Darek Barcikowski is the founder and managing partner of White Eagle Media where for over 12 years he has served as publisher of a series of Polish language newspapers published throughout the country. He has been a lifelong advocate for Polish - American involvement in civic affairs and public service. In 2008, Barcikowski launched the “Polonia Votes” project with a mission to get one million Polish Americans to the polls during the Presidential Elections.
Barcikowski serves as Executive Director of the American Polish Advisory Council, a Washington, DC based nonprofit representing political interests of the Polish American community and chairs a task force charged with admitting Poland to the Visa Waiver Program.
Barcikowski serves as Vice President of the Democratic National Committee’s Ethnic Coordinating Council, of which he has been a member since 2006. He has worked with various ethnic groups on community and political issues, including the Center on Media and Society at the University of Massachusetts which facilitates access to local government for over 100 ethnic media outlets in Boston.
Barcikowski ran for Salem City Council in 2011 and came in 70 votes short of being elected Councilor-at-Large.
In 2012, Barcikowski ran the National Polish - Americans for Obama Committee.
Barcikowski served as chair of the Salem Democratic Committee and in 2012 worked as campaign manager for a state Senate candidate in the 2nd Essex District in Massachusetts. In 2013 he worked on two US Senate campaigns in the capacity of a regional director and regional GOTV director and as campaign manager on the Boston mayoral race. During the 2014 election cycle, he managed a statewide ballot campaign and consulted for numerous candidates.
Barcikowski was the main organizer of a conference at Yale University in December of 2014 entitled: Poland’s Emerging Role in Shaping Global Security and the US-Polish Partnership, which featured prominent Polish American scholars, politicians, military experts and diplomats.
He has served on the boards of the Boys & Girls Club, Salem Main Streets, the Salem Education Foundation and the Rotary Club as well as the Polish American Communication Initiative National Advisory Council and the Polish American Council at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland in New York.
Barcikowski is a frequent lecturer on US-Polish relations and Polish American political engagement.
Barcikowski attended Boston Latin School, the oldest public school in the nation, the George Washington University and Northeastern University. He earned a certificate in Small Business Entrepreneurship from Boston University.
In his spare time Barcikowski enjoys learning about other cultures and foreign languages. His travels have taken him to over 40 countries on 5 continents.
Barcikowski and his family emigrated from Poland in 1987 when Darek was 9 years old. He was the first in his family to become a US Citizen.