A recent visit to Tallinn and Tartu on June 16–18 by representatives of the Kazickas Family Foundation – Neila Baumilienė, Executive Director in the United States, and Monika Zavistanavičiūtė, Acting Executive Director in Lithuania – highlighted the growing importance of these connections and the role of sustained engagement across the Baltic region.

The visit, held at the invitation of H.E. Gitana Skripkaitė, Ambassador at Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Estonia, focused on presenting Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas’ memoir, Odyssey of Hope, and introducing the KFF’s work to the Lithuanian community in Estonia and international audiences. It also provided an opportunity to deepen relationships with academic and cultural partners in Estonia and to explore new areas of collaboration.

Meetings in Tallinn and Tartu brought together representatives of diplomacy, academia, and the Lithuanian-Estonian community. At the Lithuanian Embassy in Estonia, discussions centred on diaspora engagement and ongoing priorities for community outreach. With support from Bradley Woodworth, Head of the Baltic Studies Program at Yale University, KFF also met with Estonian Yale postdoctoral alumni to exchange research perspectives and consider future academic cooperation across the Baltic region.

In Tartu, conversations with Lithuania’s Honorary Consul Birutė Klaas-Lang focused on heritage language education and the role of diaspora institutions in maintaining cultural identity. In Tallinn, a gathering of the Lithuanian-Estonian community brought together around 30 participants for a presentation and discussion on the legacy of Dr. Joseph P. Kazickas and Alexandra Kazickas and the Foundation’s ongoing initiatives.

The program also included a meeting with the Director, exhibition curators, and Education Project Manager of the Vabamu Museum of Occupations and Freedom in Tallinn, the largest private museum in Estonia dedicated to the country’s recent history, as well as a visit to the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, offering a moment to reflect and honor the victims of the Soviet regime.

The visit underscored the continued relevance of Baltic cooperation in a period marked by regional uncertainty, highlighting shared priorities in education, cultural exchange, and diaspora engagement.

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Lithuanian diaspora Lithuanian heritage schools

Strengthening the Diaspora Remains a Priority: $2.1 Million for Lithuanian Heritage Schools Over 15 Years

Diaspora Engagement, News & Stories

Strengthening the Diaspora Remains a Priority: $2.1 Million for Lithuanian Heritage Schools Over 15 Years

Supporting heritage education in the diaspora is one of the Kazickas Family Foundation’s key priorities.

KFF has consistently provided funding to heritage schools in the United States, helping families abroad maintain language, culture, and ties to their homeland. Over the past 15 years, the Alexandra Kazickas Grant Program has allocated more than $2.1 million to heritage schools in the U.S. In 2025–2026 alone, 24 schools received $90,000 to ensure the continuity of their programs. Funding covers expenses such as facility rentals, teachers’ salaries.

Support is highly valued in community schools across the diaspora as a key factor for preserving and strengthening cultural identity. The administration of the Boston Lithuanian School also highlights the importance of KFF’s contribution:

“Your support is not only a financial contribution but also a strong investment in academic excellence, knowledge development, and the strengthening of Lithuanian identity within the diaspora. Thank you for helping us achieve our shared goal – educating a conscious, well-educated younger generation that values its roots. We are deeply grateful for your continued trust and support. Every contribution you make is highly valued and greatly appreciated by all of us.”

KFF also collaborates with the Lithuanian Educational Council of USA and the Coalition for Community-Based Heritage Language Schools, while actively representing communities in the U.S. on the Lithuanian Diaspora Affairs Coordination Commission, which brings together 10 organizations and about 20 Lithuanian institutions to discuss issues related to national security, culture, language, and innovation through dialogue, actionable recommendations, and policy development.

Through consistent support of heritage schools and dialogue with institutions in Lithuania, KFF contributes to the long-term goal of ensuring that language, culture, and identity remain vibrant within diaspora communities and are passed on to future generations.

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Bring Together Lithuania

Diaspora Engagement

Bring Together Lithuania | Jungtis Lietuvai

The program was initiated and has been sponsored by the Kazickas Family Foundation since 2018, playing a key role in strengthening Lithuanian diaspora engagement and supporting the growth of diaspora talent. Since its launch, BTLT has provided career opportunities to 155 young people from the Lithuanian diaspora, with more than one-third choosing to come back to Lithuania after the program or move here to build their future. Throughout the program, participants not only gain hands-on experience in leading Lithuanian companies but also meet influential leaders from society, business, and politics, develop both professional and interpersonal skills, and have the chance to discover modern Lithuania.

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