Recently, Chicago and New York hosted the Women’s Identity Dinner with Olga Freimut—a series of events that brought together Ukrainian women in the United States around themes of identity, strength, self-realization, and modern leadership.
The format combined an elegant dinner, public talks, and an open dialogue that extended far beyond the stage. The rooms brought together entrepreneurs, experts, creatives, and thought leaders—women who are shaping a new reality for the Ukrainian diaspora today.
The headline guest at both evenings was Olga Freimut—a renowned Ukrainian TV host, journalist, author, and one of the country’s most influential media figures, who for years has shaped standards of culture, ethics, and public communication. During the events, she addressed the audience on themes of inner strength, personal choice, and the ability to remain true to oneself.
“For me, these meetings in Chicago and New York became much more than just speaking engagements. I had heard a lot about the Ukrainian diaspora, but what I saw at these events exceeded every expectation. These were incredibly sincere, open, and deep conversations that went far beyond the stage.
In Chicago, I was especially struck by the atmosphere—it was very warm and unifying, with a real sense of welcome. Our dialogue with the guests was alive and emotional: we laughed, reflected, remembered, and shared personal stories.
New York became a different experience—more intense and more candid. I felt a strong, patriotic community that is not afraid to speak about what matters. After my talk, guests asked very deep and personal questions, and I couldn’t respond in any way other than with complete honesty. In that moment, it felt like everyone in the room was our own.
It was especially important to me that these evenings carried not only emotional value but also a charitable purpose. Together, we were able to raise funds to support children in Ukraine—and this once again proves that no matter where we are, we remain united,” Freimut shares.
Additional value was brought to the events by the speakers—Ukrainian women building careers and businesses in the U.S., who shared not only professional experience but also personal stories.
Chicago:
Natalia Acevedo
Anna-Maria Skakodub
Sofiia Moroz
Nicole Plaskonis
New York:
Natalia Petliuk
Inna Chornokan
Anastasiia Varadi
Victoria Dmytruk
Their talks added depth to the conversation and turned the event into a living exchange of experience.
One of the key moments of the tour was a charity auction, which raised $13,600 to support the children’s hospice “Butterfly House” in Ukraine.
The lots included books by Freimut Publishing—Beautiful Words, Etiquette, and About Love—as well as a unique custom cake by Sofiia Moroz.
This moment became the emotional culmination of the evenings and once again highlighted the central idea of the events—unity and a shared readiness to act.
The realization of Women’s Identity Dinner became the result of joint work by the teams of Ukrainian Roots Community, URC Radio, ÉSTE MANAGEMENT, and PWR Media, along with the support of partners and sponsors.
The general partner of the Chicago event was Laccura Medical Group.
It was the synergy of teams, partners, and guests that made it possible to create not just events, but a полноценный experience that continues to live beyond them.
The organizers view this result as an important stage in the project’s development.
“We built this format with the idea of creating a space for deeper dialogue and support for Ukrainian women in the U.S. And the response we received in both cities showed that this format truly resonates and has strong potential for growth,” notes Tetiana Dudiak.
“It was important for us to create an atmosphere of sincerity—without formality and superficial topics. And it was exactly this openness that guests highlighted the most after the events,” adds Anastasiia Nezdropa.
“For us, it was essential that these events had not only value for the Ukrainian diaspora in the U.S., but also real impact. Together with Olga Freimut, her publishing house, and the guests, we were able to raise funds to support children in Ukraine—particularly for the initiatives of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of America (UWAA) and Marta Levchenko, aimed at supporting the ‘Butterfly House’ children’s hospice.
As a team, we defined charity as a key vector from the very beginning, so it is especially valuable for us that these events allowed not only to bring people together, but also to provide real help to Ukraine,” comment Sviatoslav Lukynych and Alex Balbus.
Women’s Identity Dinner in Chicago and New York became an example of a new format of events for the Ukrainian community in the United States—events that combine substance, emotion, and real impact.
