Character of the Village

Jaana Rehnstrom, M.D., Women’s Rights Advocate

By Joy Pape, Brian J. Pape, AIA, and Kristiine Oja

We interviewed Dr. Rehnstrom and her long-time associate Kristiine Oja, at the doctor’s home on Morton Street.

Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in Finland and studied medicine at the University of Helsinki. From an early age, I’ve been passionate about human rights—something that really took root during my student years when I joined the Finnish section of Amnesty International. That’s how I met my husband in 1978—a fellow activist and professor at CUNY. I moved to New York in 1982, specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, married in 1983 and built a life here while raising our two children. Along the way, I also completed a Master’s in Public Health at Columbia University. In 2002, I started the Finland Center Foundation, a volunteer organization for expat Finns which operated in various rented spaces in town. 

After retiring from my medical career in 2015 to spend more time with my husband, I still wanted to do something meaningful. That’s when I launched the Kota Alliance, an organization born out of my earlier work with the Finland Center Foundation. Kota brought together my passions for women’s empowerment and human rights, especially for marginalized women. We officed at the Centre for Social Innovation, a co-working space in Chelsea, that went under in 2020 due to COVID. This led to re-locating the organization to Harlem in 2022 where we wanted to do something good after the devastation caused by the pandemic.

What brought you to the Village?
My husband rented the ground floor of our Morton Street home in 1965, and a year later bought the upper floors with some partners. I’ve lived here since 1982, raising our kids while also spending summers in Finland at our cabin in the archipelago. I’ve lived here longer than I ever lived in Finland—so this truly feels like home.

What does the Village mean to you?
Even though much of our activism was global, everyone needs a place to feel grounded, and the Village has done that for me. It reminds me a bit of Finland—the human scale of the buildings, the quiet charm, the connection to nature. The garden plot means a great deal to me. Finns are close to nature, so waking up in the morning and seeing the trees and flowers from my window makes all the difference. It was also a great place to raise our children who attended Grace Church School. One now lives in Brooklyn and the other in the Hudson Valley. 

What do you enjoy doing in the Village?
I love walking in Hudson River Park with my Nordic walking poles—it’s a great workout and keeps my arms and wrists in shape, too. It’s a nod to skiing back home, even if there’s no snow. I’ve learned to laugh off the curious looks!

What are your favorite restaurants or shops in the Village?
Rafele, Snack Taverna, The Clam, Merriweather. McNulty’s for tea and coffee; Health and Harmony for good food. Golden Rule Wine & Liquor.

How did the pandemic affect you?
I lost my husband in 2019, and I’m thankful he passed at home and didn’t have to go through the isolation of the pandemic. That time also inspired me to move Kota Alliance to Harlem. I felt an urgency to be more present in a community that was deeply impacted and needed rebuilding and hope.

Tell us about your passions.
I’ve been an activist my entire life, and as a physician, I treated women from all walks of life—including refugees who had endured unimaginable trauma like Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. I was part of the Asylum Network of Physicians for Human Rights, where I worked closely with female asylum seekers. Throughout my volunteer work with various Non-Government Organizations, I saw the fragmentation and lack of resources that held many women-led initiatives back. That’s why I created Kota Alliance—to bring people together and create a collaborative space focused on empowerment and healing.

We spent time listening to what the community needed, especially single mothers and marginalized women. That led us to focus on arts & culture and health & wellness. Art, in particular, is a powerful tool for mental health and self-expression.

And if you or your guests ever need a place to stay in the city, check out the Kota Nest at St. Nicholas Place. The house has a history as a guest home for people visiting 5th Avenue residents—and we’re carrying on that tradition. It’s cozy, affordable, and just a 45-minute subway ride away on the A or D lines.

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The Kota Alliance– A Global Hub for Gender Equity

Kota Alliance empowers marginalized women and girls through advocacy, arts & culture, and health & wellness. Based in West Harlem, Kota connects local action with global gender equity efforts.

• This is a collaborative space for women entrepreneurs and organizations advancing gender equality.
• Programs include free weekly yoga, intergenerational healing and education for girls/gender non-conforming  teens and families, book launches, and more.
• All programs are run in partnership with community organizations.
• “Kota” means a teepee-like structure in the Sami language of Lapland—symbolizing shelter and gathering.
• Kota Nest offers women-only short-term lodging, welcoming all who identify as women, and providing a safe, empowering environment.
• Learn more at https://www.kota-alliance.org