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SHARE YOUR STORIES - I'm WRITING TWO PLAYS!

SISU is in the Heart is an international community-based theater project inspired by the stories of Finnish Americans in the United States and my own family ancestry. I'm need your help! I want to hear about your family history, stories of immigration, and what it means to claim Finnish American ancestry. The stories (or parts of stories) that I collect may find their way into the plays that I am writing, or simply inspire characters or scenes. SISU in the Heart is not intended to be a documentary, but instead result in fictional productions that have the flavor of the stories and memories from both communities. No real names will be used!

Please submit your story using the form below. If you have a great photo that goes along with your story you can attach that below. Stories and photos will be posted on this website and may be used for promotional purposes. If you don't your stories to end up in one of the plays, please don't share them here.

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Name *

First

Last

Email *

What is your family story? How did your Finnish ancestors arrive in America? What makes you the most proud to be a Finnish-American? How does your ancestry play a role in your life today? *

What does SISU mean to you? What gives you SISU? *

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Me and my mom outside of my great-grandfather's birth home in Finland 2005. Read more about our family ancestry and genealogy HERE.

Me and my mom meeting with Antti Ojala in his studio in Helsinki, Finland in 2005. Read more about Antti's paintings of Finnish pauper statues HERE.

THANK YOU!

*SISU is a Finnish word that’s not easy to translate into English. The best definitions include bravery, strength, resilience, taking action against the odds, having, guts, or displaying courage and resolve in the face of adversity.