The history of the West Coast Latvian Education center is a history of the Latvian community in Washington state. Our property, Kursa, and all of the buildings seen on it were not built by large companies or contractors, but by individual members of the community. Just as we all come together every Spring for our Talka, so too did the people come together in 1982 to establish what we know as Kursa; the home of our culture, traditions, and community.
1982 in History
The West Coast Latvian Education center was founded at a time when Latvia did not exist, but was instead an occupied territory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Latvian flag was a banned image, which if used, would be punishable under Article 58 of the USSR, resulting in imprisonment or death. Many of the Latvians within the local community had fled Latvia sometime during the events of the Second World War, and many remembered the Republic of Latvia, which up until 1944 prospered.
With strong ties to their Latvian identities, the Latvian expats came together to form a community in Washington state. This community gave rise to congregations, community centers, dance groups, and ultimately, the West Coast Latvian Education center.
Document Archive
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