Carried by Culture: Bridging Silicon Valley and Estonia at West Coast Estonian Days 2026

Sean Paavo Krepp writes that hosting LEP in the heart of Silicon Valley is symbolic, because today's artificial intelligence revolution has created an entirely new wave of immigration to the San Francisco Bay Area, placing it at the epicenter of technological change.

Sean Paavo is the Director of AI at Teksystems Global Services and International liaison of Korp! Vironia USA Chapter with Korp! Vironia, Estonia. He is one of the organizers of West Coast Estonian Days and is pictured here as a member of the San Francisco Estonian Choir attending the Estonian Song Festival in 2019.

Carried by Culture

For me, Eesti has always been more than a geographic location – it is a set of values, a language, and a way of life. Growing up in the Estonian diaspora in Canada, my roots were planted early. As my career in technology took me across the globe – eventually returning to Estonia, marrying my wonderful wife Kaidi, and later raising our children, Markus and Sofia, to speak Estonian while we lived and worked in Africa – I realized that our culture is something we carry with us regardless of where we are. When our family finally settled on the US West Coast in 2015, we were immediately embraced by a vibrant community that truly embodies this year’s West Coast Estonian Days theme: Carried by Culture (Kultuur hoiab meid).

Lääneranniku Eesti Päevad (LEP) 2026 will take place in San Francisco from June 26-28, 2026. 

A legacy built on the West Coast

The history of this festival which rotates between Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles every two years, is a testament to the resilience of our diaspora. LEP was initiated right here in San Francisco in 1953, driven by leaders with a profound vision for our community’s future. One such giant was Korp! Vironia Alumni John Ostrat. He was not only instrumental in securing the building that served as the “unofficial“ Eesti Maja for Bay Area Estonians, but he also spearheaded the creation of West Coast Estonian Days with other Bay Area and LA leaders, later serving as its honorary president in 1975.

Today, as a proud Vironus, I feel a deeply personal connection to furthering the goals he set in motion over 70 years ago. We honor his legacy this year alongside a new, younger generation of organizers eager to carry the torch. It answers the question we often ask ourselves: Is there a new generation of diaspora Estonians willing to carry our culture forward? The answer is a resounding yes.

Why Silicon Valley? Why now?

Hosting LEP in the epicenter of Silicon Valley is profoundly symbolic. Our West Coast community was born predominantly from World War II refugees seeking safe harbor. Today, the artificial intelligence revolution has created an entirely new wave of immigration to the Bay Area. We are at ground zero of this technological shift. For Estonians, this presents a unique opportunity to understand and influence the development, commercialization, and safety of frontier AI models globally.

But beyond technology, the geopolitical stakes have never been higher. We are navigating turbulent times as Western alliances shift the security architecture in Europe and, by extension, Estonia. As Estonian Ambassador to the US Kristjan Prikk said at our annual Independence Day celebration just as the war in the Ukraine began, “A small country cannot have too many friends.” Coming together is no longer just a celebration; it is a vital demonstration of unity. To continue to grow our culture and extend our values, we must actively build bridges between our diaspora, Estonia, friends of Estonia - deepening our roots right here on the West Coast.

A program blending tech and tradition

LEP 2026 promises a rich convergence of our past and our future. Attendees will experience the cultural cornerstones that define us – our language, education, dance, and music. A combined West Coast Estonian Choir and Dance group will be joined by prominent musical performers such as acclaimed pianist Hando Nahkur, bassoonist Martin Kuuskman, singer Elina Born and musician Robert Vaigla. 

Alongside these traditions, the program features robust geopolitical, commercial, and educational content. You will leave with a deeper understanding of both the heritage that grounds us, the politico-economic bonds that connect us and the AI that is reshaping our world.

We are incredibly honored that this year’s event will be officially inaugurated by Kristina Kallas, the Estonian Minister of Education, as well as Ambassador Prikk who, along with entrepreneurs and cultural icons from Estonia, will be bridging life in Estonia with the lives of the Estonians who will be attending from across the US and Canada. 

Join us

None of this would be possible without the profound investment of time, funding, and passion from our volunteers, sponsors, and attendees – it takes a village. I want to personally thank everyone who is dedicating themselves to making this event a reality.

I invite you to come and participate. Whether you are part of the diaspora, a resident of Estonia, or simply a friend of Estonia, join us in San Francisco. Let us celebrate our heritage, explore the frontiers of innovation, and ensure that the next generation remains forever Carried by Culture.

See you at LEP 2026!