Guests of Academy 2011
Bogdan Borusewicz
A Politician, since 1989, an MP in the I, II, III Sejm, and since 2005, the Speaker of the Senat. As an oppositionist in the PRL he was one of the five initiators of the Gdansk Shipyard strikes in August 1980, which led to the creation of Solidarność. After the imposition of Marshall Law on 13 December 1981, he spent almost four years in hiding, organising the structure of Solidarność.
Professor Andrzej Paczkowski
A Polish historian, President of the Council of the Institute of National Remembrance, and an alpinist. In the early 80’s he co-operated with the outlawed Solidarność and was a member of the Social Committee for Science. He is the author of 20 books about Poland’s modern history. He was also awarded the Prize of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), the Juliusz Mieroszewski Award, the Clio Prize and Prize of the Foundation for Polish Science.
Jerzy Borowczak
A Polish Politician, union member, and an MP of the III and VI Sejm. In 1979, he was a member of the Free Trade Unions of the Coast. In August 1980, he was one of the five initiators of the strikes in the Gdansk Shipyard and during the ‘Carnival of Solidarity’ he was an active trade union member. After the imposition of Marshal Law, on 13-16 December 1981, he participated in the strikes in the Gdansk Shipyard and later was arrested and interned in Iława.
Mirosław Chojecki
A publisher, film producer, and the creator and honorary chairman of the Association of Free Speech (Stowarzyszenie Wolnego Słowa). An oppositionist and co-founder of the Worker’s Defense Committee, he was involved in underground publications. A member of NSZZ Solidarność, he was arrested in 1980, and released after the signing of the August Agreements. Awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
Henryka Krzywonos – Strycharska
Oppositionist in the PRL. In August 1980, she was a leader of the public transport strikes on the coast. She was a member of the Presidium of the MKS in the Gdansk Shipyard and one of the signatories of the August Agreements. After the imposition of Martial Law in December 1981, she helped the interned and was distributing underground publications. Between 1994 and 2009, she was a foster-mother. She is also an active member of the Congress of Women.
Piotr Wołkowiński
An independent international expert advising NGO’s and local authorities on team creation and team management. A graduate from the University of London, he worked as a journalist in France and created ‘Solidarité avec Solidarność’ in Lens. For nearly 4 years he has been living in Poland and works towards building local communities in problematic areas of coastal cities, training people in citizenship and evaluation. He intends to develop programmes for the Pomeranian region intertwining the memories of its inhabitants, past and present.
Coaches:
Michał Łuczewski PhD
The Idea of Solidarity Workshops
A Doctor of sociology, a psychologist, and assistant professor at the Institute of Sociology at Warsaw University. He co-operates with the Centre for Social Studies, the Centre of the Thought of John Paul II and with the Warsaw Rising Museum. A board member of the Polish Civil Forum. The editor-in-chief of the sociological magazine ‘Stan Rzeczy’, co-editor of the magazine ‘44/Czterdzieści i Cztery’. He specialises in issues of national and European identity, social memory, Polish-German relationships and methodology of social sciences.
Wojciech Męciński
Social Change Workshops
A coach, trainer and expert in the field of Human Resources Management. He gained extensive managerial experience working for large international corporations. He has a degree in law, and also completed postgraduate studies in Psychology in Business and Human Resources Management. A Certified Coach, AC/DC Assessor and a Member of the International Coaching Community.
Krzysztof Stachura
Social Participation Workshops
A Sociologist, university lecturer and social researcher. He carries out projects in the field of anthropology of new technologies, sociology of culture and social research methodologies. Currently he is working on his PhD thesis on sociability in the digital age. A member of the group dedicated to the Sociology of Communication, Knowledge and Culture in the International Sociological Society, and the Branch of the Gdańsk Polish Sociological Society.
Agnieszka Wichrowska
History Workshops
A coach and methodologist of humanitarian education. She conducted workshops for students and teachers on issues relating to human rights, migration and sustainable development, in co-operation with the Foundation of Polish Humanitarian Action. Co-author of a series of publications for children, about the EU. Organiser of youth conferences and projects covering education and arts.
Jagna Kofta
History Workshops
A teacher and coach. She co-designs and implements educational programmes at the History Meeting House. She runs workshops about PRL, and the culture and history of Polish Jews. She has given lectures and training courses for teachers, organised by the History Meeting House, the Ministry of Education, the National in-service Teacher Training Centre, and the Public Education Office of the Institute of National Remembrance.