Community
Crimean Tatar Community in South Florida
About:
Elmaz Safina moved to the USA with her family in 2018. "Given our deep commitment to our values and unity, my priority was to connect with Crimean Tatars in the area to ensure we didn't lose touch with our roots and traditions," she said.
Since that time she has been looking for ways to strengthen and expand the community of Crimean Tatars searching on social media and other outlets. The community consists of 25 active families committed to supporting Ukraine and advocating for its sovereignty and peace.
Contact information of Elmaz Safina: elmaz.safina@gmail.com
Crimean Tatars, A Brief History
The Crimean Tatars are the indigenous people of Crimea; an Eastern European Turkic ethnic group that historically formed in Crimea.
Deportation
On May 18, 1944, the Soviet government forcibly deported the Crimean Tatars to Central Asia, Siberia, and the Urals, falsely accusing them of Nazi collaboration. Approximately 46% of the 238,500 deported perished due to harsh conditions.
Return and Recognition
From the late 1950s, the Crimean Tatars began a slow return to their homeland. By the early 1990s, over 150,000 had returned. In 1989, the Soviet Union declared the deportation illegal. In 2015, Ukraine recognized it as genocide.
Modern Era
The Crimean Tatars have consistently supported Ukraine's territorial integrity, opposing the pro-Russian separatist movement in Crimea. Despite their stance, Russia occupied Crimea in March 2014. This led to significant conflict between the Crimean Tatar community and its leaders with the new authorities in Crimea and Moscow. Since March 2014, Crimean Tatars have faced ongoing repression and discrimination from these new authorities.
In response to the Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014, Crimean Tatars formed their battalion to support Ukraine's territorial integrity and resist Russian aggression. Initially emerging from the 2015 activist-led blockade of Crimea, the battalion was intended to include 560 members.
With assistance from volunteer groups in Turkey in 2016, the battalion aided the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine along the Crimean border. Although it largely disbanded by the end of the year as volunteers joined other units or the Ukrainian army, the battalion reformed on February 24, 2022, following renewed conflict sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Ukrainian Community Boca Raton
About:
Anya Prokofyeva is a native Ukrainian, born in the city of Dnipro. She is a community leader who created "Boca Ukrainian" and united Ukrainians in Boca Raton, FL. "My community activity began in 2022 with a small Telegram group called "Ukrainian Parents of Boca Raton," aimed to help Ukrainians find useful information about children and parenting", Anna said. The group quickly grew, creating opportunities for gatherings. For the past two years, Anna and other activist members have organized picnics, workshops, and celebrations of traditional Ukrainian holidays. Currently, the group has over 500 members on Telegram and 3,500 followers on Instagram. The group publishes useful information about family-friendly events in and around Boca Raton each month.
Contact information:
• Telegram: Ukrainian Parents of Boca Raton
• Instagram: Boca Ukrainian
Colorful Ukraine
About:
Maryna Kovalchuk is the founder of the organization "Colorful Ukraine". She is a professional artist and organizer of festivals, cultural and art events, and rallies to support AZOV (Mariupol defenders) in Jacksonville, born in Crimea.
The foundation was founded in 2022 and consists of Ukrainian volunteers dedicating their time to creating cultural and social events that unite Ukrainians and Americans and help the advocacy of Ukraine in the USA. For almost 3 years of existence, Colorful Ukraine did the following projects:
- Rallies to support Ukraine
- Collection of humanitarian aid for the refugees
- Regular fundraising for tactical medical equipment to Ukraine
- Actions to support AZOV (POWs, Mariupol defenders)
- Auction to collect funds for the rehabilitation fund “PROTEZ Foundation”
- Ukrainian festivals on the Independence Day of Ukraine
- Art classes and many other charity events to raise funds and awareness about Ukraine and war.
Contact information:
• Instagram: Colorful Ukraine
• Facebook: Maryna Kovalchuk
