About Us

What is the ChicFinn life? 

It’s cholula on karlian pirrika,

it’s smoked salmon with a side of tequila,

it’s cooperation and collaboration with gritos,

it’s sharing our love and privileges with others.

We hope to continue expanding on what ChicFinn means to us throughout our many endeavors whether we’re traveling, cooking, documenting, thinking, writing, or loving, we invite you to adventure with us, visit the ChicFinn Cottage!

This website chronicles the life and love of Kandace and Liz. Married October 2013, we use this space as a one stop shop for our diverse chosen and blood families to connect with us as we embark on this lifelong commitment to one another. As both of us are very active members of our many communities we also hope that this site may expand into a hub of information related to the work we continue to do far after we take the wedding plunge as we work toward a more socially just and equitable world.

Kandace Kandace – is a professor of Women’s and Gender Studies at a state institution in NW Minnesota. She is an active member of her community where you can find her serving on local and state-wide boards advocating for resources for Greater Minnesota, and encouraging women and people of color as we further develop our rich leadership capacities with a Chicana feminist framework.

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Liz is an executive director at a state wide coalition to end homelessness. She  works tirelessly on inspiring others to be leaders and advocates for good policy that reflects a world that embodies equity for all. As a Finn who grew up on the Iron Range, she is about community connections and cooperation.   

Our blog site – http://www.chicfinn.com brings together our commitments to our ethnic communities as a Chicana and a Finnish American – our passions lie in creating communities that are healthy, strong, and supportive for people of color, and LGBT folks. We seek connections that are based on empowerment and socially just political consciousness beliefs and actions. While we know we are engaging in an institution that grants us many privileges, we work to ensure a world in which unearned advantages and privileges are challenged and that all have access to the privileges we all deserve.

15 thoughts on “About Us”

  2. Jess Webster says:
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    Jess Webster's avatar

    Super duper congrats, girls!! I love your “registry.” And the world is a better place because of ALL the tremendous work you both do.

    (And you know how to party right.)

    jw

  3. Linda Riddle says:
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    Linda Riddle's avatar

    congrats to you both! Can’t wait to meet Candace! HOPING to come to your party in Evelyth. Is your family happy for you, Liz?

    • Liz Kuoppala says:
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      Liz Kuoppala's avatar

      Linda: Thanks! Families are complicated. Mine is big and loving and at various places on their journey. I’m also enormously blessed with great friends and colleagues who are supportive in ways some in my birth family are not able to be.

  6. Ellen Gerrity says:
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    Ellen Gerrity's avatar

    Liz, I am so happy for you! Thank you for sharing the wonderful news of your wedding with Kandace and the creative and generous way you are celebrating your love. I so wish i could be there, but alas cannot, but please know that I will be there in spirit. And you know Paul and Sheila will be there too. Enjoy your wonderful celebrations – and best wishes for a happy, love-filled life.
    Warmest regards,
    Ellen

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