Growing Home Fellowship
“Who’s coming next?” That question echoes throughout Appalachian Ohio as our aging community builders and leaders wonder who will carry forward the transformative work of the institutions essential to the well-being of our region.
The outmigration of our region’s young people is one of the greatest barriers to our communities’ well-being and to our vision: Flourishing people and flourishing communities, today and in perpetuity.
Introducing the Growing Home Fellowship
We launched our Growing Home Fellowship in 2023 to give young community builders a stake in the future of our region to increase the likelihood they will remain here. We invested in more than 100 emerging leaders across 29 counties – both financially and through a targeted program that teaches them how to identify community needs, develop solutions and assemble a network of partners to address local challenges.
Our Growing Home Fellows work with K-12 students as classroom educators, student support service providers, and behavioral and educational programming partners. They commit to live, work and volunteer in our region for five years and take part in a strengths-based leadership program that includes one-on-one coaching, service, skill development and more.
Fellowship Spotlights
Following his pitch at the fall Growing Home Fellowship retreat, Jake Alley presented an FAO grant to the Kiwanis Club of Lucasville and Growing Lucasville Opportunities to build the town’s first playground. The award was celebrated at Kiwanis’ spaghetti dinner with Jake and Scioto County Fellows Christina Myers and Megan Saxby.
As a board member of the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, Charli Montavon leads fundraising and conservation efforts that helped the southern Ohio waterway earn its designation as Ohio’s 17th State Scenic River – officially signed into effect at a November ceremony with Governor DeWine.
Teiara Saling secured funding to start a community garden at the Caldwell Public Library Annex, engaging youth and adults in planting and maintenance. After a successful summer harvest, she hosted a November “Clean Up and Hot Cocoa” day and is now working with a committee to expand community gardens across Noble County.
In October, Fellows Kaleigh Cox and Brianna Johnson hosted the second annual Appalachian Literary Arts and Storytelling Festival in Nelsonville with the help of Fellow Casey Cox. The two-day event featured writing workshops, poetry and music, highlighting artists from across the region.
Athens County educator Emma Albin represented Ohio teachers at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education’s 2025 Washington Week, where she met with legislators to discuss challenges in Appalachian schools and advocated for stronger educator preparation policies.
Zoie Clay, secretary of Third and Center’s board in Lawrence County, supports the nonprofit’s arts-based initiatives, including transforming a vacant warehouse into a community center – an idea she pitched and received funding for at the fall Growing Home Fellowship retreat.
The Foundation of Appalachian Ohio commissioned its inaugural class of Growing Home Fellows on Oct. 7, 2023. Part of an evening celebrating and inspiring community building, the commissioning ceremony was followed by a public presentation from David Brooks. The New York Times columnist and best-selling author shared insights from his book, “The Second Mountain,” which focuses on the joy that comes from service to community.
Impact Report 2023-2025
Impact Report 2023-2024
Watch as leaders and visionaries across Ohio and beyond give their time, expertise and encouragement to our fellows – gifts that will inspire all those committed to our communities.
Fall 2024 Growing Home Fellows Gathering
The Fall 2024 Growing Home Fellows gathering was held Sept. 7-8 in Zanesville, Ohio, with a focus on the Arts and Culture Pillar of Prosperity.
Learn More April 2024 Growing Home Fellows Gathering
The Spring 2024 Growing Home Fellows gathering was held April 20 at The Blakeslee Center in Middleport, Ohio, in conjunction with the Jenco awardee celebration.
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August 2023 Growing Home Fellows Gathering
The Summer 2023 Growing Home Fellows gathering was held Aug. 25-27 at Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County with a focus on the Health and Human Services Pillar of Prosperity
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April 2023 Growing Home Fellows Gathering
The inaugural Growing Home Fellows gathering was held April 15 at Nelsonville’s historic Stuart’s Opera House.
Learn MoreThrough gifts of time, talent, treasure and partnership, we are seeding the next generation of community builders and leaders whose impact will extend far beyond five years. Together, we are investing in the individuals, ideas and institutions that will deliver a Flourishing Appalachian Ohio.
The Growing Home Fellowship pilot is funded through a public-private partnership, with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education and private funding made possible by generous donors to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.
Special thanks to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine who, through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Program, appropriated funds through the Ohio Department of Higher Education to fund this pilot program. The program is being sustained by private donors, including an anonymous donor, Ken Taylor of Ohio CAT and gifts to FAO’s I’m a Child of Appalachia® Fund.
Questions?
Contact info@ffao.org or call 740-753-1111.