English

Lauri Alhojärvi

Hi! I’m Lauri, 41, chair of the Feminist Party in Finland. I’ve worked in schools and kindergartens for more than 20 years. I’m also a musician, drums teacher, and auditor-evaluator in sustainable travel. My principal themes include increasing the funding of kindergartens and schools, lowering the costs of housing, abolishing child poverty, creating more jobs and preserving the city’s parks and forests.

I defend peace, solidarity, democracy, equal rights, multiculturalism, education and the environment.

I’ve participated in five municipal elections so far. After the first ones, I was chosen to be a member of the Environmental Board of Helsinki. Those four years served me well: I became familiar with  political language and behaviour. Still, I could not stand making decisions appear more complex than they actually were. Basically, all decisions are really quite simple: one either supports the well-being of humans and the nature, or one does not. Hardly ever do those two oppose each other. Most often it’s a choise between private capital and well-being. 

”Don’t ask me where I’m from; ask me where I’m local”

I moved to Kurkimäki a few years ago, and as a third generation resident of Kontula-Vesala area, I have a fair knowledge of its people, services, strengths and challenges. I spent my childhood in Paloheinä, Munkkivuori and Tali. I’ve also lived in Alppila, Arabianranta and Hermanni. I have frequented the bars of Kallio and Vallila. Visiting friends, I have had the pleasure to get to know places like Tapiola and Viherlaakso in Espoo, Mikkeli, and the general Turku area. I’ve lived in France and the United States, which both feel like a second home to me.

I was born at Naistenkinikka in Töölö, Helsinki, Finland. But I’m local in all of the places mentioned above. I wouldn’t like to be categorized merely as a Finn, because that would remove all the nuances that have enriched my life, nuances brought by the feeling of belonging. I wouldn’t want to categorize anyone other, either. We all have different backgrounds which are, while not always pleasant, always building blocks of our identity.

Education:

Master of Arts, University of Helsinki 2014

Area and Cultural Studies: European Studies

Eastern European Studies

African Studies

Social History