Marion Voices Folklife & Oral History

Marion Voices Folklife & Oral History is a nonprofit organization based in Marion County, Ohio, dedicated to amplifying the cultural histories and traditions of diverse communities within the area. Founded in 2017, the organization initially operated as a program under the Marion County Historical Society before evolving into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2021[1][3].

Mission and Objectives

Marion Voices focuses on preserving and promoting the folklife, cultural arts, and oral histories of Marion County's underrepresented communities, including Black, brown, immigrant, rural, queer, working-class, and disabled populations[1]. The organization aims to foster a just and inclusive environment by leveraging oral history and folklife documentation to facilitate critical community conversations about identity, culture, and collective futures[1].

Activities and Programs

Marion Voices engages in a variety of activities to achieve its mission, including:

• Community Co-curation and Collaboration: The organization partners with community cultural artists and public folklife organizations to develop exhibits, festivals, apprenticeship programs, workshops, and historical marker nominations[1].
• Folk Arts Residency Program: Marion Voices offers a K-12 folk arts residency program designed to integrate cultural arts education into local schools[1].
• Equity Budgeting Model: The organization promotes economic justice through its equity budgeting praxis, offering workshops and tutorials to support fair compensation and recognition of community collaborators' labor[1].

Advocacy and Solidarity

Marion Voices explicitly supports anti-racism and anti-police brutality efforts, aligning itself with abolitionist principles to advocate for an end to systemic violence against Black communities[1]. The organization emphasizes building solidarities across cultural, geographic, and racial differences to advocate for broader social and environmental justice in North-Central Ohio[1].

EIN and Registration

Marion Voices Folklife & Oral History operates under the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 87-1408176 and is registered as a nonprofit organization in the United States[2][5].