LOS ANGELES – The Greek Heritage Society of Southern California (GHS) is busy planning its 40th anniversary this year with a very special event that will take place on October 11 at the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture in collaboration with Loyola Marymount University’s Basil P. Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies. The focus of the event will be the thought-provoking question: “What can we do to continue preserving our Greek heritage, culture, and language and how can we keep the flame of Hellenism alive for generations to come?” This is the mission of the GHS, and they seek to open the door to new ideas and ways of embracing Hellenism to keep the love alive.
The GHS, a non-political, non-profit California corporation, was established in 1985 to preserve the rich culture, heritage and traditions of Greek immigrants in Southern California and is best known for its three award-winning GHS Documentaries, narrated by Olympia Dukakis: The Pioneers 1900-1942; The Promise of Tomorrow 1940-1960; and The New Greek Americans 1960-2018. GHS has also conducted close to 500 interviews telling the stories of the challenges, the transformations, and the accomplishments of three generations of the Greeks of Southern California, which will be part of a digital oral history library that can be accessed locally, nationally and internationally for educational and literacy purposes.
GHS has many exciting ideas to share and spectacular speakers lined up for its fall anniversary event, but their 39th anniversary celebration, the very successful and beloved ‘The Yiayia Project: Voices of a Generation’ will be hard to top. This unique story telling event about the pillars of the Greek family, inspired and amazed the audience with the heart-wrenching and heart-warming stories told about their Yiayia(des) through the eyes of daughters and granddaughters. The event took place on November 16th, at the Loyola Marymount University’s Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies in Los Angeles.
The evening began with a beautiful reception and a silent auction which was filled with spectacular prizes that included Greek musical, cultural, literary, and culinary experiences, as well as exciting prizes related to the Yiayia experience.
During the main portion of the event, captivating story tellers told about the challenges faced by their grandmothers as well as their successes and the impact they made on the lives of their children and grandchildren. One of the speakers, a Yiayia, read from her eloquently written autobiography, telling her amazing story of how she overcame incredible challenges and thrived. The event’s very talented speakers captured the hearts of everyone in the audience with their emotional stories.
The storytellers and organizers included Michele Patzakis, award-winning soprano, educator, and arts advocate; Doris Donlou-Richmond, dancer and director of Greek folk dance groups and Redondo Beach Educational Board Member; Maria C Cominis-Glaudini, actor, author, playwright, producer, professor; Bessie Karras-Lazaris, GHS President, Director of International Programs, editor, writer and co-creator and producer of the event; Sofia Lynch, GHS Secretary, actor, aspiring film-maker; and concept creator, director, and curator of the event; Alexia Haidos Itzigsohn, entrepreneur and creator; Mary-Kaye Demetriou, global advertising expert and director of community communications and marketing; Faye Demetriou, educator, philanthropy supporter, and former GHS member; Christina Bogdanou, Director, LMU Caloyeras Center for Modern Greek Studies, Vassy Karagiorgos, multi-platinum award-winning artist, and Anna Giannotis, GHS VP, actor, film director and co-curator, and videographer of the event.
Immersed in and entertained by the stories told by the engaging speakers, the audience was treated to some very special moments. Michelle Patzakis, award-winning soprano, mesmerized everyone in the room with a song she had composed in honor of her grandmother. Attendees also got a taste of handcrafted desserts. The storytellers sweetened up the evening with pastries created from their favorite recipes handed down from none other than their beloved Yiayiades.
The event was filled with fond memories and a renewed appreciation for the strength of these wonderful Yiayiades, who endured so many sacrifices to make a new life possible for their children and grandchildren. Although many are gone, their memory continues to impact the lives of those that follow.
The evening ended with many attendees leaving with prizes that they would not only enjoy but that would answer the question: “What are you doing to continue preserving your Greek heritage, culture, and language?”
For more answers and unique experiences, save the date: October 11 for the GHS 40th Anniversary at the UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center.
Bessie Karras-Lazaris is the President of the Greek Heritage Society, documentary film co-producer, editor, writer, translator, and co-creator and producer of the Yiayia Project.
