FEAA Annual Report 2023

ANNUAL REPORT 2023

“Stick your finger down into

the

ground

and

smell where you are!

This is where the needs of the people are found, which can be different in different times and places.

Where

this

meets

the

abilities of the teacher, there

lies

the

school’s calling.”

Ludwig Schroder, 1872

folk

photo credit: John C. Campbell Folk School

photo credit: Arbutus Folk School

FEAA supports education as a tool in working toward economic equality, workers’ rights, antiracism / sexism, environmental restoration and protection,

as

environmental

well racism,

as

alternatives

militarism,

and

to the

weakening power of people’s voices in the face of unaccountable politicians and corporations.

The FEAA's commitment to this statement over the years has remained strong. As our capacity has grown, so has our reach and our ability to impact

social

believe

we

change; have

done

however,

we

enough,

do

not

particularly

concerning inclusion and elevation of BIPOC voices within the folk education movement.

We can and will do better! As we move into future

phases

of

our

work,

we

challenge

ourselves and those we support to expand the reach of our work, include all those that reside and work within our communities, and make our centers of folk schooling and folk education ones where interethnic / intercultural, antiracist allegiances may be cultivated and thrive.

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

05

Letter from FEAA President

07

A brief history of Folk Schools

09

Folk schools in America today

11

What does the FEAA do?

13

The Folk Education Network Project

14

2023 Highlights

15

Financial Statement of Activity

16

Board and Staff

17

Thank You

19

Resources

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

LETTER FROM FEAA PRESIDENT In this Annual Report, you will find

and the “WA State Living Traditions

numerous goals the Folk Education

Corps Planning,” co-facilitated by the

Association

(FEAA)

Folk Education Association of America

achieved. Since the founding of the

and the WA State Parks Folklore

FEAA

Program.

in

of

America

1976,

the

non-profit

organization has supported the Folk School

Movement

various

Numerous Folk Schools, organizations,

means and growth. Despite the world

staff, donors, and the FEAA Board of

challenges of 2023, I am pleased that

Directors

the FEAA was able to continue these

supported these critical programs. I

efforts

much-needed

appreciate all the commitment and hard

community engagement and support at

work that brought these projects to the

new and rewarding levels.

“table.” Much like the activity around

by

through

offering

have

developed

and

your dining table, the FEAA and Folk Much like the addition of The Folk

Schools work to bring people together

School Alliance in 2014, new grant-

through conversation, lifelong learning,

funded projects have supported the

and community engagement. Whether a

continued

folk

young child experiences noncompetitive

schools in the USA and Canada. Critical

learning for the first time or a cultural

projects launched in 2023 include the

bearer shares their knowledge with

“Singing in Community and Nurturing

individuals eager to learn,

expansion

of

new

Local Song-Leaders,” facilitated by the Center for Belonging Folk School; “Bridging and Bonding,” co-facilitated by the John C Campbell Folk School and the Smithsonian’s African American Craft Initiative;

Folk Schools change lives.

Folk Education Association of America

I

am

thankful

many

supporting

that

participating in our ongoing programs

supported the FEAA in 2023 through

in 2024. In addition, I encourage you to

program participation, memberships, or

explore the opportunities at the sixty-

financial support. Suppose you are

five Folk Schools included on our

unfamiliar with Folk Schools or have

website.

organizations

and

for

Annual Report

the

individuals

folk

education

and

had limited contact with the FEAA. In that case, I invite you to explore our

I wish you peace, joy, and happiness in

mission

2024.

of

“promoting

humanistic

personal development, understanding of one's own and other's cultural diversity,

and

commitment

to

community growth.”

The FEAA has plenty of room at our table, so I invite you to join us by Jerry Jackson, FEAA President

photo credit: Center for Belonging Folk School

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

A BRIEF HISTORY OF FOLK SCHOOLS The Folk School movement finds its

2.) The principle of folkelighed, offers

roots in 19th century Denmark, with

an alternative to nationalism. It is a

Nikolai

(NFS)

form of patriotism that values culture

Grundtvig whose vision for education is

and identity while emphasizing that

credited with supporting Denmark’s

other nations and cultures are equally

successful

as valued.

Frederik

Severin

transition

to

democracy.

