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Finnish
Happenings and News
See what else is happening
while we wait for FinnFunn 2021
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Finlandia
Foundation
National
Happy
Mother's Day
Hyvää Äitienpäivää
Sunday, May 9
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
What's So Funny?
Saturday, April 17, 2021 -
8:00pm (Eastern)
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Salolampi Finnish Language
Village
Funding application deadline
is May 31
(click
here for more info and
Application form) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Soiva Music Camp 2021 -
Virtual
Deadline is May 1
(click
here for more info and
Application form) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
News of Finnish America -
Marraskuu/March 2021
(click
here) |
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Finnish-American
Society of Cape Cod
Hilaryjoy
Virtanen will present a
program on Kalevala
Contact
Marilyn Lariviere for Zoom
Details
mlariv@comcast.net
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Finnish
American Heritage Society,
Canterbury, CT
Kalevala Day 2021
(YouTube)
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Finnish Blueberry Coffee Cake
Finn cooks - Soile Anderson &
Eleanor Ostman
(click
here) |
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Tax
Reporting in the U.S. and
Finland
for
Dual Residents
March
9, 2021 Webinar
(click
here) |
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Finland In
The US
Newsletter, 2/2021
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Soiva Music Camp Concert
December 21, 2020
(click
here for video) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Education in Finland
Two-part Webinar Via Zoom
January 12 and 19, 2021
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Beautiful Music of the Season
Performed by
Jussi Makkonen and Nazig
Azezian
(click
here) |
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Historical
Society of Cheshire County
“Sirkka” is a documentary film
about the life of Sirkka Tuomi
Holm (1920-2020)
December 3 – 12, 2020
(click
here) |
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Finland In
The US
Newsletter, 3/2020
(click
here) |
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Finlandia
Foundation National
News of Finnish America -
Marraskuu/November 2020
(click
here)
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Finlandia
Foundation National
Meet Mikko Nissinen
(click
here) |
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Happy Mother's Day
Hyvää
Äitienpäivää
Sunday, May 9
Jussi
and Nazig in
Järvenpää at
Ainola, the
home of Jean
and Aino
Sibelius. Photo
by Joel Kangas
Welcome
to Our Coffee
Concerts
Kahvikonsertti
This
special
program of
Finlandia
Foundation
National is
dedicated to
all mothers,
especially to
those of
Finnish
descent.
During this
exceptional
time, the
Coffee Concert
is an event
that unites
generations.
From
Nurmes,
Finland,
cellist Jussi
Makkonen and
pianist Nazig
Azezian
perform
beautiful
compositions,
including Valse
Lente, Op. 33
by Oskar
Marikanto, Salut
d'amour, Op.
12
by Edward
Elgar, Finnish
and Estonian
Folk Songs,
and pieces by
Jean Sibelius.
The performers
have brought
the music of
Sibelius to
hundreds of
thousands of
listeners of
all ages in
Finland and
abroad.
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Greetings
from Special
Guests
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President
Tarja Halonen
Finlandia
Foundation
National is
honored that
the former
president of
Finland
welcomes our
audience and
extends a warm
and personal
Mother's Day
greeting.
Seela
Sella
The
beloved
Finnish
actress joins
us with a
touching
poetry reading
for this
special
concert.
Seela is
known for her
captivating
roles
including as
Aino Sibelius,
wife of the
composer, in
Timo
Koivusalo's
2003 film Sibelius.
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Coffee
Concerts are a
feature of Finnposium, the
online
symposium of
chats,
webinars,
musical and
other programs
offered
compliments of
Finlandia
Foundation
National.
Learn
more at
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With
your generous
contributions,
Finlandia
Foundation is
able
to support
and share the
rich history
and
contemporary
culture of
Finland and
Finnish
America. Your
gift is
matched
dollar-for-dollar
by the
Paloheimo
Foundation (up
to $100,000
annually). FFN
is a 501(c)(3)
organization.
Thank
You! Kiitos!
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What's
So Funny?
Saturday,
April 17
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Join
Los
Angeles-based
actors
Miska
Kajanus and
Nina Sallinen
in a
live-streamed
Comedy
Improv Special
that takes an
entertaining
look at
humor
in the U.S.
and Finland.
Nina
and Miska will
improvise a
skit based on
interviews
with
two
Finnish-Americans
they've never
before met.
The
interactive
show is
brought to you
via YouTube
by
Finlandia
Foundation
National at
8
p.m.
(Eastern),
Saturday,
April 17
followed
by an audience
Q & A
The
program is
free, but you
must register
at the link
below.
You
will receive
the
instructions
on how to
participate.
To
ask a question
at the Q &
A,
you
must be logged
into your
YouTube
account when
the show
begins.
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Finnposium
is our online
symposium of
chats,
webinars,
musical and
other programs
offered by FFN
on YouTube.
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The
Most Important
Source of
Support for
Finnish
Culture in the
United States
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iittala
glass photo by
Elina
Sirparanta
courtesy
VisitFinland.com
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Did
You Know...
...that
you can hear
15 Finnish
songs that
were recorded
in California
in 1939 as
part of a
Works Progress
Administration
project?
