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March 2017 Vol 88:02 $4.95
A touch of Sweden in Chicago
02 2017
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Swedish Press is the world’s leading magazine on all good things Swedish. An authority on design, business, culture and travel since 1929, Swedish Press delivers insightful news and commentary in a visually striking format. With a nod to the past, and a peek to the future, Swedish Press is your go-to source for updates and inspiration from Sweden. SWEDISH PRESS (ISSN 0839-2323) is published ten times per year (Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July/Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec/Jan) by Swedish Press Inc, 862 Peace Portal Drive, Suite #101, Blaine WA 98230 for $39 per year. Periodical postage paid at Blaine, WA 98230-9998 (No. USPS 005544). US POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Swedish Press, PO Box 420404, San Diego, CA 92142-0404 OFFICE: 9040 Shaughnessy Street, Vancouver, BC V6P 6E5 Canada US MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 420404, San Diego, CA 92142-0404 WEBSITE www.swedishpress.com E-MAIL info@swedishpress.com TEL +1 360 450 5858 TOLL FREE +1 866 882 0088 PUBLISHER Claes Fredriksson Claes@swedishpress.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Claes Fredriksson Claes@swedishpress.com ART DIRECTOR Joan Law Joan@swedishpress.com COPY EDITOR Alisha Fredriksson Alisha@swedishpress.com REPRESENTATIVES Calgary: Carin Pihl +1 403 931 0370 Thunder Bay: Elinor Barr +1 807 344 8355 Toronto: Gunilla Sjölin +1 905 751 5297 Winnipeg: Laurel Anderson-McCallum +1 204 255 5224 Los Angeles: Birgitta Lauren +1 310 201 0079 New York: Timothy Lyons +1 732 685 3747 San Diego: Sue Eidson +1 858 541 0207
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4 Letters to the Editor 5 From the Editor’s Desk Swedish Headlines 6 Headline News – Gotland säger nej och Karlshamn säger ja, till omlastning av ryska gasrör 7 Swedes in the News 10 Landskapsnyheterna
Heritage 11 Andersonville, a haven for Swedes after Chicago Fire Feature 12 A touch of Sweden in Chicago
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CONTENTS ( March 2017 )
ADVISORY COMMITTEE Björn Bayley, Peter Ladner, Brian Antonson, Christer Garell, Anders & Hamida Neumuller
SweMail TRANSLATIONS to English of the Swedish parts of Swedish Press are available free of charge every month. Visit http://biolson.atspace.cc/swemail/
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Swedish Press
Cloud Gate, Millennium Park, Chicago. Photo © City of Chicago
Interview 14 Patty and Larry – Celebrating the Nordic cuisine of Chicago Global Swedes 16 Putting Sweden on the Map – Abroad: Gerd Sjögren, Anna Engström Patel – Consulate General of Sweden, and Beata Krakus – SACC-Chicago
‘Don’t Get Lost’ deluxe suite by Tommy Alatalo
Swedish Press Connects 22 SCA – Swedish Council of America 23 MIG Talks – Migrationsverket 24 SWEA – Swedish Women’s Educational Association International 25 SACC – Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce Road to Community 26 Arbetsförmedlingen In the Loop 27 Canada, US & Beyond 28 Calendar and Events 29 Ads and Info 30 Sista Ordet: Taking a chance in life Cover image: (clockwise) The Chicago Theatre © Adam Alexander, Chicago financial district © Marchello74, Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate, Swedish American Museum, Chicago skyline © Adam Alexander, The Brunk Children’s Musuem of Immigration, © Swedish American Museum
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o matter what the time of year, there is always a little bit of Sweden in Chicago. With three locations, the restaurant chain Ann Sather has the best Swedish pancakes as well as a sample plate that includes fläskkorv. On weekends when the weather is good, there is a line around the corner for brunch so make sure to come early. If atmosphere is what you are looking for with your herring or fruktsoppa, then head up to Andersonville’s SVEA restaurant where you can enjoy the many Swedish artifacts beautifully on display. The warm and inviting staff makes it feel like you have ended up in someone’s kitchen. While in Andersonville, stop by Simon’s tavern. This historic tavern will make sure to keep you warm in Chicago’s cold winter with some glögg. For all Swedes living in Chicago with their families still in Sweden, Tre Kronor is the place to go for a real home cooked meal. It will taste just the way your grandmother used to make, and they serve all the things you might miss about Sweden like pytti panna and Janssons frestelse. If shopping is what you are after, Chicago will definitely not disappoint. The Sweden Shop is a one-stop shop for all things Scandinavian. They carry everything from housewares to food and clothing. The Kerstin Andersson Museum Store may be a bit smaller than the Sweden Shop but it seems to always have the perfect selection you are looking for. The assortment changes with each season and gives the store new life
