RCC Newsletter Uniting Romanians in Reading, Pennsylvania

December 2023

Message from Mr. Cornel Costea

President of the Romanian Community Center

Dear friends,

On the occasion of Romania’s National Day, I extend my warmest regards. This year marks 105 years since the Great Union of December 1, 1918.

Happy National Day, ROMANIA!

At the same time, I want to thank those who participated in the Inauguration of the Romanian Community Center on December 1, 2023, at Kraras Hall in Reading. In this issue of the RCC newsletter, you will find the speech presented in front of a group of people who came to get to know us better and support us.

On December 1st, 2023, we also had the honor of being recognized by:

To our sponsors,

We thank you for your support.

We thank our volunteers, without whom we would not have achieved such a successful event.

President’s speech at the Inauguration of the Romanian Community Center

December 1, 2023

“A short while ago, we established a non-profit, non-governmental, non-political, and non-religious organization, a center built on principles of volunteerism and financial self-sustainability, with the concrete goal of promoting Romanian culture and traditions aligned with the inherent values of American society.

But I want to revisit with you the moment when this desire to have a center for our community began. We have always felt that we could be much stronger together if we could promote and solidify the values we brought with us, whether it’s been many or just a few years since our arrival. Without delving into too many details, I will start with a shared reality for many of us here who have had the opportunity to raise our families in the United States. As immigrants, we’ve overcome many obstacles and had a strong motivation to rebuild our lives and create a better future for our children and loved ones. This starting point connects us all on a deep, visceral level.

I am just one of the many Romanians here who have aspired to build a community center with a significant impact, not only for the locals but also for those from other communities.

I am not the first one to wonder how we could make a difference, how to build bridges between us, how to give back to others who are in financial, emotional, or health crises, and who would need information, expertise, services, or a place where they can share new ideas. A place where they can feel as ‘at home’ as possible, where their language is understood, and where they don’t often sigh for ‘home’… a place where they wouldn’t feel compelled to justify why they eat bread with lard for breakfast.

So, after many, many conversations and long days of planning, in the summer of 2023, a group of those dreamers and visionaries laid the foundation for the Romanian Community Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Why now or why only now? Honestly, I don’t think we would have succeeded 20 years ago – the capacity to understand American culture was very limited and overwhelming for a freshly arrived immigrant. Before we could put our vision into action, we had to grow, mature, and carefully listen to the need to connect, a real need that grows in each of us over the years, with varying intensities.

I like to believe that the desire to feel close and connected to one another is present in the people we choose to spend special moments with. Yes, I’m referring to all of you gathered here in this room, for whom this community center aims to create a unique experience.

As time goes by and as we get to know each other, you will discover exactly how we do what we do and why it is so important – and most importantly, how each of you can contribute! Here’s another thing to which all members of the executive committee and the director have wholeheartedly subscribed, because it is through community that we can build a solid foundation for the younger generation to carry forward our culture.

Our mission is to assist, educate, and inform those who want to grow and contribute.

Today is just the beginning. On behalf of the Center, I thank you for taking this step with us to build and strengthen what every community deserves: a legacy for future generations.”

Cornel Costea, Inauguration Speech (Romanian Community Center – December 1, 2023)

Ongoing Partnerships:

Our vision:

Have you ever wondered why it’s necessary for children in the diaspora to learn Romanian language within an organized framework?

We also wondered about this when we started the Romanian language program at RCC. In addition to emotional motivation and our roots, which should never be lost, there’s also the aspect of equal opportunities. In the current context of globalization and an almost universal job market, our children need to have the ability to choose. They are at an age where learning a language is easier than it is for adults, and that’s why we need to support them in getting to know, understanding themselves, their origins, their history, and being able to choose. Our experience so far demonstrates the most favorable results, and the consolidation and development of a teaching methodology applicable to all children in the Anglophone world who want to learn Romanian, the language of their ancestors, is necessary. This is what we focus on within the Romanian Language Program.

Tips from a specialist: three simple things to help your child learn and maintain the Romanian language:

1. Use the Romanian language at home – your child needs to hear the language at least 20-30% of the time in order to use it.
2. Consider enrolling your child in Romanian language courses, either online or in person – passive exposure alone is not sufficient.
3. Visit communities and places where Romanian is spoken (cultural events, informal family gatherings, church, etc.) – to expose children to a language and culture different from American, providing them with opportunities to explore new places and meet new friends.

Let’s help!

Be Santa Claus for a day – choose to donate $20 to underprivileged children at Mary’s Shelter and Opportunity House or to the elderly and lonely residents at Green Hills Nursing Home.

Proposed activities for 2024

1. Romanian Language Classes
2. Financial Education – January 2024
   1. College Admissions
   2. Assessing Admission Financial Offers
3. Career Coaching – How to Develop Professionally – January 2024
4. Business Field
   1. About Entrepreneurship – January 2024
   2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – January 2024
5. IT Classes
6. The Tradition of Caroling – December 2023
7. Arts & Crafts (Preparing Martisor)
8. Romanian Movie Night – Monthly Program

If you specialize in a particular field and would like to present a seminar, program, or class, we invite you to contact us at contactus@romaniansofpa.org.

Seminars are offered for free to members, but we suggest that participants who wish to do so, make a donation to the RCC organization.

Can you make a difference? Do you want to join us?

Upcoming Events

The Romanian Community Center organization is yours too!

All activities organized by the Romanian Community Center are made possible with the help of our community members and volunteers, as well as the financial support of sponsors and donors from Pennsylvania and Romania.

We aim to continue our involvement in a variety of projects, and that’s why we invite you to become members of our organization.  

We appreciate your patience and interest.

Our website undergoes frequent updates, we add new content, reorganize existing resources, and introduce new programs as they become available.

We value your interest in our ever-evolving platform.