On a campus shaped by a century of hands, stories, and songs, the future appears subtly: in the shuffle of feet across worn floors, the tentative grip of an instrument, and the moment a student realizes they can create something on their own.  

Young people at the Folk School are given not just access to tradition, but a place within it. Music and Dance Programs Coordinator Wendy Graham works closely with youth, watching progress turn to confidence as young musicians familiarize themselves with plucking guitar strings and the song of a fiddle.  

“In our JAM [Junior Appalachian Musicians] program, they may be brand new to an instrument, and they get to learn it. Our teens have become leaders in the community. Now, they are mentors for other students. They’ve taken a leadership role,” Graham said. 

Through rhythm and repetition, students learn tradition is not distant. It is something they can hold, shape, and pass on. Programs like JAM, Little Middle, and the N.C Museum of Art’s Artist Innovation Mentorship (AIM) give students a sense of place in something larger than themselves, improving the relevance and accessibility of Folk School programs and services to diverse audiences. 

“They’re learning how to be part of the community,” Graham said. 

That spirit of connection grows through partnerships at Olive’s Porch, where staff collaborate with organizations like Helping Inspire Gifts of Hope, Trust and Service (HEIGHTS) and Big Brothers Big Sisters. From community service to freedom of expression, these partnerships ensure youth have access to creative opportunities while enhancing programming through the Folk School’s resources. 

For some young people, their first introduction to creativity happens through programming like AIM. Last year, Murphy Middle School students were given space to explore campus, led by teacher and photographer Brain Gatti. The Folk School and Olive’s Porch have coordinated six sessions of the AIM program so far.  

“When they get a chance to express themselves, I feel as though they love it. There’s no art class at Murphy Middle, which is why the AIM program can happen. Anytime they get a chance to interact or do something creative, they eat it right up,” Gatti said. 

For Gatti, the experience revealed not only the urgency of access, but the need to create spaces where young people can explore, experiment, and be seen. 

“AIM bridges these gaps. I think it’s extremely important to introduce them, to carry on traditions and allow self-expression,” Gatti said.  

As the Folk School leans ever forward, its future thrives within the young people who will carry on traditions, reshaping them in ways still unfolding. Embarking through a doorway to the next century, they will hold it ajar for others as previous generations did for them.