Our History

1974 - The first family from the former Soviet Union arrived in Kansas City. It was a family of Jewish refugees, and they were resettled by the Jewish Federation.

1979 - The first attempt to found a Russian Club was made. A membership fee of $5 per person was collected, but after one meeting Club never met again.

1998, April 26 - The decision to found a Russian newspaper was made during a meeting with the Managing Editor of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle.

1998, July 1 - The first issue of the Voice of Russians was published. It was a 10-page issue printed with two pages on each side of a 17" x 11" folded sheet of paper.

1998, July 16 - The first issue of the Voice of Russians was introduced to the public during a meeting of 61 immigrants at an Overland Park park at 81st & Santa Fe. The first editors were elected.

1998, September 1 - A 10-page Russian edition of our newspaper, Голос Иммигранта, was published and distributed through two Russian grocery stores in a quantity of 100 copies.

1998, October 1 - A 6-page Russian edition was published and distributed in a quantity of 100 copies.

1998, November 1 - The first professionally-printed newspaper in a quantity of 6,000 copies was published. Actually, it was a package of 3 newspapers: Voice of Russians in English for the Jewish Community, Voice of Russians in English for the open public, and Голос Иммигранта in Russian for immigrants.

1999, September - A picnic for immigrants with Christian roots.

1999, September - A picnic for all immigrants.

1999, September - The first Bible class was held.

1999, September - 2000, May - A Russian Club with an open agenda was held.

2000, September - December - English as a Second Language classes were held.

2001, February - May - English/Russian language individual classes were held.