Sidney
Robertson
Cowell
(above), an
ethnographer
and collector
of traditional
American music
recorded, on
acetate discs,
American folk
songs and
those of 15
ethnic groups.
In
Central
Valley, Shasta
County, she
made audio
recordings of
vocalists
Celia
Koljonen, Fina
Petersen and
Mary Salonen,
who
contributed
five songs
with titles
like “Saturday
Night,” “Rocky
Hills” and
“Deep in the
Forest.”
In
Berkeley, John
Soininen
belted out
“Sailor’s
Drinking Song”
and nine other
tunes
including
“Don’t Cry,
Mother.”
To
download or
listen to the
music and read
more about the
project, click
here.
Library
of Congress
photo
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Happy
Spring!
We
are learning
from Finlandia
Foundation
chapters that
there is a
sense of
optimism and a
hope that they
will be able
to return to
in-person
gatherings in
the
not-too-distant
future. While
many have
turned to
virtual
meetings and
programs,
nothing
compares to
getting
together to
socialize and
enjoy music,
films,
lectures,
craft fairs,
language
classes,
pannukakku
brunches and
Midsummer
celebrations.
During
this time of
separation, we
have been
concerned
about the
segment of our
membership
that may not
have internet
access or
aren’t
comfortable
using it, and
have not been
able to stay
connected. We
hope that
there is
outreach to
members to
involve as
many as
possible.
Are
you a
Finnish-American
or individual
who is
interested in
Finnish
culture, but
do not belong
to a chapter?
Please click
here for a
list
of
organizations
that are
affiliated
with FFN, or
consider
joining FFN as
an individual
member; click
here for
details.
We
would love to
know which
organizations
currently have
oral history
programs to
preserve the
knowledge and
stories of
Finnish
America, or
are planning
to record
these stories
when it’s safe
to do so.
Please email
us at the
address below
with the
status of your
project.
We
are offering a
robust variety
of virtual,
free events in
addition to
our
traditional
grants and
scholarships,
Soiva Music
Camp and
financial
support for
students
attending
Salolampi
Finnish
Language
Village. And
we have
exciting, new
programs
coming soon
(see below).
Fortunately,
your financial
support
indicates that
these efforts
seem to be
appreciated.
Your gifts are
essential to
our ability to
share the rich
history and
contemporary
culture of
Finland and
Finnish
America.
With
sincere
thanks,
Anne-Mari
Paster
President
ampaster
@ rcn. com
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My
American Dream
and the Grammy
Connection
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In the
monthly FFN
program My
American Dream, tech
investor
Michel Wendell
chats with
Finnish and
Finnish-American
entrepreneurs
who are
pursuing
success in the
U.S.
On
Thursday,
March 25,
Michel and
Eero
Teerikorpi
talk about
entrepreneurship.
My
American Dream
has a Grammy
connection!
The program's
intro and
closing music
was written by
Finnish
songwriter and
producer Jonas
W.
Karlsson---now
of LA---who
produced and
was a writer
on "U Move, I
Move" on the
2021
Grammy-winning
John Legend
album Bigger
Love.
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Chapter
Spotlight:
Copper
Country,
Michigan
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Home of
Heikinpäivä
Finnish
migration to
Michigan’s
Upper
Peninsula
began in the
late 1800s,
when men came
to work in the
booming copper
and iron
mines. The
Finns were the
largest of
several ethnic
groups in
“Copper
Country,” and
remain a
presence
today; the
region claims
the highest
population of
people of
Finnish
descent in the
U.S.
That
heritage is
evident in the
City of
Hancock, the
gateway to the
Keweenaw
Peninsula and
the once-rich
copper mining
area. It's
also home of Finlandia
University,
which was
founded as
Suomi College
in 1896.
Street signs
are in Finnish
and English
and the major
annual
festival is
January’s Heikinpäivä,
an
indoor-outdoor
celebration
featuring
traditional
foods, music,
tori, sports
and parade.
Hancock
has hosted
FinnFest USA
three
times---in
1985, 1990 and
2013---and is
a Sister City
to Porvoo,
Finland.
Kivajat, a
folk dance
group of the
Theme
Committee with
about 40
youngsters
ages 5-17,
performs in
costume
throughout the
area. Kivajat
has also
traveled to
Finland, and
Finlandia
Foundation
happily
assisted with
grant funds.
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Finnish
Theme
Committee
of
Hancock
The
Finnishness of
the area
wasn’t always
as visible or
something
widely
celebrated.
Finnish
American
Heritage
Center
Director James
“Jim” Kurtti,
who is also
Finland’s
Honorary
Consul,
explains that
in the 1980s
there was
grant money
available to
small cities
to develop
programs along
themes.
“There
were public
meetings to
get input from
the community,
and only
Finnish people
showed up.
That’s why we
have the
peculiar name
(Finnish Theme
Committee of
Hancock).”
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Joint
Chapter
Meeting
Scheduled for
Tuesday, April
27
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Leaders
of Finlandia
Foundation's
affiliated
organizations
are invited to
attend the
quarterly
virtual Joint
Chapter
Meeting via
Zoom at 8 p.m.
(Eastern),
Tuesday, April
27.
If
you have a
specific topic
you'd like to
discuss,
please forward
it to Maria
Voltaine at
office@finlandiafoundation.org
and watch for
an email with
details about
the meeting.
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FFN
Hosts New
Monthly
Interview
Program
|
For her
new program In
Conversation, Maria
Voltaine of
Finlandia
Foundation
National chats
with Philip
Bailey, a
robotic
systems
engineer with
the NASA Jet
Propulsion
Laboratory in
California.
Phil is
on the Flight
Systems team
supporting the
robotic
arm of the
Mars 2020
Perseverance
Rover. The
Finnish-American
grew up near
Boston and has
B.S. and M.S.
degrees in
Electrical and
Computer
Engineering
from Carnegie
Mellon
University.
Watch
for an email
announcement
of the In
Conversation
YouTube launch
date!
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FFN's
Soiva Music
Camp, usually
held at
Concordia
College in
Moorhead,
Minnesota,
will this year
host online
classes for
instrumental
students over
three days in
June.
Details
are still
being
finalized;
watch for
updates at:
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FFN is
offering
financial
assistance to
students
attending
virtual or
residential
Salolampi
Language
Village this
summer.
For
details:
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In the
next Finlandia
Foundation
Coffee
Concert,
violinist Liisa
Makkonen (far
left) joins
cellist Jussi
Makkonen and
pianist Nazig
Azezian in a
selection of
"Hungarian
Dances."
The
lively program
will launch on
the FFN
YouTube
channel
Saturday,
March 27.
Watch for
details in an
email soon. To
view previous
concerts click
below.
Photo
by Pekka
Varonen
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Through
your generous
donations,
Finlandia
Foundation is
able to offer
scholarships
to students
like Dylan
Koski (above),
and grants to
support
projects
related to
Finnish
culture. Your
gift is
matched
dollar-for-dollar
by the
Paloheimo
Foundation (up
to $100,000
annually). FFN
is a 501(c)(3)
organization.
Thank
You! Kiitos!
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Music,
Books, Food,
Discussions
& More
Finnposium is
Finlandia
Foundation
National's
virtual
symposium
featuring a
variety of
online chats,
webinars,
cooking,
musical and
other
presentations
related to
Finland and
Finnish
culture in the
U.S.
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PO
Box 92046
Pasadena,
CA 91109
Phone:
626.795.2081
office@finlandiafoundation.org
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Meet the Finn
Cooks
Learn to
Make a Finnish Blueberry
Coffee Cake
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The
Finn Cooks,
Soile Anderson
and Eleanor
Ostman, share
another taste
of their
Finlandia
Foundation
National
Lecturer of
the Year
program, "Meet
the Finn
Cooks."
In
their latest YouTube
video,
they show you
how to make
the simple and
delightful
blueberry cake
that was a
favorite at
Soile's
mother's
coffee table
in Finland.
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Find
more about
Soile and
Eleanor at the
FFN website:
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Music,
Books, Food,
Discussions
& More
Finnposium is
Finlandia
Foundation
National's
virtual
symposium
featuring a
variety of
online chats,
webinars,
musical and
other
presentations
related to
Finland and
Finnish
culture in the
U.S.
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March 9 Webinar:
Tax Reporting in
the U.S. and Finland
for Dual
Residents
If
you have tax
questions and
tax
responsibilities
in both
countries,
don't miss
this
complimentary
webinar by
Ann-Christine
Westerlund,
CEO and
founder of
WESTMUSA.
Hosted
by Finlandia
Foundation
National, the
webinar will
be held via
Zoom at 6 p.m.
(Eastern),
Tuesday, March
9, followed by
a Q & A
session.
You're invited
to submit
questions in
advance (see
below).
Since
1993,
WESTMUSA, a
New York
City-based tax
and accounting
firm, has
served
companies and
individuals
from the
Nordic
countries and
beyond.
It
all started
with Stevie
Wonder.
The
global
superstar
performed in
Finland in
1984, and
Ann-Christine,
who was then
with Ernst
& Young
Helsinki, was
assigned to
determine
whether the
artist was
obliged to pay
taxes in
Finland.
Her
study and
understanding
of the
U.S.-Finland
Tax Treaty led
to her
specializing
in U.S.-Nordic
taxes at Ernst
& Young.
By 1990
Ann-Christine
was a Partner
in the firm,
and moved to
the U.S. to
establish and
lead the Ernst
& Young
Scandinavian
Tax Desk at
the
International
Tax Department
in New York.
In
1993 she
co-founded
Westerlund
& Mousa
(later
WESTMUSA,
Inc.) in
partnership
with her
husband, media
executive M.E.
Mousa.
WESTMUSA
has risen to
become a
premier tax
return
preparation
and advisory
firm serving a
“who’s who” of
Nordic
companies and
individuals.
With
a deep
understanding
of both Nordic
and U.S. tax
regulations
and
Ann-Christine's
fluency in
English,
Finnish and
Swedish, the
WESTMUSA team
is uniquely
qualified to
handle U.S.
tax returns
and
U.S.-Nordic
tax-related
questions.
