Jennifer Francis Alkire and her father, Michael Francis, founded the Appalachian Education Initiative in 2001 to enable West Virginia public school students of all grade levels to benefit from consistent and meaningful exposure to quality arts programs.  Both Jennifer and Michael were fortunate enough to be enriched by the arts as young people, and they credit their early arts experiences for many personal and professional successes.  They knew, however, that many young West Virginians – particularly those in economically depressed areas – are not so fortunate.  These young people often do not have access to the arts because of lack of funding for school-based arts and arts integration programs.  As a result, students are not introduced to opportunities for creative expression or to arts education experiences that help them to see how the arts are relevant to students’ life experiences. 

Jennifer and Michael decided to make a difference in their home state.  They were inspired to do this by the work of Elizabeth “Libby” Francis, Michael’s mother and Jennifer’s grandmother.  Elizabeth was a music and theater teacher at Magnolia High School in Wetzel County, West Virginia, for 30 years. She taught her students with dedication and energy and showed many the power the arts had to develop a student’s emotional, cognitive and social skills 

Jennifer and Michael began AEI as a nonprofit organization that will carry on Elizabeth Francis’ legacy of enriching the lives of young West Virginians through the arts.

Appalachian Education Initiative gratefully acknowledges the generous gift Mr. Francis provided in 2001 to support the formation of the organization.

Today, our supporters include:

Corporations and Foundations:

Anonymous

Arts Fund of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust

Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Mark Blankenship Enterprises LLC

Dominion Foundation

Walmart

Arts Fund of the Greater Morgantown Community Trust

Fairmont State Foundation, Inc. – FSU School of Fine Arts

Government Agencies:

West Virginia Development Office Community Participation Program in Kanawha and Monongalia Counties

Individuals :

Ethel D. Curry

Lourdes Karas

Francine Kirk

Billy & Carolyn Atkins

Arts & Cultural Organizations:  

Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild 

Huntington Museum of Art


Donated Goods and In-kind Services:

Bryan Boyd Creative Group, Inc.

Caryn Gresham Communications, LLC

Judel Glass

Republic National Distributing Company

Bridge Road Bistro

Boathouse Bistro