Far from Romania but deeply connected to it, the nearly 10,000-strong Romanian community in Sacramento, California has built a vibrant space of belonging where language, traditions, faith and solidarity keep national identity alive.
At the heart of this life stands the Romanian Community Center of Sacramento (RCCS), a non-profit and apolitical organization celebrating 25 years of activity. Founded in 2001, the center emerged at a time when unity and cultural representation were vital for Romanians in the area. From the beginning, it was dedicated to promoting traditions, supporting families and organizing cultural and social events.
Artist Abigaila Budac, born in Bihor and known on stage as Abigail Budak, has been central to this effort. She coordinated the Cultural Department until 2013, then became president of the center, continuing to bring people together around music, art and national values. For her, community means more than geographic proximity - it is language, culture, faith and a deep sense of belonging. Families have created a framework where values are passed down, children grow up speaking Romanian, and customs and history remain alive.
Among the most cherished events is the Romanian Carol Festival, where groups of carolers, vocalists and instrumentalists perform traditional songs. Each January, Romanian Culture Day is marked with literary evenings dedicated to Mihai Eminescu, blending poetry, music and community spirit. Easter concerts, sports picnics, health seminars and meetings with Romanian-American business leaders complete the calendar, encouraging dialogue and mutual support.
The center also hosts performances by established artists from Romania, offering Sacramento audiences authentic cultural experiences. The pinnacle of these efforts is the Romanian Festival in Sacramento, now in its 20th edition, which draws more than 6,000 participants and has become the largest Romanian festival on the West Coast. Through music, dance, gastronomy and art, it builds a cultural bridge between Romania and the United States.
A moment with special patriotic charge remains the celebration of the Little Union. Each year on January 24, Romanians gather in Sacramento to join the Union Ring Dance, symbolically recreating the spirit of 1859 on American soil. This year's guest will be hammer dulcimer artist Catalin Iancu, adding musical resonance to the event.
The community's openness extends beyond Romanians. Moldovans from the Republic of Moldova and Americans interested in Romanian culture regularly attend events, turning them into genuine spaces for dialogue and cultural exchange.
Abigaila Budac herself embodies this bridge. With a warm, expressive voice, she has earned recognition on both Romanian and Romanian-American stages. She composes and sings across genres - classical pop, folk, ethno, ballads and Christian music - and has performed at major festivals in the United States, cultural and official events, and tours in Romanian communities across North America. In Romania, she has appeared on prestigious stages such as the Bucharest Palace Hall, confirming her appreciation on both continents. On Romania's National Day, she dedicated a song to gymnast Nadia Comaneci, a gesture that moved audiences deeply.
Supported by her husband Ionel and their children Boris and Athena, Budac has built bridges between generations and traditions. "Every project and every event is the result of collaboration, shared involvement and the desire to build something sustainable together for the Romanian-American community. When passion meets responsibility and teamwork, the community becomes a family, and culture - a way of life," she says.
The Romanian community in Sacramento thus proves that national identity knows no borders. Romania continues to exist wherever Romanians remain united, even far from their homeland. "We are a living community, united and built on personal involvement, family and continuity. We, the Romanian diaspora in Sacramento, are proof that Romanian identity can be preserved with dignity, lived day by day and shared with pride, when people live with the feeling of unity, of fraternity, and believe in the power of culture," Budac affirms.
Events and projects are promoted online through the official website and social media pages of the Romanian Community Center of Sacramento at www.romaniancentersacramento.org, ensuring visibility and connection with the wider public.
Through its activities - from carols and poetry to the Little Union dance and the Romanian Festival - the Sacramento community demonstrates that identity, culture and solidarity can thrive across oceans. It is a living testimony that Romania's spirit endures wherever its people carry it in their hearts.
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