GREETINGS FROM CONCORDIA LANGUAGE VILLAGES
Dear Friends of Concordia Language Villages,
As we reflect on this past year, I am filled with profound gratitude for the collective spirit that has propelled Concordia Language Villages forward. Together, we continue to create transformative experiences that inspire lifelong learning, global understanding, and cultural exchange.
This year, we celebrated milestones that remind us of the enduring impact of our mission. From the opening of the Korean Language Village — a project made possible by your generous support and belief in our vision — to the joyous 50th anniversary of the Swedish Language Village, we were reminded of the power of community and the importance of honoring our roots while boldly stepping into the future.
Our focus this year has been on maximizing the potential of our programs and facilities. We are working to care for what we’ve built, investing in operational excellence and sustainable practices that ensure the vitality of the Villages for generations to come. Through our focus on efforts to restore, renovate, and innovate, we are laying the groundwork for thoughtful improvements to our facilities and programs, driven by input from across our community.
We’ve also deepened our partnership with Concordia College, aligning our marketing, enrollment, and administrative efforts to maximize resources and strengthen our shared mission. This collaboration underscores the value of working together to achieve greater impact, a hallmark of the Language Villages.
None of this would have been possible without you — our incredible supporters, alumni, parents, and friends. Your generosity has helped us offer scholarships to more villagers, build capacity for new programs, and invest in the future of our mission — to inspire courageous global citizens. You have ensured that Concordia Language Villages remains a place where young people and adults alike can imagine a world without barriers.
As we look ahead to 2025, and the celebration of our 65th anniversary, we are reminded of the thousands of lives touched by this unique and world-renowned organization. The legacy of Concordia Language Villages is one of connection, curiosity, and courage — a legacy you help sustain.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for being part of this incredible journey. Together, we are not only teaching languages; we are shaping global citizens who will make the world a more inclusive, compassionate place.
With gratitude and inspiration,
Mary Maus Kosir Executive Director | Concordia Language Villages
NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP GROUP
Michael and Lorie Afremov
Wayzata, Minnesota
Sarah and Scott Bjelde
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Greg Cash
Minnetonka, Minnesota
Andre Gauger
Covington, Louisiana
Keith Johanneson
Bemidji, Minnesota
Ilya Katsnelson
Copenhagen, Denmark
Ross King
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Kent Knutson
Washington, D.C.
Anne Linnee
Bloomington, Minnesota
Margaret Cuomo Maier
Manhasset, New York
David and Audrey Olsen
Lake Elmo, Minnesota
Sophie Pederson
Spicer, Minnesota
Molly Steenson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Steven Pollei and Solveig Storvick Pollei
Tacoma, Washington
Christine Schulze
Moorhead, Minnesota
Benjamin Squire
Topanga, California
John “Jack” Tunheim
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Robert Waldron and Leona Werner
Edina, Minnesota
EMERITUS:
Georg Gauger
Mound, Minnesota
Clinton Gilliland and Mary Turner Gilliland
Menlo Park, California
Alfred Harrison and Ingrid Lenz Harrison
Wayzata, Minnesota
Nicole Ellis
Director of Marketing and Enrollment
Ellen Frierson
Program Director
Martin Graefe
Senior Program Director
Director, Concordia Language Training Center
Amanda Hand
Program Director
Marc Johnson
Director of Development
Mary Maus Kosir
Executive Director
Mollie Nelson
Associate Director of Health and Wellness
Warren Schulze
Director of Operations
Jon Suomala
Director of Finance and Administrative Services
Danielle Thorson
Human Resources Business Partner
Concordia Language Villages has become a leader in providing a variety of programming for adults, families, school groups, educators, business leaders and government employees, and the youngest of language learners.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
GreenCorps
Abigail Terrell made a lasting impact during her year as a GreenCorps member at Concordia Language Villages. She launched an organics collection program that diverted nearly 4,844 pounds of waste from landfills during our summer programs and secured a Lawns to Legumes grant to create a pollinator garden at the Villages’ Peace Site.
Village Weekends
Village Weekends at Concordia Language Villages provided immersive language and cultural experiences for students throughout the school year at El Lago del Bosque, Lac du Bois, and Waldsee
Bemidji Area Friends
The 19th annual Bemidji Area Friends Essay Contest recognized eight fourth- and fifth-graders with oneweek Village sessions for their essays on “How I Could Learn and Grow by Studying _____ Language at Concordia Language Villages.” Leading up to the contest, staff engaged nearly 950 students through classroom visits filled with language and cultural activities.
QFI and STARTALK
Concordia Language Villages welcomed Arabic language teachers from the United States, Brazil, and Britain for the Qatar Foundation International Arabic Summer Institute, focusing on active language learning for all students. Additionally, the Concordia STARTALK cohort of Arabic, Chinese, and Russian teachers studied brain-based strategies in critical language education, exploring themes such as immersion, play, and project-based learning through high school credit programs.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
SOURCE OF GIFTS
In 1960, Gerhard Haukebo, a Concordia College faculty member, suggested the College initiate an experimental program using immersion techniques to teach language. The intent of the program was to teach young people about other languages and cultures, while giving Concordia students the opportunity to gain practical teaching experience.
Concordia College sponsored the project in the summer of 1961. The College rented Luther Crest Camp, north of Alexandria, Minnesota, for the first two-week German session for 72 campers aged 9-12. By all accounts, it was a resounding success.
Interest in the program increased steadily and more Villages were added. Today, thousands of participants enroll in immersion programs in 17 languages, in both residential and Virtual Village sessions. Eight architecturally authentic sites on Turtle River Lake (near Bemidji, Minnesota) support year-round programming for thousands of youth, adults and teachers every year.