Ann-Christine
is an active
member of
leading
Nordic-American
professional
organizations
and the
International
Taxation
Committee, New
York State
Society of
CPAs.
After
registering,
you will
receive a
confirmation
email
with
information
about joining
the webinar.
Submit
your questions
in advance to:
office@finlandiafoundation.org
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The
webinar will
be recorded
and shortly
following the
live program
will be
available on
the FFN
YouTube
channel.
Please check
out our
webinars on
education in
Finland, dual
citizenship
and more at:
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WESTMUSA
provides
expert advice
on U.S.-Nordic
tax related
questions and
prepares fully
compliant U.S.
tax returns
that minimize
your tax bill.
Click
the logo above
for more
information
about
WESTMUSA, Inc.
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Music,
Books, Food,
Discussions
& More
|
Finnposium
is Finlandia
Foundation
National's
virtual
symposium
featuring a
variety of
online chats,
webinars,
musical and
other
presentations
related to
Finland and
Finnish
culture in the
U.S.
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The Embassies of
Finland and Sweden
in Washington, DC,
and DC Jazz Festival
invite you to our
event “OutLoud!
LGBTQI+
Experiences in the
Music Industry” on
March 11, 1
PM EST.
The panel
discussion, hosted
in Zoom, gives space
for American and
Nordic artists to
discuss LGBTQI+
rights and their
experiences in both
their home countries
and the music
industry. To offer a
Finnish perspective,
we are joined by the
beloved pop star and
songwriter Saara
Aalto
from Finland.
Other panelists
include:
• Tove
Styrke – Swedish
pop artist and
songwriter best
known for her smash
hit single "Say My
Name."
• Lea
DeLaria – an
American comedian,
actress, and
singer best
known for her
portrayal of inmate
Carrie "Big Boo"
Black on
Netflix original
series Orange
Is the New Black
• Dave
Koz –
American
contemporary jazz
saxophonist, also
well known as DJ
radio host
• Michael
Mayo
– Critically
acclaimed singer.
His lead single,
“The Way,” is from
his Mack Avenue
Records’ debut
album, Bones on
Artistry Music,
which is slated for
release in March
2021.
• Andrew
D’Angelo –
American
saxophonist, known
for his work with
Human Feel, the Matt
Wilson Quartet and
Tyft
• Theo
Beckmann –
Two-time GRAMMY®
nominated, and ECM
recording artist
from Germany
•
Moderator DJ John
Murph
– DC-based
music journalist,
entertainer, and pop
critic
The event is
supported by The
Corner at
Whitman-Walker and
the Human Rights
Campaign Foundation
(HRCF).
Register
for the free event
on Eventbrite |
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South by
Southwest
(SXSW) will
be held online on
March
16–20. The Virtual
Finland Pavilion will
showcase Finland as a
front runner and
partner in creative
industries,
sustainable
innovations and future
technologies. This
Business Finland led
collaboration brings
together Music
Finland, Audiovisual
Producers Finland
(Apfi), Finnish Film
Foundation, a group of
Finnish companies,
Embassy of Finland in
Washington D.C. and
Consulate General of
Finland in New York.
The Embassy and the
Consulate General are
presenting an Innovative
Wood event
as part of the SXSW
Partner Program. The
event will take place
on Thursday,
March 18, at 10 am
(CDT).
Through collaboration
with Finnish companies
and research
organizations, we
present Finland’s
innovations from wood,
from medicine to
fashion. Furthermore,
we highlight
Finland’s climate and
sustainability
commitments. The event
includes greetings
from Mr. Skinnari,
Finland’s Minister for
Development
Cooperation and
Foreign Trade, and our
bioeconomy partners in
the State of Maine.
Through the event, we
wish to reach new
partners in the US and
globally in the
transition to a
greener
economy.
Please find more
information
here: https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/sxsw2021
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Having art experiences
limited for almost a
year has further
highlighted their
importance. In order
to offer possibilities
to experience and
admire art during this
time, our new campaign
#FinnishArtUSA,
starting in March,
will showcase US-based
Finnish and Finnish
American artists and
their creations on the
Embassy’s social media
channels.
The Embassy has asked
artists for
submissions from all
over the U.S. and we
have received a
delightful number of
entries by artists
with different
backgrounds and
specialties. The
artists’ stories and
works will be
presented on our
social media channels
and updated on our
website throughout the
year.
Link to
the campaign’s page
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Travel
&
Immigration
Webinar
Finnish
American
Chamber of
Commerce and
the Consulates
General of
Finland in New
York and Los
Angeles host a
webinar on
March 2 at
12 p.m. EST
titled "Travel
and
immigration
between
Finland and
the U.S.
during
Covid-19: What
you need to
know".
Sign
up for the
webinar here
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Women
InNovation
Join us for
Women
InNovation
virtual
conference
with the
Nordic
Innovation
House, New
York, on March
5!
This is a
gathering of
key voices to
promote global
understanding
of challenges
and
opportunities
women
entrepreneurs
face.
