“My wife is Ukrainian. My brother-in-law and my father-in-law are fighting against Russia right now and the last few weeks have not been easy.”
Miles Green served in the Peace Corps in Dnipro, Ukraine and is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Ukrainian Society of Michigan which is holding events Saturday in Grand Rapids to share personal stories of what’s happening as the war enters its third year.
“I'm American and I'm already torn apart, but the Ukrainians here? They need our support in Grand Rapids. I've seen the support Grand Rapids gives to communities and it's beautiful and it's powerful.”
There are 5000 people in the Ukrainian community of West Michigan, 38,000 in Michigan according to the World Population Review.
Green is asking residents to support them at the Rally for Ukraine.
It begins Saturday at 2:00 with a march from Veteran’s Memorial Park on Fulton Street through downtown ending at the Public Library.
That’s where a panel discussion will focus on common bonds between the U.S. and Ukraine, and how residents can help.
“We just… we need you there. We need people there to come and talk and ask questions and be curious and then just stand with us. That’s really all we need right now.”
