On July 13-15, 2021, over 1,000 attendees, the leading global voices on religious freedom, came together in person at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. for the inaugural convening of the annual International Religious Freedom Summit (IRF Summit). “The issue of international religious freedom touches every culture, nation, religion, and political system. At present, almost 80 percent of the…
June 17th marks the 3rd Anniversary of the signing of the “Prespa Agreement,” deemed by the preponderance of Macedonians throughout the world as having been forced on them in a flawed, if not fraudulent, manner. The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD), as the leading voice of Macedonians abroad, reiterating its unequivocal opposition to the “Prespa Agreement,” will continue to refer to…
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) – the leading non-governmental, non-partisan, non-political educational advocacy organization promoting the interests of Macedonians and Macedonian communities worldwide – has announced the appointment of Anica Dimitrova and Valentina Talevska to the global UMD Chair Committee. Anica Dimitrova was born in Stip, Macedonia, and graduated from Goce Delchev University in Macedonia with a finance degree. She…
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is saddened to learn the news of the passing of our friend Congressman Alcee Hastings of Florida, at age 84, from pancreatic cancer. Congressman Hastings distinguished himself as an attorney, civil rights activist, and then a member of Congress. Serving 15 terms, Mr. Hastings was a champion for human rights and minorities – the first…
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD), a 501(c)3 nonpartisan organization and the voice of more than half a million Americans of Macedonian heritage, congratulates Joseph R. Biden on being sworn-in today as the 46th President of the United States, and to Kamala D. Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, on making American history as the first female Vice President…
The United Macedonian Diaspora unreservedly condemns the armed violence and terrorism aimed at the heart of American democracy this week. The forceful storming of the United States Capitol was an attempted coup against democratic ideals. In seeking to overturn a presidential election, the perpetrators betrayed the very freedoms they claim to defend – the right of the people to vote…
The United Macedonian Diaspora has welcomed increased news coverage of the name change debacle. Broader coverage has been achieved of the plight of ethnic Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria whose governments deny their existence. A column by UMD’s Alastair Stewart was published in The Times. It draws on parallels between a maybe independent Scotland and Macedonia’s tragic experience on the…
Social Media Outreach: – 67 Virtual Events, Gatherings, Trivia Nights, Video Messages Garnered 407,000 Views to Date Charitable Efforts: – UMD Generation M’s Together from Home Campaign Donated $50,000 for the Creation of a new Pulmonary Clinic in Skopje to Combat COVID-19. – Another $50,000 will be donated for medical equipment in regional clinics in the near future. …
Young leaders in the United Macedonian Diaspora have made a formal submission to the United Nations. The team is calling for radical action to tackle oppression of Macedonian ethnic minorities, notably in Greece and Bulgaria. The U.N. report, Eliminating Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) made a call for…
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer proclaimed today September 8th as Macedonian American Day in the State of Michigan “This recognition shows our Macedonian community is strong within Michigan. Our hard work, passion, and dedication exemplifies commitment for the betterment of the Macedonian community,” said UMD Michigan Chair Deana Janceski. Janceski and UMD member Alek Vasilevski had the opportunity to present this…
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) thanked Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for proclaiming August 2nd as Macedonian-American Heritage Day and recognizing the valuable contributions made by the Macedonian-American community.
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) thanked former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for issuing a statement today on the anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising and celebrating the success of the Macedonian-American community in the United States who have long strengthened and enriched American society for over a century. UMD is a non-partisan 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit…