Preparations are in full swing for Madison’s 5th annual Ukraine Fest, scheduled for Aug. 22 at Olin Park, but event planning is tinged with anxiety as the Ukrainian community awaits a decision from the Trump administration on whether to extend temporary protected status to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees in the U.S.
That decision, which must be made by Aug. 20, determines whether many event volunteers from the nonprofit Friends of Ukraine- Madison Inc. will be able to stay in the U.S. as Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, according to Ruslana Westerlund, president of the group.
The organization said the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program, which legally brought them here, ends in October.
“We have a close-knit Ukrainian community in the Madison area who are always proud to share our culture at Ukraine Fest,” Westerlund said in a press release. “For war refugees who have made a home here over the last four years — opening businesses, making friends, excelling in school, joining clubs — Ukraine Fest is an opportunity to thank the community that welcomed them.
“This year we hope that Ukraine Fest will also be a celebration of TPS being approved for Ukrainian refugees.”
