The most important source of support for Finnish culture in the United States |
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Photo by Torspo Media, Unsplash
HERE'S TO 2022!
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warnermusic.fi
Did You Know...
...that Finnish musician J. Karjalainen, who has been called “the Bruce Springsteen of Finland,” recently released a new single, Oulu, Wisconsin?
The song is his first release since 2018. In the Finnish lyrics he describes the Wisconsin town’s landscape and people, exclaiming that “this could be in Finland.”
Oulu, Wisconsin was indeed established by mostly Finnish immigrants in 1904, though Swedish, German, Norwegian and other European immigrants were also among the early homesteaders.
Volunteers at The Oulu Cultural & Heritage Center, a 2015 FFN grant recipient, have spent years relocating and restoring area buildings, creating a community center that preserves and shares the history and culture of Oulu and the surrounding area.
By Mirva Johnson
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New
Year Greetings:
We welcome 2022 with excitement about the possibilities that await on the road ahead.
And, enthusiasm for our inaugural National Sauna Week is building steam! Chapters are planning a variety of activities for the week of February 20-26, 2022.
We are currently reviewing the grant proposals that we received for 2022---it's fascinating to see the creativity and passion behind the projects related to Finland and Finnish America.
Next, we hear from students in all fields as they apply for FFN scholarships (February 1 is the deadline).
Thank you for your ongoing support of our projects and mission to support Finnish culture in the U.S.
Anne-Mari Paster
President
ampaster @ rcn. com
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SIBELIUS ACADEMY ESTABLISHES
ELSA BRULE GLOBAL MUSIC CENTER
Finlandia Foundation is pleased to announce a new partnership with the the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki. FFN is managing funding of a five-year, million-dollar gift from New York philanthropist Elsa Brule (left), which will allow expansion of the Academy's 10-year-old Global Music Program.
The new Elsa Brule Center for Global Music and Community Engagement will build on the Global Music Program to encourage intercultural dialogue and collaboration in Finland and around the world, including with Native American communities.
Benefactor Elsa Brule, who is of Finnish descent and grew up in Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula, became interested in Sibelius Academy on a visit to Helsinki and Ainola, the home of Jean Sibelius in Järvenpää, Finland. In addition to her work with Sibelius Academy, she is a generous donor to Finlandia Foundation.
“We look forward to the possibility of future collaborations that are compatible with our mission to elevate Finnish culture in the U.S., and the appreciation of Finland’s many contributions of yesterday and today,” says FFN President Anne-Mari Paster.
Elsa Brule photo by Rick Guidotti
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MY AMERICAN DREAM WITH KIRSTI CHOU
My American Dream, the interview program hosted by Michel Wendell, introduces Finnish and Finnish-American entrepreneurs and their paths to success in the U.S.
Today, Michel chats with climate tech investor Kirsti Chou, a native of Finland. The San Francisco resident shares her experience, from her start at Nokia to her current work as an angel investor focusing on tech companies with a positive impact on climate and the environment.
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The inaugural National Sauna Week, set for February 20-26, 2022, will be a virtual and in-person celebration of the traditional Finnish bath.
FFN has planned a week of online programming, and its affiliated organizations are hosting events for their chapter members and communities.
Photo by Anne Nygärd
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FINLANDIA U NAMES MAKI FAHC DIRECTOR |
David Maki, who has worked at Finlandia University's Finnish American Heritage Center for more than 20 years, has been named director of FAHC. He had been interim director since Jim Kurtti retired from the top post in spring 2021.
“Our mission hasn’t and won’t change,” says David. “We will do what is necessary to remain the premier center for Finnish-American and Finnish history and culture in North America.”
The FAHC houses the world’s largest and oldest collections of Finnish-American archive materials and works of art, and hundreds of museum pieces. It’s the site of the Martha Wiljanen Community Hall and the Finlandia University Gallery, and is the home of the monthly international newspaper The Finnish American Reporter, which is managed and edited by David. In October, he accepted the FFN Award of Excellence for the publication (above).
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FFN Seeks Lecturer of the Year 2022-2023
Application Deadline is February 11
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Finlandia Foundation National is a non-profit, independent, 501(c)(3) organization that counts on your contributions to help us with our mission to support Finnish America and Finnish culture in the U.S.
Your gift to FFN is tax deductible and matched dollar-for-dollar by a generous grant from the Paloheimo Foundation (up to $100,000 annually). Won't you make a contribution today?
Thank you for your support! Kiitos!
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February 1: Scholarship and Lindfors Law Scholarship application deadline
April 30: Salolampi Language Village FFN funds requests due
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Your online shopping can benefit FFN! Amazon will direct .5% of your qualifying purchases to FFN. Click: AmazonSmile
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