By Alicia Baca, CSEEES Outreach Coordinator

The Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies (CSEEES) partners with K–14 educators and their students to deliver outreach presentations. Occasionally, we have the chance to collaborate with other organizations—and those opportunities can be especially meaningful for both our audience and speakers. Earlier this year, I was invited to give a talk on the LGBTQIA+ community in Eastern Europe for Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA). That experience led to a second invitation to present to the parents of adoptees at the Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian (REECA) Heritage Camp in Westminster, CO.

For a bit of background, REECA is part of the Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families (HCAF), a nonprofit founded in 1992 to provide cultural immersion experiences for adoptive families. What began as a weekend gathering for families with children adopted from Korea has grown into nine annual camps serving over 1,000 families nationwide. Each year, REECA welcomes adoptees from Eastern Europe and Central Asia—primarily Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Russia and Ukraine—and connects families with cultural communities, adoption experts and opportunities to discuss shared experiences.

This wasn’t just an exciting professional opportunity, it was a deeply personal one. During my undergraduate and graduate years at the University of Colorado Boulder, I volunteered during the summers at REECA with CU’s Russian Studies faculty. Back then, I’d work with Dr. Vicki Grove (U. of Colorado Boulder), who also serves as a co-director of REECA, to put together educational presentations and folk craft activities for the younger adoptees to help them learn more about the culture and history of the countries they were adopted from. Being invited to return to REECA as a speaker felt like coming full circle. It was a true honor to present at the very place where I first discovered my passion for outreach work and made some of my earliest and most cherished memories in the field. 

My talk on Friday explored how queer people have always been a part of the region’s history, even if their stories have often been erased or obscured. From Soviet-era legacies to the influence of religion and the current political climate, each country’s journey toward inclusion has taken a different path. I highlighted both the ongoing challenges, like Russia’s anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and Poland’s recent political shifts, as well as signs of progress in places like Ukraine, Latvia, and Estonia, focusing on presenting the historical and political context as it stands.

One of the most meaningful parts of the presentation was showcasing the resilience and creativity of LGBTQIA+ communities in the region—how they’ve built spaces for joy, support, and resistance, whether through art festivals, Pride marches, or community cafés. I also shared the stories of queer historical and contemporary figures whose contributions continue to inspire. It was a powerful reminder that visibility, solidarity, and education matter, and I was honored to help bring these narratives to light. 

"Alicia's presentation was professional and interesting as many of our camp adoptees identify differently.  It was wonderful for her to share this topic." - REECA parent

I returned on Saturday to reconnect with CU faculty that I haven’t seen in a while and was able to talk more with a few of the parents. I also was given the opportunity to serve as a judge for the campers’ Cutthroat Kitchen cooking competition! This was a very fun way to meet some of the campers, and it was heartwarming to see them get so excited about presenting regional dishes that they had prepared. 

Being part of the REECA Heritage Camp this summer was truly a full-circle moment—one that reminded me why outreach matters so deeply. It was incredibly fulfilling to contribute to a space where cultural heritage, identity, and community are explored so thoughtfully, and to see how eager families and campers were to engage with these complex topics. Whether I was connecting with parents in meaningful conversations or cheering on young chefs during the cooking competition, the experience reminded me just how vital outreach can be. It’s through opportunities like this that we’re able to foster understanding, share stories we don't often hear, and build empathetic, informed communities. 

Alicia Baca, CSEEES Outreach Coordinator, holds an M.A. in Russian Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder and has conducted academic research on LGBTQIA+ and gender issues in Eastern Europe and Russia.