The Center for Folklore Studies' Ohio Field School initiative has been awarded $26,035 from Ohio State's Connect & Collaborate grant, which is administered by the Office of Outreach and Engagement, to support Sharing Visions: Intergnerational Work in Appalachian Ohio. 

In partnership with faculty at Ohio University, staff at OSU Extension in Scioto and Perry Counties, and community partners in the region, The Center for Folklore Studies at The Ohio State University will document and promote cross-county, intergenerational relationship-building, capacity building, and succession planning for grassroots organizations in Scioto and Perry counties in Appalachian Ohio. The project contains three core components:

• Participating in a series of focus groups led by Dr. Rachel Terman (Sociology and Anthropology, Ohio University) aimed at understanding and documenting visions and practices of generational leaders (aged 18-35 or 35+) in Appalachian Ohio.
• Hosting two summits (one each in Scioto and Perry Counties) for established and emerging local organizers aimed at improving social connectivity and access to organizational resources at the regional (cross-county) level.
• Incorporating the project theme into the 2020 Ohio Field Schools grad/undergrad course at Ohio State, and creating student service-learning projects in Scioto and Perry Counties.

Our long-term desired outcome is longevity and flexible continuity for small community organizations in Appalachian Ohio. The overarching goal of this work is to both reinforce existing relationships and create new connections and structures that will sustain small community organizations in Appalachian Ohio beyond the life of the proposed project.  

This project is made possible through a Connect and Collaborate Grant, a program supporting innovative and scholarly engagement programs that leverage academic excellence of The Ohio State University in mutually beneficial ways with external partners. We are appreciative to the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), OSU Extension, the Office of Service-Learning, and the Office of Outreach and Engagement for their support of Sharing Visions!