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A touch of Sweden in
CHICAGO By Swedish American Museum www.SwedishAmericanMuseum.org with every new celebration. During Christmas time, it is like stepping in to Santa’s workshop and in the summer the store blooms with bright colors. Of course we must not forget IKEA. A bit of a trek as always, but walking around reading the signs can bring you home
Carl Linnaeus sculpture at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
immediately. Your American friend will never look at IKEA the same way again after visiting with a Swede. Suddenly all the items get a new meaning and each item gets attached to your history. There are a number of famous Swedes hiding in Chicago. Carl Linnaeus has two statues, one on the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park and one in the Heritage Garden of the Chicago Botanic Garden. In 1891 the
Swedish Linnaeus Monument Association erected a statue of Linneaus in Lincoln Park. It was a copy of the one in Stockholm. In the 1930s the statue moved to Hyde Park because major road construction took over the space where Linnaeus once stood. The statue in the Botanic Garden is full of life and celebrates his accomplishments and legacy in a beautiful way. Another icon Emanuel Swedenborg has had a rough life in Chicago. A beautiful bust was unveiled in Lincoln Park in 1924 to an audience of several thousand Swedes. Then the same road construction that moved Linneaus removed the beautiful atmosphere that had once surrounded Swedenborg. Rather than facing a charming carriage way, he became enveloped in fumes from a new freeway. Then in 1976 he disappeared, most likely sold for the scrap metal. In 2008 a member of the New Church Society in Stockholm found a plaster copy of the bust in the church’s attic and so in 2012 a new bronze copy was made and Swedenborg returned to his place on Lake Shore Drive. To truly experience Sweden in Chicago you will have to visit for midsummer or at Christmas time. In addition to the many small, individually organized midsummer celebrations, the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce together with the Swedish American Museum throws a party for the whole city to enjoy. At Christmas there are a number of Lucia processions and a julmarknad to put you in the holiday spirit.
Museum awakens interest in Swedish immigration
After the 1964 celebration of Andersonville’s new status as a city neighborhood, the business community began to recover from three decades of malaise. But something was missing. The Scandinavian character that had defined the culture of this area was no longer dominant. Into the void stepped enthusiastic immigrant Kurt Mathiasson with a plan to return “Swedishness” to Andersonville. Mathiasson had acquired Svea Restaurant in 1972 and began to use its walls, nooks and crannies to exhibit Swedish artifacts that he and friends had accumulated. Four years later, during the nation’s Bicentennial, he took over a neighboring storefront and began to create a Swedish American Museum, enlisting Sven Flodstrom as chairman. The official opening on April 19, 1976, was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. To make the Museum a success, Mathiasson needed help. He found it in Kerstin Lane, who had emigrated from Malmö in 1974 and settled in Chicago in 1977. After volunteering frequently, she was hired in 1986 as the Museum’s first executive director. In 1987, an opportunity arose to acquire the three-story former Lind Hardware building. The Museum board jumped at the idea of a permanent home. Lane spearheaded the
renovation and relocation, with the enthusiastic help of many volunteers and supporters. Once again, King Carl XVI Gustaf attended the grand opening on April 19, 1988. The additional space accommodated not only the growing collection of artifacts and documents, but also a gallery for exhibits, offices for staff, and a store full of Swedish wares. Still, there was much more to come. A Nordic Family Research Center (now the Swedish American Genealogical Society) was established in 1994 to help individuals learn more about their Swedish histories. In 2001, Queen Silvia of Sweden visited the new Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration on the third floor. In 2006, Kerstin Lane stepped down and was succeeded as director by Karin Moen Abercrombie. She had been a Museum volunteer and board member, and was interested in the expansion of community outreach and educational programs for children and adults.