More
information
and RSVP on
the event site
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Environmental
Film Festival
Have you ever
met a newborn
reindeer? Now
is your chance
to follow the
incredible
journey of
Ailo, who
embarks on an
odyssey with
the help of
his mother, as
the
Environmental
Film Festival
in the
Nation’s
Capital is
screening A
Reindeer’s
Journey
during
March 19–28,
2021.
This story is
filmed in the
amazing
scenery of
Finnish
Lapland and
narrated by
Donald
Sutherland.
The
Environmental
Film Festival
in the
nation’s
capital is the
world’s
premier
showcase of
environmentally-themed
films with
many
screenings
being free of
charge. See
the event
on the
festival's
website. |
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FROM
WASTE TO
FASHION:
Solutions for
Fashion Brands
in Transition
to Greener
Future
Official Side
Event of
Circular City
Week New York,
hosted by
Business
Finland and
the Consulate
General of
Finland in New
York
Join us for a
panel
discussion
tackling the
urgent
environmental
challenges in
the textile
and fashion
industries and
hear
compelling
case examples
on
transforming
these
industries
with
innovations
from Finland.
What can we do
better in
terms of using
new types of
recyclable
material
innovations
with less
harmful impact
on the
environment,
textile
treatment,
recycling, and
waste
handling, all
the way to
educating
future
designers? How
can different
fashion
industry
actors support
the transition
to circularity
and
sustainable
development on
their ends?
March
25,
9:00–10:30
a.m. EST
Sign
up for the
event here
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FinnFest
USA Online
Lecture Series
Have you ever
wondered what
traditions in
today’s
Finnish
American
culture
originated
from Finland
and which ones
are uniquely
Finnish
American? In
her lecture,
Dr. Hilary-Joy
Virtanen explores
the Finnish
and American
aspects of
Finnish
American
cultural
practices.
March
27,
11:00 p.m. EST
Sign
up for the
free lecture
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Panel
recording: The
geopolitics of
emerging tech
during the
pandemic
On February
10, Atlantic
Council hosted
a discussion
that touched
on the
intersection
of
geopolitics,
modern
technologies,
and the
COVID-19
pandemic. One
of the
panelists was
Antti Niemelä,
Head of
Section for
Sustainable
Growth and
Commerce at
the Embassy of
Finland.
Watch
the panel
recording
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NB!
All times and dates are subject
to change, please check the
event site for details
before attending.
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Education in Finland
Two-part
Webinar Via Zoom
January
12 and 19, 2021 |
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What makes the
Finnish education system
so special?
Is
it possible for
non-residents to study in
Finland? |
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Attend a
free, two-part, online
webinar hosted by Finlandia
Foundation National and
the Embassy
of Finland in the United
States.
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Ilkka
Turunen, senior
specialist, higher
education and science
policy at the Embassy in
Washington, D.C., will
lead the webinars
addressing the popular
topic of education in
Finland.
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Attend Part
One, Part Two or both!
There
is no charge to
participate in the Zoom
webinars,
but
you must register for each
separately.
Register
for PART ONE by Monday,
January 11
Registration
for PART TWO will open on
January 12
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PART
ONE:
4-5 p.m. (Eastern), Tuesday,
January 12
THE FINNISH EDUCATION
SYSTEM
In the first session he will
address the factors that have
contributed to recognition of
Finland's unique system as one
of the best in the world; what
changes and challenges it is
facing; and what's ahead. |
PART
TWO:
4-5 p.m. (Eastern), Tuesday,
January 19
STUDYING IN FINLAND
The following week will cover
what's required for
non-residents to pursue
post-secondary and graduate
degrees in Finland, from
necessary permits to
anticipated costs and
opportunities for
scholarships. He will also
offer information on starting
a business in Finland. |
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Click here for
information about
Finlandia Foundation
National, the leading,
independent source of
support for Finnish culture
in the United States. |
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Joulukonsertti
A Christmas
Concert
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Especially
for You
Beautiful
Music of
the Season
Performed
by
Jussi
Makkonen and Nazig
Azezian
Finlandia
Foundation National is
pleased to bring you this
special performance from
Nurmes, Finland by cellist
Jussi Makkonen and pianist
Nazig Azezian. The concert
was recorded at the artist
residence of Jussi, on the
shore of Lake Pielinen in
North Karelia.
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In
the past few years, the
musicians have had several
concert tours in the United
States organized by
Finlandia Foundation
National. In 2019 they
received the Finlandia
Foundation Award of
Excellence in recognition of
their musicianship and
commitment to performing the
music of Finland in the
United States, particularly
the works of Jean
Sibelius.
With
this Christmas concert,
Jussi and Nazig extend their
best wishes for a Merry
Christmas and a Happy New
Year!
This
30-minute program includes
beloved Finnish Christmas
music by Karl Collan,
Heino Kaski and Jean
Sibelius, as well as the
classic "White Christmas"
by Irving Berlin.
Please
share this program with your
family and friends, and
enjoy it often throughout
the holidays.
