The Greek Star

CHICAGO, IL — The National Hellenic Museum, in collaboration with the Hellenic Bar Association, will host a special evening with Ambassador Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, organizer of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Angelopoulos will discuss her experience organizing the 2004 Athens Olympics and her new book, My Greek Drama: Life, Love, and One Woman’s Olympic Effort to Bring Glory to Her Country. The presentation will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the National Hellenic Museum located at 333 South Halsted Street, Chicago. The event is free with Museum admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/students, $7 for children under three, and free for children under three. Museum members are free.

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki’s new book presents an in-depth account of her remarkable life growing up on the historic island of Crete and rising to become an international leader. The book also explores the paths Greece might follow in its efforts to solve the nation’s pressing economic and social upheavals. Proceeds from this book will go to support youth and education initiatives in Greece and abroad.

President Bill Clinton stated, “From Crete to Athens and Zurich to London, Gianna Angelopoulos has made a career of turning ideas into action.  In My Greek Drama, Gianna recounts her successes—as a dedicated public servant, rescuer of the 2004 Olympic Games, and devoted mother of three—and presents a useful guide for those who seek to transform lives, organizations, and even nations.”

COURTESY: NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM

DES PLAINES, ILL.---Although March came in like a lion this year, a little cold and snow didn’t stand in the way of Plato Academy’s first annual Apokriatiko Glendi. The dinner dance, which was organized by the school’s PTO, was a huge success, bringing past, present and future generations of Plato students together for a night of family entertainment, dinner, dancing and more. The event took place on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Rosewood Banquets in Rosemont, Ill.

In Greece, the end of winter brings the carnival season where people celebrate the upcoming springtime and the Lenten period preceding Easter. In this spirit Plato Academy families, friends and alumni gathered to celebrate Apokries with a masquerade dinner dance. Plato Academy is a Greek-American school with a diverse student body, and the most remarkable aspect of the evening was that people of different ethnic backgrounds came together to participate in this Greek tradition.

The evening’s entertainment included activities for both children and adults. Kids of all ages enjoyed face painting, a clown, and even participated in a costume parade and glow stick dance. One of the highlights of the evening was the Samba dance performance by “The Swayzettes,” an all-ladies dance group from the studio Sway Dance Chicago. After their performance, the dancers lead the crowd to Latin beats while teaching a few new steps. Everyone was on the dance floor at this event.

Plato students played a central role in the event; their artwork was auctioned to help fundraise for the school, and crafts were used to decorate the venue for the dance. In addition, the PTO organized a grand raffle, as well as mini raffles of donated prizes and gift baskets put together by each class at Plato Academy. The students also had prepared Greek folk dances under the direction of Mr. Andreas Kalasountas. Their performance in their costumes reminded everyone of an authentic Apokriatiko Glendi in Greece.

COURTESY: PLATO ACADEMY

Golfo Alexopoulos, a professor at the University of South Florida in Tampa, received the outstanding faculty award. She is completing her second book, "Human Raw Material: Health and Inhumanity in Stalin's Gulag." Alexopoulos also received a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support her research and writing on the book.

Chicago, Ill.---Mr. Chris Tomaras, Chairman of the PanHellenic Scholarship Foundation, has been selected to be the Grand Marshal of the Greek Independence Day Parade in Chicago. "It is an honor and a privilege to serve on this post and I invite all my friends to join me in this celebration for Greece," said Mr. Tomaras.

The annual celebration of Greek Independence and ethnic pride will take place on Sunday, April 14, 2013 on Halsted Street, between Monroe and Van Buren, in the heart of Chicago's Greektown. The starting point is the corner of Randolph and Halsted at 2:30pm sharp.

If you're in Chicago, wear your blue and white and join in on the festivities.

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Annoula Dritsas is a professional plus size model, social media consultant and philanthropist based out of New York City. I recently talked with her about body image, being a Greek goddess and her favorite role model.

On March 30, at the Meridian Banquets, the Neo Kyma Messinias celebrated the 192nd anniversary of the liberation of Kalamata from the Turkish occupiers on March 23, 1821.  Kalamata was the first city in Greece to be liberated during the Greek Revolution.

WASHINGTON, DC—The American Hellenic Institute Foundation (AHIF) is accepting applications for its travel abroad program aimed to help Greek American college students better understand the core foreign policy issues important to the Greek American community. The program is open to Greek American and Cypriot American college students who are in good academic standing and who are studying political science, international relations, history, government, law and foreign affairs. The 2013 trip is scheduled for June 19 - July 5. Call (202) 785-8430 or visit www.ahiworld.org

The Greek Star spoke with Christine Gialamas, who is changing the way people view their bodies and their minds.

Can you tell me a little about yourself.  Where do you come from, and what do you do?

I grew up in Tinley Park with a sister, Deby and two brothers Tommy and Michael. I lost my brother Tommy a little over 9 years ago. I currently work for Chicago Public Schools at Hammond Elementary, and I am also a fitness instructor for Xsport Fitness. I have two grown sons, one who is attending Western Illinois University. He plans to go in the armed forces after graduation. He really wants to jump out of helicopters!