The Folkways team isn’t just a pro at hosting local events, they are individually active in the community both in and outside of their roles with the organization. Let’s meet each team member, learn about their work at Folkways, and what they’re up to in our community!

Amanda Frost

CampusFM Coordinator + Multimedia Specialist = Outreach Co-Facilitating CampusFM, & Creating In-House Design and Artwork

Amanda attended Minnesota State University Moorhead for Fine Art and continues her artistic practice in creating artwork for local museums, slow fashion for local markets, and painting commissions for her business, Amanda Frost Creations. In her spare time, she loves thrifting, skateboarding, and scrapbooking.

“My work at Folkways is deeply integrated with the FM Community through our CampusFM program. I’m always on the lookout for new spots and resources to share with our audience. Recently, our CampusFM creators have started hosting our own events to connect with the community. We’ve held five events so far and have successfully engaged with students in our area.”

Amanda Frost Creations: I enjoy painting portraits of homes in our community. It’s a pleasure to drive around the city and point out the different homes I’ve painted for clients. This work allows me to connect with my neighbors, learn about the history of the homes, and discover who has cherished living in them.

Artistic Workshops: As an artist with experience working with children and adults with disabilities, I love finding opportunities to share my talents and lead art workshops. For example, I participate in events like River Arts in Moorhead, where I can engage with the community through art.

Skateboarding: I started learning how to skateboard at 20 and enjoy attending Hawks Nests Women and Queer skateboarding nights. This inclusive environment has boosted my confidence as a woman skater. I also volunteer for Moorhead Park’s skate camps, helping youngsters feel comfortable on their boards.

Instagram | @AmandaFrostCreations
AmandaFrostCreations.com

“Even if you’re not a student, the CampusFM Instagram page is a fantastic resource for anyone to follow. Our creators post amazing content on local businesses, activities, resources, job opportunities, and much more.”

Emma Mclntyre

Manager of Development = Community Education, Sponsor Engagement, & Inclusive Community Building

Born and raised in Fargo, Emma left for college in Colorado, only to return postgraduation to collaborate with Emerging Prairie on TEDxFargo. Her fascination with community events began in high school after attending TEDxFargo, where she was introduced to Joe and Simone’s pioneering placemaking initiatives with Folkways. This experience was transformative, especially their involvement in a popup park at the former Sahr’s Sudden Service. The influence of Folkways was pivotal in Emma’s decision to make Fargo their home once again, and she is immensely proud to be part of this team!

In addition to my role at Folkways, I am on the Organizing Committee for CreativeMornings Fargo, and member of the Great Plains Food Bank Board.

CreativeMornings Fargo is a monthly, free meetup for the creative community where we invite a speaker to share on a topic pre-selected by the CreativeMornings Global HQ. These meetups take place all over the world, and we’re proud to have an engaged local chapter here in Fargo.

Great Plains Food Bank is the only food bank in the state of North Dakota, recovering food that otherwise would go to waste and through its programs and services distributing it to those in need throughout North Dakota and Clay County, MN. Serving one in five individuals statewide, they host a range of programs that help keep North Dakotans fed.

Instagram | @emmamaemac
Linkedin | /emma-mcintyre-88654111a/

“I want to promo the local voter’s guide, I think local government is so important.”

Brenna Malard

Events Coordinator = Vendor and Talent Coordination, Business Incubation Support, & Volunteer Management and Outreach

Originally from Bismarck, ND, and a proud graduate of MSUM, Brenna works as an events coordinator at Folkways, a role she embraced after an internship experience. She loves bringing vibrant energy to Fargo through the events she creates and is passionate about supporting small business vendors and fostering community spirit. She enjoys trying new hobbies like reading, painting, thrifting, and spending time outside.

“Working at Folkways has been my gateway into the local FM community. Before, I mostly stayed on campus and didn’t really try things outside of school. Now, every day, I go to work and seem to learn about a new community event.”

Attending Local Events and Shows: I recently went to the Wild Terra Vintage Market, and it was so much fun. I also really enjoyed the Unglued Craft Fest. I’m obsessed with buying little trinkets to decorate my apartment, and vendor shows never fail to have something unique.

Volunteering: This summer, I really want to spend some time volunteering at different places. In the past, I’ve volunteered at CCRI, and this type of work is incredibly important to me.

Linkedin | /brenna-malard-1b96b4264

“I strongly advocate for people to put themselves out there and find an event or something that interests them to attend. Finding a third place to spend my time, other than work or school, has been transformative.”

Jeffrey Porter

Production Coordinator = Event Planning and Production & Project Collaboration

Jeffery has always been extremely passionate about crafting events that captivate audiences and create lasting memories—making his role as production coordinator a perfect fit!

“I’m very involved in my community—mostly through Folkways. My role allows me to be active downtown and throughout the city. With Folkways and other partners, I’ve also had opportunities to produce some local art and murals that support engagement in our community.”

In my spare time, I also work as a stagehand on the larger concerts and performances we have at large, local venues such as the FARGODOME, Bluestem Amphitheater, and sometimes the Alerus Center in Grand Forks. The wide variety of events that I help produce invites people to get together and enjoy being a part of our special community

Linkedin | /jeffrey-porter- 1413b419a

“My favorite projects I’ve helped Folkways create are definitely the many artworks and murals. The most recent one I’ve had the pleasure of supporting is called Valley Alley. It’s an interactive mural that depicts the flora and fauna of our beautiful Red River valley. This piece created a fun search-and-find game for anyone to enjoy.”

Tori Schmidt

Events Manager = Event Planning and Execution, Collaboration with Stakeholders, & Community Connection and Cultural Celebration

Having over a decade of experience in the wedding and event industry, Tori began by cleaning limousines for her family business and then moved to coordinating events at a local university. Seven years ago, she founded an event planning service, The Event Company. Now, as the events manager for Folkways, she can bring her community together by doing what she loves.

Folkways: As a fulltime team member, I am involved in projects that enhance the cultural and social fabric of our community. I work on initiatives that promote local arts, create public spaces encouraging community interactions, and organize events that bring people together.

Local Business Engagement: My family owns and works with several local businesses, which keeps me actively involved in the community. I engage with local vendors and artisans through our events, supporting small business incubation and growth.

Instagram | @_theeventcompany

“I am passionate about creating events that not only bring joy and excitement to the community but also support local businesses and artists. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our efforts contribute to a more vibrant and connected Fargo.”

Erica Kale

Marketing Manager= Strategic Marketing and Campaign Development, Content Creation and Social Media Management, & Public Relations

Erica is the marketing manager at Folkways, skillfully promoting community connection and cultural events. She oversees marketing campaigns, manages socials, and ensures broad community engagement for events. Erica is a passionate advocate for local businesses, an art enthusiast, and a lover of community events. A few of her favorite things include her cat, Taro, scrolling through TikTok, and savoring an iced chai latte with oat milk!

Engaging in Community Programs: I have participated in community programs such as volunteering for Startup Weekend, She Starts Week, and Creative Mornings and joining our local community Stonewall Sports chapter, which allows me to connect with other community members, learn, and contribute to local initiatives.

Attending and Promoting Events: I show up for and promote local events, ensuring I’m visible and supportive in the community.

Instagram | @kalesocialco
Instagram | @ericakale
Linkedin | /erica-kale
kalesocialco.com

“In today’s world, where there’s less natural interaction than in the past, it’s crucial to create spaces that foster a sense of connection and belonging. We all impact each other’s lives, and these shared spaces are essential for nurturing those connections.”