40 under 40 – 2019 winners

Joseph Radinovich

Joseph Radinovich
Current City: Ironton, MN
College: Macalester in St. Paul, MN

Family is from Lika, Croatia

Joe began his career as a paraprofessional at elementary and secondary schools right after college. After that, Joe worked as a political organizer and later a union organizer. Later, Joe was a State Legislator, then an Assistant Commissioner at a state agency. In 2012, Joe Radinovich became the youngest member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives, and has developed a career in politics and public service from that point forward. Joe managed two political campaigns–one for Congressman Rick Nolan in 2016, and then Mayor Jacob Frey’s in 2017. In 2018, Joe ran for Congress in the 8th District. He still believes that this is the land of opportunity and equality, and he fights for those beliefs wherever he goes.

His great grandfather was Slovenian, and his great-grandmother was Croatian.They moved to America in the early part of the 20th century to find a better life and more opportunities. They worked hard in the mines and around the home, and they built a large family. Where he grew up, people were referred to as “Bohunks,” Joe always felt a kindred spirit with all of the other “-viches” and “-iches” in town.

There were plenty of them. In fact, when they were kids, their friends who didn’t have Slavic last names would often affectionately joke by adding an “ich” to the end of their name so they could fit in. In his part of Minnesota, these last names gave him a sense of belonging and a sense of history.

He is a supporter of the Lika Garden in Ironton, Minnesota, a Croatian memorial garden for children and grandchildren of immigrants to the Cuyuna Iron Range.

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