As I continue to witness, hold space for, and reflect on closure after (fore)closure of ethnic heritage spaces and institutions, it seems there is an essential question we need to tackle: Whose history is migrant community history?

“Food for the soul.” “A priest for the modern day.” “The best and wisest speaker around.” But also “a dangerous radical.” These are just some of the ways Sanna Kannasto was described in the early twentieth century. She was one of the most active and influential political organizers in North America in her time. While her work among Finnish immigrant communities may have left her lesser known than other celebrity radicals of the era, such as Emma Goldman, her story has continued to fascinate the curious for decades.

I am excited to share that my first monograph, Building That Bright Future: Soviet Karelia in the Life Writing of Finnish North Americans will be published by University of Toronto Press soon.