Grundtvig was a philosopher, poet, theologian,

educator,

historian,

composer of hymns, translator, and

3.) Education should be for all aspects of life and lifelong.

social critic. Education, however, was one of his primary concerns. He wanted

4.) The movement that gave rise to

education to instill a pride in national

folk schools was local, decentralized,

culture and a love of learning that

and grassroots.

would be lifelong. “Schools for Life” as Grundtvig called them were to assist

The United States is experiencing a

people in understanding their own

resurgence of folk schools. In the last

identity

five years, many new folk schools have

and

to

strengthen

and

empower communities.

been founded. In this context, folk education offers the possibility of

Steven Borish, a Grundtvig scholar,

revisioning local life, culture, and social

proposes four lessons that folk schools

ecology.

have to offer: The varied manifestations of Folk 1.) Real education begins with the

Schools in the U.S. today reflect a hope

communication of a sense of personal

for making a transition from an

mission and purpose, and the belief that

unsustainable industrial society toward

everyone has the ability to acquire the

sustainable, post-modern societies.

skills and knowledge to accomplish that mission.

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

photo credit: Folk School Fairbanks

Folk schools connect and build a myriad of community resources, and they capitalize on networking and collaboration at its finest. Folk schools can provide much needed enrichment and balance to public schools during an era of enormous pressure for academic and intellectual achievement.

Folk schools around the United States: Offer a local, place-conscious educational experience.

Encourage a recovery of local voice, empowerment and cultural memory.

Emphasize, dialogue, conversation, and relationships.

Offer the expression of an alternative educational paradigm, one that is collaborative, noncompetitive, experiential, and holistic.

Provide a context for diverse groups to come together for shared learning.

Build collaborations and networks among diverse community groups and organizations.

Provide a context for the presentation and discussion of local issues.

Build on local strengths.

Inspire local economic initiatives that support the local economy.

Build appreciation of local culture and agriculture.

FOLK SCHOOLS IN AMERICA TODAY member testimonial:

“The FEAA is to folk schools what a folk school is to its community. The FEAA helps us feel more at home and connected in the small world of folk education.

COUNTRIES

3

67 SCHOOLS

member testimonial:

We appreciate the resources it offers & the opportunity to network and share successes and challenges with other small folk schools” Lucy Soderstrom Ely Folk School, Ely, Minnesota elyfolkschool.org

150+ FEAA MEMBERS

“Please know how grateful I am to have had you and the FSA during my 5+ years at Shake Rag Alley especially during the 2020 pandemic months when the CoP meetings were so therapeutic. Those meetings and the FSA peer dialogue were critical to helping me advise our Board on best practices for moving forward rather than shutting down - both literally and emotionally!”

Sarah Lomasz Flesch former member of the Community of Practice

photo credit: Arbutus Folk School / Courtesy of Julie Stutzman

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

What does the FEAA do?

01 EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Communities of Practice - group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals, and often focusing on sharing best practices and creating new knowledge. Interaction on an ongoing basis is an important part of this.

Folk School Alliance Community of Practice meetings are sponsored by the Folk Education Association of America and occur every month on the 4th Tuesday with the exception of July and December, when no meetings are held. Offered free of charge to members.

Educational Webinars - 2023 topics include ‘Understanding Grundtvig’ and Measuring Impact with Life.School.House.

Organizational Development Coaching with Dawn Jackman Murphy (offered free of charge to members)

02 PROMOTION

Partner podcast episodes in USA and Denmark Sharing resources and network support via social media - Instagram and Facebook Networking with like-minded organizations and publications, including Church and Life, The Bridge, Midwest Living, and Craftsmanship Quarterly.

Distribution of brand new posters and rack cards (rack card shown on right)

Online store with t-shirts, books, stickers, and more!

03 RESEARCH Folk Education Network Participatory Action Research Grant, funded by AmeriCorps Office of Research and Evaluation (more information on page 10) Living Traditions Corps AmeriCorps Planning Grant

04 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Co-conspiration with several international organizations, including the Grundtvig Forum, Global Network for Folkhighschool Research, Bildung Network, and the Association for World Education

05 IN-PERSON CONVENINGS FEAA Conference in 2025!

photo credit: Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts

photo credit: North House Folk School

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

FOLK EDUCATION NETWORK PROJECT 01

SINGING IN COMMUNITY AND NURTURING LOCAL SONGLEADERS

Throughout 2024, the Center for Belonging Folk School will host and facilitate a series of community singing leadership and listening experiences! These experiences will provide valuable insights, resources, and practical techniques to integrate the power of song into folk schools.

We hope that this project seeds an expansion of community singing through folk schools.

Interweaving song into the daily rhythms of folk schools; Creating belonging and well being through song; Supporting communities to better cooperate across differences; and Ensuring song leaders and singing have a place in folk schools.

