Giving Tag

04 Mar Folk School Stories: Jo Haas

“Magical.” That’s how Jo Haas describes the first time she visited our beloved Folk School. Five years ago, Jo was looking for an immersive experience that would really help her unplug from her busy life as CEO of the non-profit Kentucky Science Center.

“Our worlds are crazy. We have so many demands on our time and attention, and we get so wrapped up in delivering for other people.” Jo was seeking something that would kick off the first week of an annual four-week sabbatical; one that would be decidedly “therapeutic and peaceful.”

“I didn’t use my car once the entire week. I slept in Mill House and would walk up that hill through the mist each morning to Keith House for MorningSong. Like where else do you get that: someone singing to you in the morning while you drink your coffee?!”

14 Nov Folk School Stories: Luz and John Frye

After months of discussion with our Folk School family, we have a new mission statement: The Folk School transforms lives, bringing people together in a nurturing environment for experiences in learning and community life that spark self-discovery. Using her own creative imagery, student and donor Luz Frye voiced the same sentiment when she and her husband, John, were here last month for our Fall Festival, followed by a week of classes. “This place is kind of like a plant nursery for people. It’s a people nursery. We’re being grown.”  John agreed, saying, “We see that people are engaged in improving themselves and bringing themselves joy. Then you combine that with meeting people from all over who you never would have had a chance to meet. It’s a pretty unbelievable place in terms of how people come together.”