Our Mission
We connect people to the Winona-area Polish community and resources so that they may learn about and grow in appreciation for Polish-American and Kashubian culture and heritage.
**Core Objectives:**
1. **Preservation and Promotion**: To collect, conserve, and showcase the cultural artifacts, art, and historical records of Winona’s Kashubian and Polish communities, making them accessible to the public for education, research, and cultural enrichment.
2. **Education**: To provide educational programs, exhibitions, and events that teach Kashubian history, culture, and traditions, as well as the broader context of global events and their impact on our local community.
3. **Cultural Exchange**: To facilitate cultural exchange programs, workshops, and collaborations that promote understanding, tolerance, and respect among people of different backgrounds, fostering a more inclusive and pluralistic society.
4. **Community Engagement**: To serve as a community hub for Kashubian and Polish cultural events, festivals, and celebrations, welcoming visitors from Winona and beyond to experience our rich cultural heritage.
5. **Interpretation and Contextualization**: To provide contextualized exhibits and programming that highlight the significance of global events and their connection to local history, promoting a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between culture, politics, and society.
**Values:**
* Respect for diverse cultures and traditions
* Commitment to preserving our shared heritage
* Belief in the power of education to promote understanding and empathy
* Emphasis on community engagement and inclusivity
* Passion for sharing our stories with the world By fulfilling this mission, the Polish Cultural Center & Museum aims to become a beacon of cultural understanding, a symbol of community pride, and a catalyst for positive change in Winona and beyond.
The Polish Cultural Center & Museum’s building was built in 1894 by the Laird-Norton Lumber Company for use as an office building next to their lumber campus just across from Second Street. After Laird-Norton relocated their office elsewhere in 1918, the Winona Printing Company purchased the building that same year. Several additions to the building were constructed over the years, namely in 1934 and 1944. Once the Winona Printing Company relocated their business over to 1117 East Mark Street, the building was vacant for only a few months before Father Paul J. Breza purchased the building in 1979. He intended the building to serve as a museum-storage area. It took just over a year of hard work by Father Breza and the local community for the building to become a showcase for the history of Winona’s vibrant Kashubian Polish community. Meanwhile, the Center obtained recognition as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1979. Its mission is to preserve the artifacts and stories that were quickly being lost. Over the past 40+ years, the Center collected and preserved more than 8,000 items, with the collection growing to this day.
Board of Directors
The Polish Cultural Center & Museum incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota on October 19, 1979. The services of our incorporating lawyer, David Davenport, were provided as a gift by Michael Pehler. In addition to the Rev. Paul Breza, the original Board of Directors consisted of Alice Breza, Angie Peterson, Jo Caldwell, Marianne (Rice) Morrison, and Sheila and Dennis Daly.
The current Board of Directors consist of:
Erich Lippman–Chair/President
Lee Stoltman–Vice Chair/Vice President
Alan Stachowitz–Treasurer
Mark Dillon–Secretary
Duane Dubey–Director At-Large
Ann Koplin –Director At-Large
Lacey Korb – Director At-Large
Janet Macon – Director At-Large
Maureen Wood–Director At-Large
As a Public Benefit Corporation, the Polish Cultural Center & Museum is not owned by anyone, but we all have a stake in the organization’s future success and its ability to provide needed programs. The Board of Directors is our governing body. Individuals who sit on the board are responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities. The Board meets monthly to discuss and vote on the affairs of the organization and keeps minutes. It meets and proceeds under Roberts Rules of Order.
Staff:
Volunteers