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Finlandia Foundation
National wishes you a
Merry Christmas and
the Happiest New
Year.
Hyvää
Joulua ja Onnellista
Uutta Vuotta.
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FFN
office in Pasadena: Tel:
626-795-2081
Email:
office@finlandiafoundation.org
FinlandiaFoundation.org
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Independence Day Broadcast
Dear
Friend of
Finland, we
warmly welcome
you to join us
to
celebrate Finland's
103rd
Independence
Day online!
Head
over to the
Embassy's Facebook
page this
Thursday
evening to
watch a video
stream filled
with music,
speeches from
the Head of
Missions, and
greetings from
Finns in the
US. This event
is held in
English, so
you can
(virtually)
grab a
non-Finnish
speaking
friend with
you to watch
it.
Recording
of the event
will be
available
afterward on
Facebook, and
we'll post
highlights of
the
broadcast on
the
Embassy's YouTube
channel at
a later date.
On the actual
date of the
Independence,
Dec 6th, you
can view the
President of
Finland's
reception on
Yle
Areena web
player (in
Finnish and
Swedish).
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Launch
event: Finland
and U.S.
cooperation in
bioeconomy
Finland
is
experiencing a
biofuel and
pulp boom and
the entire
bio-economy
value chain is
in place, with
strong
relationships
between
end-users,
companies and
researchers.
Many companies
and research
organizations
are
reinforcing
and building
their ties to
the U.S.
The United
States aims
for a
so-called
“Billion Ton
Bioeconomy
Vision”, i.e.
an annual
billion ton
biomass output
by 2030. At
the federal
level the
vision is
supported by a
robust
Bioeconomy
Initiative led
by the federal
administration
and an expert
body mandated
by the U.S.
Congress.
In this event,
Finland and
two States in
the U.S.,
Maine and
Michigan, will
launch
industry
working groups
in sectors of
the forest
bioeconomy.
These working
groups will be
open for
companies,
education and
research
organizations
as well as
industry
interest
groups.
More
information
and
registration
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Are
you a 90 Day
Finn?
Helsinki
Business Hub,
the
international
trade and
investment
promotion
agency for
Helsinki, is
looking for US
tech
professionals
to apply for a
free 90-day
Helsinki
Relocation
Package.
Whether you
are an
investor,
employee, or
entrepreneur,
this might be
your chance to
experience
living and
working in one
of the
world-leading
technology
hubs.
Apply by
December
10th here.
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Finland's
Independence
Day Event
ZOOM
December 6,
5:30 pm
Finlandia
Foundation
organizes an
online
celebration in
honor
of the
103rd
anniversary of
Finland’s
Independence.
Check out
their program
filled with
music and
speeches from
distinguished
speakers.
Read
more and
register.
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The
Shop at
Scandinavia
House
HOLIDAY
SPECIAL
December
1-3
Looking for
Nordic themed
gifts for this
holiday
season?
Scandinavia
House in NYC
is offering a
range of
design items
for personal
and corporate
gifts, as well
as
featured Nordic
Holiday Gift
Baskets with
Scandinavian
classics such
as glögg,
pepparkakor,
knäckebröd,
coffee,
lingonberry
treats.
Read
more. |
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Fulbright
programs for
Finnish
researchers
SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITY
Deadline:
December 6
The
application
round
for Fulbright
Finland’s
Scholar
Programs for
the academic
year 2021-2022
is open.
The Foundation
offers a
variety of
opportunities
for
pre-doctoral
researchers
and junior and
senior
scholars
interested in
research in
the United
States.
The deadline
for Finnish
researchers is
December 6.
Check the
details and
apply for the
programs
through the
link.
Read
more |
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Aalto
documentary at
ADFF:2020
FILM SCREENING
Now – December
3
A new
documentary
about Finnish
architect
Alvar Aalto
premieres for
US and
Canadian
audiences at
the
Architecture
and Design
Film
Festival's
2020
edition.
Aalto shares
for the first
time the
intimate love
story of the
Finnish
architect and
his wife, Aino
Aalto, and
highlights her
importance as
an equal
architect
colleague and
visionary
designer. It
takes the
viewer on a
cinematic tour
to their
creative
processes and
iconic
buildings
worldwide.
Watch the
film’s
trailer here.
The Aalto
screening will
feature a
special intro
by architect
Frank Gehry
and conductor
& composer
Esa-Pekka
Salonen. After
the film,
ADFF's
director Kyle
Bergman will
host a Q&A
with director
Virpi Suutari.
Use code
“FindlandNY”
for a 25%
discount on
the tickets!
Read
more |
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New
virtual market
entry program
to the U.S.
for Finnish
companies
WEBINAR
December
8-9
The Finnish
American
Chamber of
Commerce,
together with
official
partners
Embassy of
Finland in
Washington
D.C, Consulate
Generals of
New York and
Los Angeles,
Business
Finland, and
the Finland
Chamber of
Commerce, is
launching a
Market Entry
Program
‘Virtual
Bridge’ to
respond to the
business needs
in the current
limited
COVID-19
environment.
