To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Golden Link Senior Center in Crookston is having a presentation by local historical storyteller Connie Hannesson on Tuesday, March 21, at 10:00 a.m.
Hannesson will share the story of Irena Sendler, an active member in the Polish underground resistance movement in September of 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.
“We at the Golden Link Senior Center would like to invite each and every one of you to come and listen to a presentation for Women’s History Month on Irena Sendler. She was very active in the Polish underground resistance movement and joined it when Germany invaded Poland in September of 1939,” Golden Link Manager Jen Erdmann explained. “She was 29 at that time, and at the risk of her own life, she repeatedly assisted with many resistance activities. However, the thing she is most remembered for is her rescue and placement of over 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. This was her chosen role in resistance efforts within the city of Warsaw.”
The Golden Link holds presentations every third week Tuesday of every month and invites various individuals to share information and history with the people of Crookston. Previous guests have included Hospice of the Red River Valley and the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home. Hannesson is a regular presenter at the Golden Link who recently gave a presentation for Black History month in February. The Golden Link greatly encourages people to attend the presentation for a history lesson and an experience.
“From what I’ve heard from colleagues and members here that have been in on her presentations, she makes you feel like you’re actually there like you’re actually back in this time,” said Erdmann. “That’s just the way she’s a great presenter. She takes you back to that time. So, I think she just goes on her own and does her own storytelling, which makes it even more awesome.”
Connie Kurpius-Hannesson is a local historical storyteller who grew up on a small grain and dairy farm north of Ada. After graduating high school, she attended Moorhead State University and majored in elementary education. She then began her career in education as a fifth-grade teacher at the McKinley Elementary School in Crookston, where she taught for five years before spending the next 29 years teaching at Highland Middle School and Highland Elementary School. She retired from teaching in 2004 and began working on a project she had planned for some time as a lover of history. She began putting together historical presentations of some of the people and events that greatly influence and impact our world today. She has given presentations at several schools in northwest Minnesota and for various adult audiences, believing that “These are stories that must be shared, for there are lessons to be learned that can apply to our lives today.” Hannesson always looks to give her presentations to anyone at any notice, regardless of how many people attend them.
“We had her in here last month in February on a Tuesday as well at 10:00 a.m., speaking on Black History Month. We didn’t probably have the crowd she expected, but like she said, “It doesn’t matter if there are four or fifty people here,” she’s still going to do her wonderful presentation here, so that doesn’t matter,” said Erdmann. “But, we still hope and know that next week, Tuesday, March 21, at 10:00 a.m. here at the Golden Link, she’s going to be talking about celebrating Women’s History month with a presentation on Irena Sendler.”
The Golden Link Senior Center would like to invite everyone to come and listen to the presentation by Connie Hannesson on Tuesday, March 21, at 10:00 a.m.
