Forged in Iron: A Minnesota Rusyn Immigrant’s Tale – Book Talk & Signing with Mary Soroko
📅 Date: Saturday, August 22
⏰ Time: 1:00-3:00pm
📍 Place: MDC’s Theater
💸 Cost: FREE
On Saturday, August 22, come experience a FREE book talk with someone who calls Chisholm her hometown—Mary Soroko!
Mary will be reading and signing her book, Forged in Iron: A Minnesota Rusyn Immigrant’s Tale, which is a tribute to Iron Range immigrant families who worked tirelessly to build better lives for themselves and their descendants. Along with delving into Mary’s grandparents’ journey from Europe to the United States, the book explores the broader historical context of twentieth century Rusyns, a Slavic minority group with a distinct cultural identity and unique geopolitical challenges.
The afternoon’s schedule:
👩🏻🏫 1:00pm: Mary begins the book reading
❓ 1:45pm: Q&A time
🖋️ 2:00pm: Social hour and signing time
👋🏽 3:00pm: Things wrap up
Mary is a member of the Rusin Association of Minnesota, which is co-hosting this event.
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About the author:
Mary Soroko is a lifelong Minnesotan with a passion for education and charitable work. She grew up in Chisholm, MN, and she worked at the Minnesota Discovery Center while attending Hibbing Community College as a first-generation student. She went on to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, a master’s degree from St. Cloud State University, and a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She is a retired Adjunct Professor of Business at St. Cloud State University, she has volunteered on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, and she is an active participant and co-facilitator of the Central Minnesota Civil War Roundtable. In her own words, “Growing up in a poor family inspired me to become a lifelong learner. Using that knowledge to help others reach their potential has been the focus of my life.”
About the co-host:
The purpose of the Rusin Association of Minnesota is to provide a gateway to the culture and heritage of Carpatho-Rusyn people living in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. It was established in 1983, and its activities include helping individuals identify and connect with their Carpatho-Rusyn heritage, supporting genealogy research, maintaining relationships with historically Carpatho-Rusyn churches, facilitating harmonious inter-ethnic relations, and promoting Carpatho-Rusyn culture through music, dance, art, and literature.