On this momentous occasion of the United States Semiquincentennial, the Congress of Russian Americans extends its most heartfelt congratulations to our nation. Two hundred and fifty years ago, a bold vision of liberty, justice, and opportunity was born. Today, we proudly stand together to celebrate the enduring legacy and triumph of that great American experiment.

For some of our members, America is the land of their birth. For many others, it is the destination of a long journey—a beacon of hope that welcomed us or our ancestors with open arms. But regardless of where our individual stories began, for all of us, the United States is, first and foremost, our cherished home.

Since the earliest days of this Republic, Russian Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder with men and women of all backgrounds and nationalities to defend, build, and enrich this country. We have shared in its struggles, rejoiced in its victories, and worked tirelessly to make this nation great.

Our history is deeply woven into the fabric of American greatness. We remember military leaders like Brigadier General John Basil Turchin (Ivan Turchinov), who fought valiantly for the Union during the Civil War, helping to keep our nation whole. We celebrate visionary scientists and inventors like Igor Sikorsky, whose aviation pioneering transformed the skies, and Vladimir Zworykin, the father of modern television. We honor the unparalleled cultural contributions of artists, composers, and creators like Sergei Rachmaninoff, George Balanchine, and Irving Berlin, who gave America a voice, a rhythm, and a soul that resonated across the globe.

As we celebrate the 250th jubilee of the United States, we also reflect on our own journey. Having recently crossed our own half-century milestone—marking over 50 years since the founding of the Congress of Russian Americans—we recognize that our organization’s story is inextricably linked to the American story. For a half-century, we have dedicated ourselves to preserving our cultural heritage while fostering a strong, engaged, and patriotic Russian-American community. Our 50 years of advocacy is a proud chapter within this quarter-millennium of American freedom.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunities this great country has provided. May the United States of America continue to be a shining city on a hill—a land of liberty, justice, and boundless opportunity for all generations to come.

Happy 250th Birthday, America! May God bless our shared home.

— The Congress of Russian Americans

Congress of Russian Americans participated in the Slavic Festival, held at the Russian Center of San Francisco, CA on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1.   

The festival brought in over 3,500 attendees throughout both days and featured food, arts & crafts and entertainment by various musicians, singers, dancers of various ethnic Slavic groups, including Russian, Polish, Bulgarian, Serbian and others.   CRA’s table featured copies of the CRA Almanacs, annual bulletins, Who We Are pamphlets, flyers of some of CRA’s current projects and humanitarian programs. a video presentation of CRA’s current and past work, as well as membership applications and other informational material.   CRA ‘s national headquarters are located at the Russian Center and those attendees of the festival who may have been interested in CRA’s work were invited to the office to discuss CRA’s history, youth and educational, cultural & historical, as well as humanitarian aid programs.   CRA thanks our directors and members who volunteered to staff the CRA table throughout the 2 days of the festival.

On February 19, 2026 a meeting of SF Bay Area Community leaders was held by Senior Associate, Logan Woodruff of PlaceWorks, one of the premier planning, design, and environmental services firms in the U.S. California State Parks reached out to PlaceWorks for their expertise and services to meet with stakeholders of Fort Ross Conservancy for their wide range of planning, design, science and engineering, economics, environmental analysis, and community outreach disciplines. The purpose of the meeting was for the development of the Metini-Fort Ross Interpretation Master Plan (IMP) by California State Parks.

Among the participants of the focus group were members of California State Parks, local businesses that are impacted and descendant of the Call Family, who spent time in the Call House and Museum (the Call family, who were involved in ranching and shipping operations, were instrumental in the history of Fort Ross, having built a residence there in 1878. The last occupant of the Call family house passed away in 1972). Also, represented were clergy from the Russian Orthodox Church of Russians Abroad, Rev. Alexander Krassovsky of the Sts. Peter & Paul Church in near-by Santa Rosa, CA and Rev. Paul Volmensky of the Holy Ascension church in Sacramento, CA and the Orthodox Church of America, Rev. Kyrill Sokolov from Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. Natalie Sabelnik, President of the Congress of Russian Americans (CRA), long-time member of Fort Ross Conservancy, represented the Russian-American community. CRA was instrumental in writing letters, obtaining signatures on petitions and meeting with then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger against the closure of Fort Ross in 2009.

