Three Class Bundle - F2607 A Refugee Family’s Journey to America
Class | Registration opens Monday, September 28, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Through a personal family story, the presenter recounts her family’s escape from Czechoslovakia following World War II. Fleeing persecution under the newly established Communist regime, her father escaped to West Germany, where the family reunited after living in refugee camps. They immigrated to America in 1951 and settled in Cleveland, where they built new lives while adapting to the challenges and opportunities of becoming Americans. This program offers a compelling perspective on resilience, immigration, and history.
In-person at the Hawk - Not Recorded
Mary Hrabik Samal
Mary Hrabik Samal is a political scientist who holds a master’s degree from Fordham University and a Ph.D. from Penn State. She has taught at the University of Western Ontario and Oakland University. Until recently, Samal served as the book review and associate editor of Kosmas: Czechoslovak and Central European Journal. Samal’s writings on East European politics and culture, particularly on her native Czechoslovakia, have appeared on both sides of the Atlantic.