Festivali Shqiptar në Waterbury Ct, ftesë për të gjithë shqiptarët e Amerikës.

Harry Bajraktari/

A Call to the Albanian-American Community: Let us come together to pay our final tribute to one of the greatest friends the Albanian people ever had — Congressman Eliot Engel.

President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congressman Ritchie Torres, together with many United States Senators, Members of Congress, New York State leaders, and New York City local officials, will attend the memorial ceremony honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Eliot Engel.

Your presence at this ceremony honors our community and our values. Albanians are forever grateful to those who stood with us. Let us honor Congressman Engel and the sacred friendship between the Albanian people and the United States of America.

Please share this message so more people are notified and can join us for this important event.

Gino Mulliqi/

Tonight was one of those moments that truly hits you in the heart. I had the honor of being sworn in for another 3 year term serving the City of Wylie, and I am incredibly humbled and grateful to once again be chosen by my fellow council members to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.

On nights like this, you cannot help but sit back and think about life, about the journey, about the people who helped you along the way, and about how blessed you truly are.

I think back to being a 13 year old boy during the war in Kosova. There were nights filled with fear and uncertainty, nights where families did not know what tomorrow would bring or if there would even be a tomorrow. Back then, I could have never imagined that one day I would come to the United States as an exchange student in Oregon, move to New York to be close to family and finish my studies, build a career at Verizon, meet my amazing wife, raise beautiful children, build a business, and eventually have the privilege of serving in public office in Wylie, Texas.

That is why I will always believe with all my heart that the American Dream is alive and well. This country gave me opportunities I never thought were possible. America gave me a chance. Wylie gave me a home.

I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to live in a country where a kid who came from war and uncertainty can grow up to raise a family, own a business, and help serve the community he loves. That is something I will never take for granted. Ever.

To the citizens of Wylie, thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in me. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to help make decisions for our city and our future. I promise to continue working hard every single day for this community.

To my fellow council members, thank you for your confidence and friendship. Being selected again as Mayor Pro Tem means more to me than I can put into words.

And to my family, thank you for being my rock through it all. Thank you for every prayer, every sacrifice, every word of encouragement, every late night, and every moment of love and support you have given me throughout this journey. None of this would ever be possible without you standing beside me.

I also want to thank every single person who has been part of my life and my journey. Friends, family, mentors, coworkers, customers, teachers, neighbors, and so many others who helped shape me into the man I am today. God knows I have made mistakes along the way, and I still learn every single day, but I truly try to become a better husband, father, friend, business owner, and public servant every year of my life.

Tonight my heart is just full. Full of gratitude. Full of pride. Full of love for this country and for this community.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Wylie.

Albanian Roots/

Ngjarja më madhështore e shqiptarëve në Amerikë, “Parada Shqiptare”, ka nisur aktivitetet për organizimin e këtij viti, duke bërë bashkë gjithë shoqatat shqiptare. Kësaj radhe, takimi u mbajt në selinë e Shoqatës “Peja” në Bronx, ku u diskutua për mënyrën e organizimit dhe detajet që do ta bëjnë këtë vit edhe më të veçantë e madhështor.

Më 20 qershor, kryeqendra e botës, Nju Jorku, do të stoliset kuq e zi. Në rrugët kryesore të tij do të parakalojë e gjithë shqiptaria: nga Shkodra në Prishtinë, nga Tuzi në Strugë, nga Presheva në Prevezë, Dibra Tirana, Ulqini e kudo ku ka shqiptarë.

Ky është një projekt që kërkon shumë punë dhe përkushtim, por që çdo vit përcjell një mesazh të fuqishëm uniteti, duke paraqitur traditën, vlerat kulturore dhe historike të kombit shqiptar. Të gjithë janë të mirëseardhur të shijojnë atmosferën kuq e zi, ushqimet tradicionale dhe krenarinë e të qenit shqiptar.

Të gjitha organizatat vendosën njëzëri që kryefjala e këtij viti të jetë “Gjuha Shqipe”, duke dhënë një mesazh të qartë e të drejtpërdrejtë për rëndësinë e saj dhe për domosdoshmërinë e ruajtjes nga çdo përpjekje për ta cenuar atë.

Takimi i radhës i grupit punues u caktua për më 19 maj.

Celebrating Albanian Heritage Day, on Sunday the 7th of June regardless of rain or shine.