Founder

Lynn Elling grew up in Duluth, Minnesota before his family moved to Minneapolis. Following the graduation from the University of Minnesota in 1943 with a B.A. degree, Lynn attended Columbia University for three months to complete his Navy Officers training. As a World War II Naval Officer in the South Pacific, he surveyed the carnage of the battle of Tarawa, where 6,000 people were killed. From this point on he was haunted by the question, "How can we abolish war?"

After the war, Elling became an insurance again in Minneapolis, MN. In 1954 Lynn and his wife Donna traveled to Hiroshima, Japan where his life changed and he made a commitment to do whatever he could to promote a just and peaceful world.

Elling, who has five children, directed more of his efforts toward younger people. In 1988 he founded World Citizen, Inc. and introduced the Peace Site Program. There are 700 peace sites world wide, and 269 in Minnesota. The Peace Sites include schools, churches, resorts, government buildings, and businesses -- even the Mall of America! Lyn was also the co-founder of the Nobel Peace Prize Festival held each year at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Peace Education Program has been an addition that has enhanced and completed the three programs, which support the mission of World Citizen.

A Driving Dream

Watch the KTCA News Night segment "A Driving Dream." The clip highlights the life and ideas of Lynn Elling, World Citizen's founder.

Quicktime Video (41 MB)

MP3 Audio (3.7 MB)