Defending Freedom: Lessons From 33 Years of Sovereign Ukraine

Cactus and Tryzub is partnering up with Ukrainian American Society of Tucson to host a free public engagement event honoring Ukraine Independence Day on August 24th in Prescott, AZ. Join for a meaningful community conversation, hear from Ukrainian Americans of Arizona and learn about the many non-military fronts, where Ukraine is forced to defend its freedom.  The guests will have an opportunity to enjoy tasty refreshments, browse mini cultural expo and hear from guest speakers judge Orest Jejna, Olya Johnson and Irene Amrine with a panel Q&A to follow. Seats are limited and RSVP is recommended.

 

Defending Freedom: Lessons from 33 years of Sovereign Ukraine. Perspectives from Ukrainian Americans.

Aug 24, 2024, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Prescott Public Library, 215 E Goodwin St, 

Prescott, AZ 86303, USA

 

Seats are limited, please RSVP to guarantee a seat.

Meet our speakers:

Judge Orest Jejna is presently a Judge in the City of Scottsdale Municipal Court. Judge Jejna has served in this capacity for nearly 24 years. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Jejna was a practicing lawyer in Arizona for a period of 21 years. During his 45 years in the law, Judge Jejna has been involved in various Ukrainian endeavors, most notably for his efforts to save a Ukrainian seaman, Myroslaw Medvid, who jumped into the Mississippi river to seek asylum in the United States. The case generated significant news coverage since this took place during the last years of the cold war.  Judge Jejna was honored for his efforts by Americans for Human Rights in Ukraine for his promotion of human rights and social justice. Judge Jejna was also recognized for his efforts to abrogate an agreement between the American Bar Association and the Association of Soviet Lawyers, which turned out to be a tool of the Kremlin. Judge Jejna received recognition from the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix for his exemplary commitment to human rights and to the American ideal of the right of the individual to life, liberty and justice. In 1986, Judge Jejna was recognized for his outstanding achievements as a leader in the Phoenix community by the Phoenix Jaycees. Most recently, Judge Jejna was recognized by the Bishop Kearney H.S. class of 1973 for his contribution to the cause of freedom and democracy for the country and people of Ukraine.

Judge Jejna was born in 1955 and was raised in Rochester, New York. He is the son of Ukrainian immigrant parents who came to the United States in 1949 to flee political persecution. Judge Jejna is a first generation American who grew up speaking the Ukrainian language and attending Ukrainian studies through the end of his high school years.

Judge Jejna attended St. John Fisher University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1976. Judge Jejna continued his law studies in Tacoma, Washington at the University of Puget Sound and received his Juris Doctor degree in 1979.

During Judge Jejna's professional career, he has been a member of the Ukrainian American Bar Association, serving as Vice President, President and presently holds the position of Chairman of the Board.

When not working on support for Ukraine, Judge Jejna enjoys hiking, jamming with other guitar players and working on classic cars.

Olya Johnson. I joined Cactus and Tryzub shortly after this war started, because I could not be passive about this tragedy, I had to do something. Since then, I have met so many wonderful, smart people passionate about Ukraine, Ukrainians, and this injustice. The first half of my life I spent in the town of my birth, Kropyvnytsky, Ukraine. For the second half, I have called Phoenix, Arizona, my home. This is where I bought my first home and started my family, including where my children were born. I often think that if they had been born back in Ukraine, their happy childhood would have been brutally taken away, and my heart bleeds every time. My Motherland will win. However, there is a long road ahead. Even after Ukraine’s victory, there will be a lengthy rebuilding process. I want to be a part of helping Ukraine be victorious and its reconstruction, to make it beautiful again. I do this for my children and for all others that do not have a childhood anymore. When I am not working with Cactus and Tryzub volunteers, I work in finance, with a focus on leadership development and training.

At 14 years old, Irene Amrine immigrated to the United States with her family in 1997. Members of her family, in one way or another, resisted the Russian regime for generations. To this day and from abroad, she continues her family's legacy in preserving Ukraine and supports Ukraine’s fight for freedom.  Cactus and Tryzub volunteer initiative in Phoenix, AZ is her passion project founded in response to full-scale invasion of Ukraine.  It accompanies the initiatives aimed to bring Ukraine closer to victory through meaningful advocacy, activism and fundraising.  Irene has a successful career in cancer genomics and owns a boutique pet photography business with her husband.