At the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration. Photo: Kristine Casart
A beacon for Swedes and SwedishAmericans, the Museum has grown steadily in attendance as activities and events arouse widespread interest. Swedish traditions are kept faithfully, from Fettisdagen and Våffeldagen to Midsommarfest, Julmarknad, Julmiddag, and St. Lucia processions in the neighborhood.
Genealogy and the Children’s Museum link past and future Two innovative additions to its mission have enhanced the features that attract visitors of all ages to the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville. A research initiative in Swedish genealogy that began with volunteers answering inquiries has become essential for scholars, historians and families that seek information about ancestors and the places they lived. In 1994, Marilynn Jeglum saw the need for a more formalized genealogical program. Her interest and effort resulted in the creation of a Nordic Family Research Center (now the Swedish American Genealogical Society) with nine founding board members. She organized a series of monthly sessions on topics such as beginning research, photo restoration, military records and Scandinavian church records. She also offered one-onone research help on Wednesday afternoons that has continued with additional volunteers. A second major addition, in 2001, was the installation of the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration that occupies most of the third floor. Supported by the Brunk family and open seven days a week, it educates and entertains youngsters of all ages. In addition to its daily walk-ins and frequent school bus tours, the children’s facility offers role-playing activities as Vikings, immigrants or farmers, as well as space explorers in the Buzz Aldrin exhibit. Informative monthly Hejsan programs also take place, based on important Swedes in history and the arts. In the summer, Pioneer Day Camps provide knowledge of life and customs in other countries.
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Swedish Women’s Educational Association international
SWEA Chicago
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he SWEA Chicago chapter was founded in 1981 by Kerstin Lane. The Chicago chapter grew rapidly from the 18 ladies who showed up at the very first meeting to 100 members Ingela Pihl, President SWEA Chicago and Veronica Strandell, in a couple of years. SWEA Vice President SWEA Chicago Photo by Tina O’Malley. Chicago has had a steady membership roster of 90-130 ever since. The age span is from young to old, some have been here one year and others over 30, which makes this group of women very resourceful. Besides from the fact that we as an organization promote our culture and traditions, SWEA is so much more for the individual member. On an international level, we are a large network in which a member can easily find personal help when moving from one country to another, or even when moving back to Sweden after years abroad. On a local level, we help each other with anything from finding a dentist or a babysitter, to housing or a travel companion – you name it! It’s a network of sisters who will help any woman in any situation. Our popular monthly event “Coffee Moving to a new country Morning”. Photo by Kristine Casart. with a new language and culture can be both scary and confusing, and most of our members have done it at some point and are happy to help those who are new to the experience. There are also those who join us for social reasons and those who like to maintain the Swedish language and traditions, and make sure their children do so as well. In Chicago, we have over 40 gatherings in a year, of which most are for members only. We try hard to accommodate our different age groups when we plan our programs, and we do our best to find different locations throughout the greater Chicago
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area to please our members who are scattered far and wide around the city. Our events differ in size, but to mention a few of our smaller gatherings: Coffee mornings have been very popular as we simply meet for coffee to chat and hang out. Perfect for those new to the organization Valborg celebration with members and their families. Photo by or those who just want to get Veronica Strandell. a feel for what we do and who we are before becoming a member. We also arrange game nights, music/movie gatherings, we do craft activities, long walks, cross-country skiing, and an effortless lunch/dinner out on the town. Another favorite gathering among the mothers with young children in SWEA Chicago, is that the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration opens exclusively to SWEA members once a month. Some of