The two-day
virtual
kick-off and
information
session will
be held on
December 8-9,
2020 and it is
free of charge
for Finnish
companies. The
main one-week
'Virtual
Bridge'
program will
take place in
early 2021.
Full
list of
speakers and
program. |
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NB!
All times and
dates are
subject to
change, please
check the
event
site for
details before
attending.
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Photo
courtesy
VisitFinland.com
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Did
You Know...
Photo
by Riku
Pihlanto
courtesy
VisitFinland.com
...that
you can SAY
IT WITH SANTA?
Ask
Santa to send
a special
message for
Christmas
through VisitFinland.com.
This
is your chance
to have a
greeting sent
from the real
deal in
Rovaniemi.
HURRY!
You must
submit a
proposal and
the deadline
is November
29.
Click here for details.
Please
Join
Us!
Finlandia
Foundation
National is the
largest
independent
organization
supporting
Finnish culture
in the U.S. No
other group
offers the
programs and
connections that
FFN has
developed since
its founding in
1953.
As
a member of
FFN, you are a
part of the
mission to
keep alive
Finnish
heritage in
the U.S.,
while building
awareness and
appreciation
of
contemporary
Finland.
"Like"
Us on Facebook!
Join
our
international
Facebook
community for a
daily dose of
fun facts, links
to articles,
event
information,
recipes and more
to do with
Finland and
Finnish America.
Just click
below:
Shop
Amazon? Tite
Your
online
shopping
through
AmazonSmile
can benefit
Finlandia
Foundation.
Amazon will
direct .5% of
your
qualifying
AmazonSmile
purchases to
FFN. To get
started just
click: AmazonSmile
Thank
you!
Share
Your Sisu
Join the new FFN
Facebook group
that celebrates
the unique
Finnish
trait.
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Thanksgiving Greetings!
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Dear
Friends:
This is
such a very
special time
of year. It is
our time of
Thanksgiving.
Despite
the
extraordinary
challenges we
have faced in
2020, we know
that our SISU
spirit
will see us
through!
Although
it is likely
more difficult
than in
previous
years, let us
take this
opportunity to
pause and
think about
all that for
which we may
give thanks.
On
behalf of the
dedicated,
volunteer
board of
trustees of
Finlandia
Foundation
National, I
extend
appreciation
for your
continued
interest in
sustaining the
rich history
of Finnish
heritage and
culture, and
the connection
to
contemporary
Finland in the
U.S.
That
was the vision
of the
Finlandia
Foundation
founders in
1953, and that
is why we are
here
today.
We wish
you and yours
a peaceful,
healthy and
Happy
Thanksgiving.
Thank YOU,
Anne-Mari
Paster
President
ampaster
@ rcn. com
Save
the Dates!
Mark
your calendar for
a two-part webinar
about education
and studying in
Finland, conducted
with the Embassy
of Finland in the
U.S. and Finlandia
Foundation
National at
4 p.m. (Eastern)
on Tuesdays,
January 12 and 19,
2021. Details to
come.
Meet
Mikko Nissinen
Photo
by Liz Vol
FFN is
thrilled to
share an online,
casual chat with
the esteemed
Artistic
Director of
Boston Ballet,
Mikko Nissinen. FFN Trustee Eeva Syvanen
(who is a
dancer!) visited
with Mikko; the
video is
available at the
FFN YouTube channel.
We are
developing our
offerings at
YouTube, where
you will find
the book chat
with Karl
Marlantes
about his
novel Deep River, and a wide array of
videos by past
FFN Performers
of the Year,
recipients of
grants and
scholarships,
and other
organizations
related to
Finnish
America.
Please
subscribe to
our YouTube channel. It's free! Once we hit 100
subscribers,
we can apply
for a
dedicated
"named" FFN
channel, which
will help us
to share these
fantastic
programs with
the
world.
Click FFN YouTube Channel
GIVING TUESDAY is
DECEMBER 1
Giving Tuesday
was launched
in 2012 as "a
day that
encourages
people to do
good."
It
was scheduled
after the
traditional
post-Thanksgiving
"Black Friday"
frenzy as a
way to help
non-profit
groups, as
well as
individuals.
Please
consider a
Giving Tuesday
gift to FFN.
Your gift is
eligible for
tax deduction
and is doubled
by a grant
from the
Paloheimo
Foundation.
Upcoming FFN
Deadlines
January 17, 2021
Grant Applications
Due
February 1,
2021
Scholarship
Applications Due
February 1,
2021 Lindfors
Law Scholarship
Applications Due
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Tel:
(626) 795-2081
Fax: (626)
795-6533
P.O. Box 92046,
Pasadena, CA
91109-2046
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Photo
by Liza Voll
"Take
the Best and
Leave the
Rest"
Mikko
Nissinen,
Boston
Ballet Artistic
Director
Finlandia
Foundation
National is
honored to
have had the
opportunity to
visit via Zoom
with
internationally
renowned Mikko Nissinen,
artistic
director of
the Boston
Ballet and the Boston Ballet School, the largest dance school
in North
America.
The
online visit
is conducted
by FFN Trustee
Eeva Syvanen,
(right) who is
also president
of the House
of Finland in
San
Diego---and is
a
dancer!
