Today we’d like to introduce you to Olena Kozlova-Pates.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Ukraine and was very fortunate to have the opportunity to study in the United States, where I met my husband of 27 years. After working in democracy development and international governance programs across Eastern Europe and in Washington, DC, we chose to make North Carolina our home nearly twenty years ago while raising our family.
In 2014, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, I joined with a group of Ukrainian-American friends to found Ukrainians in the Carolinas to help preserve Ukrainian culture in North Carolina and support the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom and independence. What began as a grassroots cultural organization evolved dramatically after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Since then, our work has focused heavily on humanitarian relief, refugee assistance, community integration, and supporting displaced Ukrainian families arriving in North Carolina.
Along the way, I have had the privilege of working with government agencies, nonprofits, universities, faith communities, local businesses, and civic leaders across North Carolina to coordinate humanitarian support efforts and build partnerships that strengthen both the Ukrainian and broader international community.
I am deeply grateful to the people of North Carolina for the compassion, generosity, and kindness they have shown to the people of Ukraine during some of the darkest moments in Ukraine’s history. The support received from across the state has been extraordinary and has helped displaced families feel welcomed, supported, and at home, and those in Ukraine – feel not alone in their fight for freedom.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The past several years have been especially difficult. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there has been an emotional weight that is hard to fully describe. Like many Ukrainians living abroad, I have spent countless days and nights worrying about family members, friends, and communities under attack while simultaneously trying to organize humanitarian support efforts here in North Carolina.
At the same time, those challenges also revealed the incredible generosity and compassion of people across North Carolina. Communities, churches, universities, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and ordinary families stepped forward in extraordinary ways to support Ukrainians during a very painful time. That support reminded me how much can be accomplished when people come together with empathy and purpose.
Looking back, the struggles strengthened my belief in the importance of community, resilience, and human connection. Even in difficult moments, I have been continually inspired by the kindness of others and by the determination of people who refuse to give up hope.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Over the years, I have worked in the fields of civil society, public policy, humanitarian assistance, and international development after earning my Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University. My work has focused on building partnerships, managing complex humanitarian and governance initiatives, and helping connect communities across cultures during times of crisis and transition.
Most recently, I served as Deputy Project Director for IREX, overseeing U.S. State Department-funded humanitarian and stabilization programs supporting veterans and vulnerable populations.
I am especially known for bringing people together and building bridges between communities that might not otherwise connect. One accomplishment I am particularly proud of has been helping strengthen relationships between Ukrainian and American veterans, creating opportunities for dialogue, mutual support, and shared understanding rooted in service, resilience, and freedom.
I am also proud of the work we have done through Ukrainians in the Carolinas to promote Ukrainian culture, history, and innovation across the United States. Especially since 2022, Ukraine has become not only a symbol of freedom and resilience, but also a global center of technological advancement, innovation, and modern defense capabilities. Helping Americans better understand Ukraine’s culture, democratic spirit, and technological leadership during this historic moment has been deeply meaningful to me.
What sets me apart is the combination of international policy and humanitarian experience with deeply personal community-based work. I understand both the strategic and human side of crisis response — from managing complex programs and partnerships to helping individual families navigate displacement, integration, and recovery. Throughout my work, the goal has always been the same: helping people build stronger communities, preserve dignity, and create meaningful human connections across cultures.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is waking up every morning grateful for another day and knowing that my family and friends in Ukraine made it safely through another night despite the daily Russian attacks. That gratitude has changed my perspective on life and taught me not to take ordinary moments for granted.
I am also incredibly proud of my children and the compassionate young people around them who choose to serve others and care deeply about making the world better. Seeing hope, empathy, and resilience in the next generation gives me a great deal of optimism for the future.
I’m deeply touched by the kindness of strangers who continue to support Ukraine and help displaced families during such a painful time. The generosity I’ve witnessed from people across North Carolina and the United States has been extraordinary and reminds me how powerful community and human connection can be.
On a more personal level, happiness for me can also be found in simple moments — spending time with our Labradoodle, Millie, cooking traditional Ukrainian borsch for my family, gathering around the table together, and staying connected to the culture and traditions that shaped me.
And, of course, I dream every day of a free, peaceful, and victorious Ukraine. That hope continues to inspire so much of what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ukrainiansinthecarolinas.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/937155979649761
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olenakozlovapates/
