On March 19, 2025, the membership of New York Folklore held its Annual Meeting to elect officers and directors for the non-profit organization. The New York Folklore Society was formed in 1944; therefore, it celebrates its 81st year in 2025. As stipulated in the New York Folklore Society’s bylaws, board members serve a two-year term and can be elected in three consecutive terms. Board members are selected so as to represent the geography and demographics of the State of New York. Thank you to Mira Johnson for chairing the nominations committee.
With this election, I would like to extend a sincere “thank you” to outgoing Vice President, Maria Kennedy, and outgoing board member, Edward Millar. I and the organization have benefited greatly from your guidance and leadership!
After welcoming everyone to the meeting, and a round-robin of introductions by the assembled members, the slate was presented for election. Board members who are renewing their terms on the board include the following:
Sandra A. M. Bell, NYC
Evelyn D’Agostino, Finger Lakes
Mira C. Johnson, Hudson Valley
MacKenzie Kwok, NYC
Will Walker, Mohawk Valley
Board member Nada Odeh was elected to her first term as Vice President and Jim Hall was re-elected as Treasurer.
New Board members elected on March 19, 2025 are the following:
Violet Baron is the Executive Director of Long Island Traditions. Prior to joining LI Traditions, she worked as a multimedia reporter and producer for WFIU, an NPR affiliate station in Bloomington, Indiana. Baron received dual M.A. degrees in Folklore and Media Studies from Indiana University in 2022. She previously worked for Traditional Arts Indiana and The Association for Cultural Equity – Alan Lomax Archive, where she collected fieldwork and produced podcasts that explored the folk and traditional arts and culture of a wide variety of people, including farmers, mill workers, and fishing-net makers, along with musicians from as far away as Carriacou in the Caribbean and other traditional artists. Baron has also worked for the Indiana Arts and Humanities Council, and the American Folklore Society. She received her B.A. degree in Religion from Bryn Mawr College. Violet represents Long Island on the New York Folklore’s Board of Directors.
Hayden Haynes is an artist, working deeply in cultural arts revitalization and teaching. A member of the Deer Clan of the Seneca Nation, Hayden is a self-taught artist who works across the mediums of antler, found objects, mixed media, and digital photography.
Born in Claremore, OK, Hayden grew up on the Seneca-Cattaraugus Territory in Western New York, from which he draws inspiration related to land, history, and culture for his artwork. He has been supported through residencies, exhibitions, and grants by various institutions. In addition to his life as an artist, Hayden serves his Seneca community as the Director of the Seneca Nation Onöhsagwë: de’ Cultural Center (SNOCC), which houses the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Seneca-Iroquois National Museum (SINH) and Archives. Hayden is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the Senecas, enhancing cultural revitalization with lasting impacts for the future, and serving his people Hayden will represent Southern Tier New York, a region which includes the sovereign lands of the Seneca Nation.