our larger events include our yearly Shrimp Fest, the Christmas party “Lilla Julafton”, and of course Midsummer. At the midsummer celebration (hosted in one of our member’s homes) spouses and children are included as well. It’s a great way to have our Swedish community come together and dance around the maypole, eat traditional Midsummer celebration. Photo by Swedish food, and connect Kristine Casart. with other families. To be accepted as a member of the SWEA organization you need to be a female over 18 years of age, have mastery of the Swedish language, and live permanently within the local chapter’s geographical boundaries. If you, or someone you know, have questions or are curious to know more about us and our Chicago chapter, please send an email to chicago@swea.org or visit us on the web www.chicago. swea.org and we promise to get back to you. Ingela Pihl and Veronica Strandell President and Vice President, SWEA Chicago
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Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce
Business in Sweden and the U.S. Interview with Alfa Laval Inc. CEO John Atanasio
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ACC-USA recently had the opportunity to speak with John Atanasio, CEO of Alfa Laval Inc. John has been with Alfa Laval since 1982 and has served as CEO since January 2011. With more than 130 years Alfa Laval Inc. CEO John Atanasio of experience, the Swedish company Alfa Laval has an extensive history of business in the U.S. As the first market that the company entered outside of Sweden, the U.S. has always been one of the key areas of the company’s business. Today, the U.S. is the largest single sales company for Alfa Laval, marketing products and solutions in all three of the company’s core competencies of fluid handling, heat transfer and separation. Looking at Alfa Laval’s business going forward, John expressed cautious optimism about 2017, including seeing some potential bright spots in the oil and gas market for the first time in over a year. Additionally, sustainability continues to be an important theme. As a company that offers solutions that improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes, Alfa Laval plays a unique role in the drive toward greater sustainability. According to John, the theme of sustainability is two-fold. Internally, the company strives to meet the requirements that it places on itself, which guide every aspect
of the business, from input materials to energy sources. Externally, Alfa Laval’s products are geared to improving the overall sustainability of customers’ businesses, supporting their efforts to reduce their overall environmental impact. As the CEO of a major Swedish company in the U.S., John has special insight into the differences in management styles between American and Swedish directors. According to John, the Swedish management style tends to be more collaborative with a focus on attaining common agreement and understanding on issues. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in making decisions and noted that a strength of the Swedish style is that once a decision is made, everyone is on board and there is no second-guessing. In response to a question regarding the advice that he would give to a Swedish company entering the U.S. for the first time, John explained that the management mentality in the U.S. is more straightforward and direct. Swedish companies should expect candid dialog and feedback, since customers in the U.S. will very directly express their expectations, requirements, and levels of satisfaction. John underscored the ability to accept that you will be given very straightforward feedback as an important component of success in the U.S. Working for a Swedish company has also given John the opportunity to experience other aspects of Swedish culture. He appreciates Sweden’s natural beauty as well as that people are friendly, although guarded. With some humor, he noted that while there may often be fewer choices on Swedish menus, he tried both reindeer and several different herring dishes for the first time while in Sweden. In his free time, John enjoys working outside, especially in his garden, and running.
SACC-USA 2017
EXECUTIVE FORUM
Please save the date for SACC-USA’s Executive Forum on June 1st, 2017 in Washington, D.C. This event will be held in collaboration with the Embassy of Sweden. The Executive Forum will discuss the first 100 days under the Trump administration, focus on how to navigate the new landscape, specifically the new trade agenda, and explore how to take advantage of new business opportunities in the U.S. Please contact Mikaela at memberservices@sacc-usa.org for more information.
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