The focus group discussed concerns on regional connections, including the cultural, as well as the economic/tourism landscape and discussed challenges and opportunities for fostering a strong connection between State Parks and the local community. Among some of the concerns that were discussed were physical connectivity (e.g. roads, trails, transportation), narrative connectivity (e.g. opportunities for partnerships or collaborative programming), communications (e.g. how State Parks can best communicate with the local community and regional agencies and organizations) and landscape/ecosystem connectivity (e.g. challenges or opportunities to improve connectivity with adjacent lands managed by others).While there is currently no timeline established for the development of the IMP, it has been identified as a state-wide priority by California State Parks. The insights, as well as responses to the current survey sent to Fort Ross Conservancy members, which were provided will be considered carefully and will be foundational to the planning process. 

Pictures credits:  Fort Ross plaque (from Redwood Empire Collection) by Ansel Adams
Fort Ross California postcard collection Annex Galleries fine prints. And museum-archive of Russian Culture in San Francisco.

250 Years of America and Its Russian-American Heritage

To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States in 2026, and to highlight the people, places, and stories of Russian-American heritage that helped shape our country, the Congress of Russian Americans (CRA), the Russophone Los Angeles Research Collective, and Russkaya Zhizn’ invite you to participate in a special creative project.

Project Overview

Participants are invited to create an 8-page handmade mini-book dedicated to a Russian-American individual, cultural event, or historic landmark that contributed to the history of the United States.

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What to Create

• An 8-page mini-book
• Handwritten text with original drawings or illustrations
• Topic examples include:
  • A Russian American who contributed to sports, arts, science, medicine, engineering, or military service
  • A cultural or religious event
  • A landmark significant to U.S. and Russian-American history

Front Cover (Required Layout)

The front cover must include all of the following:

1. Common title:
   “250 Years of America and Its Russian-American Heritage”
2. Your specific title
   (the person, event, or landmark you chose) — placed under the main title
3. Author’s name
4. City and State of residence

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Format Requirements

• Use standard paper: 8” × 10”
• Fold into a mini-book approximately 4” high × 2.5” wide
• Eight pages total (the front cover counts as one page)
• A simple back cover is optional

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Where the Mini-Books Will Go

Completed mini-books will be collected by the Congress of Russian Americans and formally presented to:

• The Library of Congress
• The White House
• The U.S. National Archives

as part of the national 250th-anniversary observance.

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How to Submit

• Place the mini-book in a sheet protector or envelope
• Include a note inside with:
  • Author’s name
  • Age / grade (if applicable)
  • School or city
  • Specific title of the mini-book
  • Contact email and/or phone number
• Mail (postmarked no later than April 30, 2026) to:

Ivan Podvalov
10345 Wilkins Ave., #201
Los Angeles, CA 90024

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Questions?

📧 Ivan Podvalov
Email: ivanpodvalov@yahoo.com

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Each year, Congress of Russian Americans prepares gifts for children at various Russian Schools for their Christmas programs.  This year, over 70 candy tins filled with Russian and American candy, gifts, stickers and other trinkets were presented to Russian Schools (including San Francisco, Burlingame, Sacramento, Sparks, NV and other locations in the U.S.), as well as gifts for baskets to the Russian senior community, which the Sts.Peter & Paul church assembled in Santa Rosa.   CRA wishes all a most happy and blessed Christmas and New Year to all our members, friends and their families.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Bright and joyful days of one of the greatest Christian feasts — the Nativity of Christ — are approaching.
We sincerely congratulate all Orthodox Christians on the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
May the peace, joy, and light of the Bethlehem Star illuminate your homes and hearts, strengthen your faith, and grant you health, well-being, and spiritual strength.

Wishing all of our members, friends, donors a most happy and joyous New Year!

Congress of Russian Americans wishes all of our members, donors, supporters a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, all the best for the holidays!