In
their
informal,
cross-country
chat, Mikko
talks about
how a boy from
Finland
rapidly rose
to acclaim as
a dancer, then
choreographer
and creative
director in
Boston; what
he does with
his free time;
how his
Finnishness
guides his
life and his
work; and his
advice to
"Take the best
and leave the
rest."
One of
the leading
figures in the
world of dance
shares why he
would consider
banishing the
word "ballet,"
and his views
on
contemporary
culture and
the arts in a
post-Covid
world: "We
are not a
museum. We
have to adapt
to a whole new
culture."
Learn
how he drew on
his sisu to
see Boston
Ballet through
its darkest
hours, and to
not only
survive, but
flourish: "I
was never
going to give
up. Failure
was not an
option."
Be
inspired by
his
outlook: "Life
is about
experiences," says
Mikko. "One
lifetime gets
you
to
scratch a
little bit of
that surface.
Let's not
waste that.
Enjoy
ourselves and
believe in
ourselves. We
can do
anything we
want when we
put our minds
into it."
It's an
interesting
and
entertaining
45-minute
program with
insights about
more than the
world of
dance.
Meet Mikko Nissinen in this free program on the
FFN YouTube channel; click here.
BB@yourhome
On
November 19,
2020, Boston
Ballet
premieres a
virtual season
of six
streamed
programs that
will run
through April
25, 2021. Click here for BB@yourhome
performance
schedule and
subscription
information.
For
more about
Finlandia
Foundation
National:
FinlandiaFoundation.org
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FFN
office in
Pasadena: Tel:
626-795-2081
Email:
office@finlandiafoundation.org
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The
FinnFest Team
Continues to
Plan for the
Future
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As
we move
forward with a
new format to
connect and
celebrate
together, the
FinnFest USA
board
continues to
meet each
month on Zoom
to share
reports and
develop action
plans. The
mission of
FinnFest USA
remains
strong, and we
are constantly
developing new
ways to
fulfill our
mission.
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Coming
in 2021: Two
FinnFest
Virtual Series
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Photo
Credit: Glenn
Kujansuu
FinnFest USA
2019 Detroit
Speaker: Eila
Stepanova
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Missing
your FinnFest
friends? Let’s
get together
in the new
year.
In 2021, on
the last
Saturday of
every month
except
December,
FinnFest USA
will offer an
alternating
lecture and
music series.
Each will
stream via
Zoom at 11
a.m. Central
time (7 p.m.
Finnish time).
All events are
free, but
donations are
encouraged.
The lecture
series—co-organized
with the Journal
of Finnish
Studies
and sponsored
by Sam Houston
State
University—presents
international
scholars
engaged with
Finnish arts
and culture,
including
Sharon
Franklin-Rahkonen
(January 30),
Hilary-Joy
Virtanen
(March 27),
Tuomas Hovi
(May 29), Eila
Stepanova and
Frog (July
31), Tim
Frandy
(September
25), and
Andrew
Nestingen
(November 27).
The music
series—co-sponsored
by the Nordic
Folklife
project at the
University of
Wisconsin-Madison—features
noted
performers and
scholars of
Finnish
American folk
music,
including
Laulu Aika,
with Tom
DuBois and
Marcus
Cederström
(February 27),
Lyz Jaakola
(April 24),
Diane Jarvi
(June 26),
Eric
Peltoniemi
(August 28),
Michael
Loukinen
(October 30),
and Carl
Rahkonen
(December 18).
Be on the
lookout for
details in the
coming months,
or visit the FinnFest
website
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We
Honor FFUSA
Board Member
Yvonne
Lockwood
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We'd like to
recognize one
of our board
members,
Yvonne
Lockwood, for
receiving the
U.P. Folklife
Award. Emerita
Curator of
Folklife at
Michigan State
University,
Yvonne has
researched and
written about
the cultural
traditions of
the people of
the State of
Michigan,
including the
Finnish
Americans in
the Upper
Peninsula.
She, along
with fellow
Finnish
Americans,
musician Randy
Seppala and
wood carver
Peter Olson,
will be
honored during
a ceremony on
November 6th.
To read more
about all
three and this
honor, check
out the
article below.
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Looking
for More From
FinnFest?
Check Out Our
Blog
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The
FinnFest team
is excited to
share that we
will begin
posting on our
blog more
frequently
about
contemporary
hot topics and
how these
items relate
to FinnFest
and Finnish
culture.
With
voting
occurring
right now, in
our blog, we
dive into the
differences of
voting in
Finland vs.
the United
States. Follow
the link below
and check out
the full
article.
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Giving
Tuesday Around
the Corner
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Thanksgiving
comes late
this year,
November 26th.
We want to
remind our
fellow
followers that
Giving
Tuesday,
always the
Tuesday after
Thanksgiving,
will occur on
December 1. At
the start of
this holiday
season, think
about
supporting
FinnFest USA
during this
international
day of giving.
We will be
providing more
details as we
get closer to
the date on
how you can
give back to
support
FinnFest USA.
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