By Rick Schara

West Central Initiative

Kim Konikow was looking for a new home.

In Bismarck, she truly enjoyed her job with the state arts council but was looking to semi-retire and wanted a new forever place, a change of scene. 

Minnesota was among the handful of states that offered that retirement intrigue.

Konikow had grown up in Detroit, and while a metropolitan has its perks, her life experiences steered her toward more of a micropolitan lifestyle.

She did her homework with several North Star state communities and visited about seven possibilities. Then, on one expedition of discovery, Konikow came through Fergus Falls. She liked the downtown. She loved how the arts flourished, the library was state-of-the-art, and there was access to good healthcare.

Being a practical person, Konikow networked to get a few names of local folks who could shed some light on life in Fergus Falls. She found “great neighborhoods, an art gallery, local shops, and it is less than an hour to city amenities in Fargo-Moorhead.”

With those boxes checked, she knew it was where she wanted to settle down and “kind of” retire. She admits it was intuition, “You know when you just feel something in your gut?”

“I drove in, and I thought, this is it,” Konikow said. “I think it was the hills and trees. Then I drove by the library and knew Springboard for the Arts and Lake Region Arts Council were here. I knew there was a theatre downtown, too.”

“I felt like I had come home. It felt like the right size, the right place. All of those things combined made this the right kind of community for me. This is home,” she said.

Now, Konikow is sharing her cultural upbringing with the community. “One of the things I like to do is celebrate a few of the Jewish holidays. The way I was raised, it was all about cultural heritage and sharing stories. I think it’s important to be proud of who you are and where you come from.”

Konikow presented “Latkes and Hanukkah Traditions” in early December at the Battle Lake Creative Arts Center. Latkes are meant to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah, and participants learned to make potato latkes, heard the story of Hanukkah (the Festival of Lights) and its traditions, and then shared a festive meal. 

Konikow delights in sharing her culture and learning about others.  Why? “It’s about where people came from and what they did to join together as families and communities to share stories.”

It’s also an important part of building community. “I think sharing our cultures lessens the fear of the unknown,” she said. “It helps us be more welcoming, point you to some resources and suggestions on what you are interested in, and helps you get acquainted with your neighbors and community. I think welcoming is critical.”

As a new resident of Fergus Falls, Konikow thinks about welcoming a lot. “I think for new people, it’s important to try some new things and to seek assistance if you need it.”