The Swedish American Heritage Society of West Michigan was founded to preserve, foster and perpetuate traditional customs and culture of our Swedish heritage, as well as that of other Scandinavians.
If you are of Swedish heritage, or the spouse of same… or if you simply have a sincere interest in Swedish or Scandinavian heritage, you are invited to join us!
Make a donation to SAHS!
Note: PayPal accepts all major credit cards, debit cards, money from a PayPal balance, and PayPal Credit. You can also send a check to us at 29 Pearl St. NW, Suite 127, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. SAHS is a 501(c)3 organization, so your donations are tax deductible.
Swedish Reading Club (Zoom)
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Three Black women are linked in unexpected ways to the same influential white man in Stockholm as they build their new lives in the most open society run by the most private people.
Told through the perspectives of each of the three women, In Every Mirror She’s Black is a fast-paced, richly nuanced yet accessible contemporary novel that touches on important social issues of racism, classism, fetishization, and tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
“In Every Mirror She’s Black is a wise and complicated exploration of the lives of three Black women in America and Sweden. Lola Akinmade Åkerström offers a sharply written story with messy, deeply moving characters, raising brutal questions and steering clear of easy answers. A book that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.”
—Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six
Visit the Upcoming Events page to find out how to attend.
Once again, SAHS is sponsoring our annual Lucia scholarship competition. The Doris & Clarence Anderson Memorial Scholarship is in memory of two of our organization’s founding members. Doris and Clarence were involved in almost every activity that our organization undertook. Doris was an especially integral part in our annual Lucia celebration. Among Doris’ many achievements was her selection many years ago as Chicago’s first Lucia.
The Scholarship Committee will award $500 each to a high school senior girl and senior boy who have been participants in our local Lucia pageant. Additionally, each applicant must be either the child or grandchild of a member of SAHS/WM. Applications can be downloaded here (PDF) and are due Nov. 30. We look forward to announcing the winners of this annual competition in December.
Sankta Lucia Celebration
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Save the date! We invite you to come and enjoy this lovely Swedish introduction to the Christmas season and listen to the Lucia choir sing in a beautiful setting. It will once again be held in the lovely sanctuary of Mayflower Congregational Church.
Registration will open later this year.