ROCO Chicago, the Romanian Community Center

08/22/2026

08/20/2026

2026
Application deadline August 25th
Awards ceremony September 26th, Washington DC

🌟 Every meaningful community project begins with people who choose to work together.

Across the diaspora, Romanian-American youth are organizing cultural events, leading service projects, mentoring younger students, promoting Romanian language and traditions, and finding creative ways to strengthen their communities.

These shared efforts deserve to be celebrated.

The Romanian Heritage Awards (RHA) recognize not only outstanding individuals, but also teams whose collaboration has created a meaningful and lasting impact.

Whether your project was organized through a Romanian school, church, cultural organization, student club, youth program, or community initiative, we invite you to share your story.

One student representative may submit the application on behalf of the team, with every contributing team member recognized for their role.
Preserving our heritage is rarely the work of one person—it is the result of a community working together.

📍 10th Edition
Washington, D.C. | September 26, 2026

🌐 Learn More & Apply:
https://romanianheritageawards.org/

Organized by FORA and its partner organizations, with the support of the Embassy of Romania in the United States.

08/07/2026

🚨 YOUR SECRETS ARE SAFE. YOUR SEAT IS NOT.

Tickets are still available for Dragoș: HOT GOSSIP at ROCO Chicago.

Come prepared with a secret, confession, controversial opinion, dating disaster, or a good story!

📅 Sunday, August 9
⏰ 7:00 PM

🎟️ Reserve your seat now: https://www.rocochicago.org/dragos_comedy_20260809

08/07/2026

💛 FROM ANA BANANA WITH LOVE — 3rd EDITION 🎗️

One child’s beautiful legacy continues to bring an entire community together.

This year, we gather again for the Ana Banana 5K Run/Walk & 1-Mile Fun Run — and every step carries an especially meaningful purpose.

💛 Funds raised through this year’s event will support two children currently battling pediatric cancer and their families.
Run, walk, bring your children, invite your friends - or come as a team. You don’t have to be a runner to make a difference.-you simply have to show up.

🎗️ One community united for two courageous children

📍 Linne Woods Forest Preserve
📅 September 12, 2026
🔗 Register: https://www.rocochicago.org/banana26

08/01/2026

- Audience Questions

🔥 WHICH CATEGORY WOULD PRODUCE THE BEST GOSSIP?

A. Dating disasters
B. Crazy families
C. Workplace drama
D. Neighbor problems
E. Nights out gone wrong
F. All of the above

Comment with your answer—but save the actual story for HOT GOSSIP with Dragoș.

📅 August 9 | 7:00 PM
📍 ROCO Chicago

🎟️ Tickets here: https://www.rocochicago.org/dragos_comedy_20260809

07/27/2026

You are...

• the one everyone calls first.
• the one who remembers birthdays.
• the one who solves problems.
• the one who keeps everything together.

But...
Who takes care of YOU?

Sometimes self-love isn't a spa day.
Sometimes it's simply giving yourself permission to breathe.

This July, give yourself 90 minutes that belong only to you.

💛 Join Teodora Marcu for two heart-centered workshops where you'll slow down, reflect, write, reconnect, and rediscover your own voice.
Real conversations. Real life.

📅 July 27–28
📍 ROCO Chicago
🇷🇴 Workshops held in Romanian
👥 Small gropu- RSVP required

07/21/2026

👀 WHAT IS THE WILDEST THING YOU KNOW THAT YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT KNOW?

Do not post it here.

Save it for Dragoș Comedy: HOT GOSSIP at ROCO Chicago.

Your anonymous secrets, confessions, dating disasters, family chaos, workplace scandals, and questionable decisions will become the inspiration for a fully improvised comedy show.

No script.
No two shows alike.
No guarantee your friends will remain calm:)

📅 Sunday, August 9
⏰ 7:00 PM

🎟️ Tickets: https://www.rocochicago.org/dragos_comedy_20260809

07/16/2026