Folkways: How Local Nonprofits Shaped My Sense Of Belonging
Growing up in the Midwest, helping my neighbor wasn’t a grand gesture. Being helpful to others has always just been a part of my routine. I will happily shovel a sidewalk that technically isn’t mine or pick up a friend from the airport. These moments of caring for my community are more than being “Minnesota
Growing up in the Midwest, helping my neighbor wasn’t a grand gesture. Being helpful to others has always just been a part of my routine. I will happily shovel a sidewalk that technically isn’t mine or pick up a friend from the airport. These moments of caring for my community are more than being “Minnesota nice”; they are a way to stay connected to the place and people around me. The same mindset applies to showing up for local nonprofits, which play a vital role in strengthening communities by meeting needs and creating connections.
As a teenager, I began volunteering with local nonprofits. At first, if I’m honest, it was partly for college applications, but something shifted the longer I stayed. The more time I spent volunteering or using resources, the more I realized nonprofits weren’t just filling gaps. They were quietly shaping my sense of belonging within the Red River Valley. Much of what I love about the region and its resources exists because someone chose to show up.
These ten local nonprofits have shaped how I experience belonging in Fargo–Moorhead:
Folkways: Fosters a Sense of Belonging
Mission: Folkways creates shared experiences that bring people together and combat social isolation and loneliness.
I’ve been attending Folkways events since 2015, back when the Red River Market was held in an empty building. Today, it’s the largest farmers’ market in North Dakota, but the feeling remains the same.
What Folkways gave me wasn’t just access to local food; it was consistency. Every Saturday morning, I knew I’d see familiar faces. Time with friends didn’t require planning weeks in advance; it was built into the habit of showing up. At every Folkways event, I’m guaranteed to run into friends and family, and over time, those surprising encounters strengthened my relationships, creating a stronger sense of belonging.
Hope Blooms: Inspires Showing Up in Small Ways
Mission: Hope Blooms uses donated flowers to build meaningful connections, often delivering bouquets to elders and others experiencing isolation.
Participating in a Hope Blooms bouquet-making workshop showed me how something simple can become connective. Arranging flowers alongside strangers naturally sparked conversation, and knowing where those flowers would end up gave the moment even more meaning.
Their work has made me more aware of the isolation many elders experience. It inspired me to call my grandpa more often and to chat with my elderly neighbor. I also love that their mission is sustainable and they use flowers that might have been thrown away to spark moments of joy.
River Keepers: Valuing the Red River Landscape
Mission: River Keepers advocates for the Red River through education, stewardship, and community engagement.
Through cleanups, classes, and reforestation efforts, River Keepers helped me see the Red River not just as something I pass by, but as a living ecosystem worth understanding and protecting. Their interpretive signs in local parks invite people to slow down and learn the history and impact of the river on our region.
Because of them, my walks and bike rides feel more intentional, and more connected to the land I live on.
Audubon Society: Reminder to Slow Down
Mission: The Audubon Society works to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and the habitats they depend on.
The local Audubon Society hosts Mindful Birding events that are less about naming birds and more about noticing the world around you. Now, when I’m in local parks, I listen more closely. I notice how trees move in the wind. I pay attention to migration, to cycles of leaving and returning. Noticing birds has become a reminder to incorporate moments of stillness and observation into my routine.
Prairie Public Broadcasting Supports Local
Mission: Prairie Public provides educational, cultural, and community-focused media that informs and connects people across the region.
In college, my car limited what I could listen to, so I relied on CDs and local radio. That limitation gave me a deeper appreciation for local broadcasting. I upgraded my car, but public radio remains playing on our vintage receiver. It’s comforting knowing the media I consume feels personal, and I enjoy hearing music and stories chosen by someone who is near me.
No League of Women Voters: Staying Informed
Mission: The North Dakota League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding voting rights.
Their resources, especially Vote411, have helped me feel more confident and informed during elections. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel empowered, knowing I have access to clear and reliable information.
Belonging also means feeling like your voice matters, and their work reinforces that.
Plains Art Museum: Be Curious and Playful
Mission: The Plains Art Museum connects artists and audiences to foster creative, welcoming, and resilient communities.
The museum’s free admission and rotating exhibitions make it an accessible place to reflect and recharge, especially during long winters. Every visit refreshes me and sparks my own ideas and imagination.
A great way to support the museum is to attend a class, which goes toward supporting both the museum and the teaching artist. They also have a ton of free artist talks throughout the year, making conversations around the arts accessible.
FM Trailbuilders: Encouraging Outdoor Connection
Mission: FM Trailbuilders builds and maintains sustainable trail systems that connect people to the outdoors.
Though I’m not a mountain biker, their work has made trail walking more enjoyable and accessible. Parks like MB Johnson, Gooseberry, and Lions Trail feel more immersive because of the care put into them.
Their work reminds me that access to nature is often the result of community effort.
Unseen Ministries: Being Part of Something Larger
Mission: Unseen Ministries supports organizations fighting human trafficking by strengthening funding, collaboration, and capacity.
This was the first nonprofit where I became deeply involved, using my skills in art and photography. I organized files, made calls, and created thank-you cards, and through that work, I learned that impact doesn’t always look dramatic.
Sometimes it looks like consistency, care, and contributing your skills to something larger than yourself.
I feel more connected to my community and get so much fulfillment when I engage with organizations around me. For me, local nonprofits have been some of the strongest teachers of what belonging and caring for a community can look like.
Folkways
Facebook | /wearefolkways
Instagram | @wearefolkways
Linkedin | /company/folkwaysco
Instagram | @campus.fm
Tiktok | @campusfm
Published February 5, 2026
