What we do
What is folklife?
Folklife refers to the ways in which people’s cultural histories and innovations inform their behavior and beliefs in the present as well as shape their visions for the future.
Read more about folklife in Dr. Mary Hufford’s essay “American Folklife: A Commonwealth of Cultures” on the Library of Congress website or visit the American Folklore Society’s website and What is Folklore? website to learn more!
Theory of Change
Our goal is to put our approach (community-based research) and methodologies (collaborative ethnography, archiving for social justice, critical oral history, etc.) to work in ways that will directly and indirectly impact local life in southern Ohio such that local perspectives and knowledge are centered in decision-making processes. We engage in deep listening and participatory change in order to document, share, and provide educational opportunities and materials about the complex histories and present of the sub-region in equitable, and inclusive ways that work toward social and environmental justice.
Approach & Methodology
Community-Based Research and Collaborative Ethnography are approaches and methodologies that emphasize community input and direction at every stage of the research process from conceptualization and research to implementation and the sharing of findings. Co-investigation, capacity building, co-writing, and responsive design are core values at the heart of Southern Ohio Folklife. We work slowly and intentionally, knowing that processes are as important as outcomes.
Our Program
Conducting collaborative ethnographic fieldwork in partnership with southern Ohio residents.
Providing/facilitating/collaborating to produce educational programs and materials (workshops, internships, field schools, exhibits, publications, etc.) for the general public that showcase folklife practices and facilitate critical discussions about folklife.
Providing/leading/collaborating to produce dialogues about enduring and emerging cultural topics.
Collaborating with individuals and institutions with relevant missions to provide research, training, and networking opportunities to scholars, practitioners, and community leaders.
Connecting with folklife to create and test collaborative, participatory approaches and methodologies and to advocate the role of local knowledge in systemic change for social and environmental justice.
Hosting, curating, and collaborating performances, demonstrations, and activities that share, amplify, and deepen knowledges of diverse local cultures in the southern Ohio area.