AND BONDING: AN AFRICAN AMERICAN CRAFT 02 BRIDGING ALLIANCE AND JOHN C CAMPBELL FOLK SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP The Bridging and Bonding collaboration aims to increase access, opportunity, and visibility for African American craft artists at the John C. Campbell Folk School (JCCFS) and beyond. JCCFS and the new African American Craft Alliance (launched in 2020 as the Smithsonian’s African American Craft Initiative), will work together to develop a scalable and replicable model for equity and inclusion at folk schools through community building and learning exchange opportunities, culminating in a large-scale convening at JCCFS in 2025. Over the course of the project, activities and resources will be developed to improve social cohesion and collaboration within the folk schools and beyond, leveraging a community-based approach to sustainable change.

TRADITIONS CORPS: A WASHINGTON STATE FOLK 03 LIVING SCHOOLING AMERICORPS PROGRAM PLANNING PROCESS During 2023-24, the Folk Education Network is partnering with AmeriCorps, Washington State Parks, and other partners to develop a Folk School-like model for civic engagement. The goal is to reduce rural isolation and increases community health through building connections and networking resources. This planning grant, funded by AmeriCorps, will develop a three-year operation grant proposal to identify and connect sites, partners, needs, and AmeriCorps members to hold community gatherings, and develop and expand a replicable model that can be used in other states with a variety of partners.

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

2023 HIGHLIGHTS

IN 2023, WE GAVE

FEN Grant Convening at John C. Campbell Folk School, September 2023

$4,050

WORTH OF ORGANIZATIONAL COACHING SERVICES OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO MEMBERS

27 hours 23 groups OF COACHING WITH

Community of Practice attendance rose by 76.47% 30 25 20 15 10 5

20 23 M ar 20 23 A pr 20 23 M ay 20 23 Ju n 20 23 A ug 20 23 Se p 20 23 O ct 20 23 N ov 20 23

Fe b

Ja n

20 23

0

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITY January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023

INCOME $419 Individual Contributions $16 Amazon Smiles $155,917 Restricted Grants $1,500 Membership $810 Webinars $1,121 Retail Sales -------------------------------$159,783 Total --------------------------------

EXPENSES Salaries, Taxes, Program Expenses $105,368 $54,538 Contract & professional services $966 Other -------------------------------$160,872 Total -------------------------------(-$1,089) Net Profit or Loss

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

BOARD AND STAFF Jerry Jackson President Sylvia S. Bagley Vice President Kerri Hamos Treasurer Kirsten Skoglund Secretary Mary Cattani Board Member Dawn Jackman Murphy Board Member/Programs Director Jennifer Rose Escobar Board Member Terri Van Orman Board Member Regina H. Jennings Board Member Devon Lee Board Member Mari Sanborn FEN Grant Program Coordinator Annamary Fitzgerald Living Traditions Corps Project Manager

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTING MEMBERS Marine Mills Folk School Frank Hamilton School Happiness Hills Farm Avon Hills Folk School Folk School of Fayetteville Folk Horizons Folk School The Folk School, Fairbanks Honeybee Folk School

Okanagan Folk School Handy Village Institute Tarweed Folk School Porcupine Mountain Folk School Finnish American Folk School Ms. Caitlin’s School of Blacksmithing Center for Belonging Folk School Ely Folk School

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS Pat Gooding, Jessa Front, Greg Wright, Jeffrey Sheldon, Cynthia Taylor, David and Jane Rasmussen, Jerry Jackson, and Kerri Hamos

THANK YOU The Folk Education Association of America is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The Folk Education Association of America identifies, supports, and facilitates community-based, learner-led education as a strategic tool for community organizing.

Regular monthly donations reinforce our work, and with your support, we can continue to promote, provide resources and support, and connect folk educators and folk schools across America. Please consider supporting our mission with either a onetime gift or a continuing, monthly donation.

If you would like to discuss the impact your gift can have, please email Dawn Murphy at dawn@folkschoolalliance.org.

Donate online at: FOLKSCHOOLALLIANCE.ORG/DONATE Mail donations to: 8305 Evergreen Dr. NE Olympia, WA 98506

photo credit: Ely Folk School

photo credit: marine mills folk school, courtesy of Molly Sanford @RepairMinnesota

Folk Education Association of America

Annual Report

RESOURCES Borish, S. (1991). Land of the living: Danish folk high schools and Denmark’s nonviolent path to modernization. Nevada City, CA: Blue Dolphin.

Vicky Eiben, Ed.D. (Spring 2015) A Brief History of Folk Schools Creating Communities of Practice - Edmonton Regional Learning Consortium Folk Schools pictured in report: John C. Campbell Folk School, NC Center for Belonging Folk School, IA Ely Folk School, MN Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, TN North House Folk School, MN Olive’s Porch, NC Marine Mills Folk School, MN Folk School Fairbanks, AK Arbutus Folk School, WA Report compilation and layout Mari Sanborn.

photo credit: Olive’s Porch

WWW.FOLKSCHOOLALLIANCE.ORG