Nancy Laird, son Stephen Joseph Laird, and daughter Shannon Laird Faeth are a warmly connected throughout many generations: children, grandchildren, and Nancy’s husband, who is passed, but still very active amongst them.

Melissa English has I lived in the same house in Northside since 2002.  Her strongest focal point for family is how her mom's family made time for her and nurtured her. She was born and raised in Evanston, Indiana, down river from Cincinnati. That river culture is real, and a seminal part of her conception of home

Robin Roland lives in Cincinnati’s Westwood neighborhood. He has learned the importance of family connection through the hard work of keeping close to family members despite divorce and other separations. He says, “A family can be torn apart, but still you arise to the occasion to preserve your family.” The stories of where we came from, where we are, and where we're going helps maintain the integrity of family ties.

Sherry Cook Stanforth is part of a multi-generational family of musicians. She tells us, the gourd dulcimer given to her as a young girl has become the symbol of the “harmony and care that crosses from generation to generation and those seeds walk within me and move me to want to be a steward for other people who come after me.” Like the gourd dulcimer, this can be “as simple as gathering people into a circle to express themselves and spend time together.”

Shavonna Gilbert’s mother, Phyllis, was involved with the Urban Appalachian Council since before Shavonna was born and throughout her life. Shavonna grew up on the west side, Over the Rhine and in Kentucky. She keeps the next generation involved with trips to the Appalachian Festival.  “I think it's good to keep that going and just have that support system that they may not get other places.”

Theresa Marcum’s parents moved from Jackson County, Kentucky to Norwood, Ohio, which is where she was born. The family kept ties with family in Kentucky, traveling every weekend to her grandparents in Gray Hawk. Though her parents are now gone, Theresa and her extended family remain connected, and Theresa’s recent cancer diagnosis has brought the family even closer together. Theresa continues her involvement with Appalachia through volunteer work with the Christian Appalachia Project.

For Kelly Domka, music is key to connection and safety. An adoptee working through her own family’s fracturing, she found community in Cincinnati through the Queen City Balladeers, where she loves lifting her voice in singing circles.

All it takes is the sound of a wind-up music box to take Kyra Liedtke back to memories of her grandmother. From listening to music to making crafts, her time with family helped root her in the idea of an unapologetic love, one that includes, but is not limited to, blood relatives.

Kay Boniface’s European parents settled in New York State, just one county outside of the official Appalachian Region. She recalls growing up on a farm they shared with another family, and her exposure to Appalachian culture through core values and ways of living in community.

Judy Waldron’s love of music comes naturally, from her mother’s piano playing to her own love of folk music. She talks about the history of music in her family and how it shaped her world.

For Jody Knoop, music holds the key to her connection to Appalachia and its culture.

Jennifer Brierly, who is also featured in the Perceptions of Home exhibit, was actually raised around Cincinnati’s East End.  For her, family can be quite emotional at this time. She notes that family is both hard and soft. No matter the struggles, she knows that her family remains strong, and in a lot of ways.

James Owens’ family is from Harlan, Kentucky. He keeps his father’s coal miner’s helmet, covered with stickers and flecked with dents, on a bookshelf. It’s a reminder of the hard work and history that paved the way for his life today as well as his father, who died of Black Lung.

Erinn Sweet grew up not far from Cumberland Falls and now lives in Newport, Kentucky. For her, chewing a stick of Doublemint Spearmint gum transports her to her youth and the adventures she shared with her maternal grandmother, who shaped much of her early years.

Donna Jones was born and raised in Cincinnati, but her roots are firmly planted in Corbin and Harlan, Kentucky. She shares the values that have kept her going through good times and bad, and the ‘no excuses’ approach to life she shares with her wealth of friends in Lower Price Hill and beyond.

Corbin, Kentucky, native Debbie Hensley recalls stories of her father and grandfather and the value of family over material wealth.

Arleene Salyer-Oliver shares the story of a little gray rock that carries a lot of family history. Though only about an inch and a half long, it’s an important reminder of the farm that her father grew up on.

Ashley Hopkins has a long, long, deep Appalachian ancestry, and teaches Appalachian studies at Miami University. Hear her talk about how in her family, she was always taught to work together, to fight for common needs, and take care of ourselves and one another.

Kamden Gilbert remembers annual family trips to the Appalachian Festival at Old Coney with his Mom and Grandma, where every year they sold apples.

Susan Binder grew up half in Price Hill and half in Los Angeles. But it was in Price Hill that she came to know and love her Appalachian neighbors, their food and especially their music.