Thanks to the generosity of the City of Kuopio in the lakes region of Finland, I had the privilege to participate in a four-day conference it was hosting: "Cultural Youth Work as a Tool in Intercultural Learning." Minneapolis is one of Kuopio’s 15 sister cities … and the cultural leaders and youth workers in Kuopio are eager to find ways to build opportunities between our two cities.

I was honored when Lauren Maker, who guides special projects for the City of Minneapolis … including sister city relationships, contacted me about participating in this conference … because of my work with the Capri Theater and the Plymouth Christian Youth Center (PCYC) in North Minneapolis. As the Director of Capri Theater Development for PCYC, my visit to Finland has provided me with invaluable insights about how to create effective programs and physical spaces that work well for cultural youth work.

Given Minneapolis’ other Finnish connection, the Minnesota Orchestra’s music director Osmo Vänskä, I was also eager to visit the City of Lahti … where Osmo has built an orchestra for more than two decades as well as the stunning Sibelius Hall.

Views of Helsinki
Sunday, February 24 , 2008 • Helsinki, Finland

I've enjoyed my two days in Helsinki, especially having the opportunity to visit the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. Despite the wet weather, I was able to do a lot of walking, and have enjoyed taking photos in the evening. Here are a few of my favorite scenes from Helskinki. (View photos)

Finland sets the gold standard
for investing in youth development
Thursday, March 6, 2008

Finland has set the gold standard for how a society should invest in its young people. This small, enlightened country understands that a good education, cultural experiences and an empowered presence in society create dividends in the future. (Read more)

How it works:
The Finnish Youth Work Act
Thursday, March 6, 2008

From the long dark winters to summers with round-the-clock daylight, young people in Finland have no reason to be bored or to say they have nothing to do … thanks to The Finnish Youth Work Act.

Created in 1955 and updated at least every ten years, the Act defines youth work as promoting “active citizenship through the way young people use their own time. It also means social empowerment for the young, support to young people’s growth and autonomy, and interaction between the generations,” according to the Finnish Ministry of Education’ website.

Friday, February 22 , 2008
Full Review & Photos

Some people collect stamps, others vintage vinyl records. I’ve become a collector of great concert hall experiences.  During my decade with the Minnesota Orchestra in the 1990s, I was exposed to some of the world’s finest halls: Vienna’s Musikverein, Berlin’s Philharmonie and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall. Last night I added one more to my collection: the spectacular Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland. It ranks among the top venues on my list. (Read more, View photos)

Look what a venue can do …
Friday, February 22, 2008 • Lahti, Finland

For those of us who live in the Twin Cities, we have seen how the new Guthrie Theater, the expanded Walker Arts Center, the Minneapolis Central Library and recent expansions of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Minneapolis Children’s Theater have raised Minneapolis’ international profile. The same can be said about Sibelius Hall in Lahti. (Read more)

classicLive ...
another innovation from Finland
Friday, February 22, 2008 • Lahti, Finland

Finland is a land of innovation, and the Lahti Symphony Orchestra is no exception. Last fall it launched classicLive, an internet broadcast service that makes select symphony concerts available on demand. Just as the Metropolitan Opera has been breaking ground with its wildly successful simulcasts of performances to movie theaters across America (which was the same service used by the St. Olaf Christmas Festival this past December), the orchestra in Lahti is breaking ground online. (Read more)