Resources for Social Change
Resources for Social Change (RSC) is a training program developed by ROOTS that teaches ideas and techniques to create social change through art. This program began in recognition of the need to institutionalize ROOTS’ knowledge in the field. RSC trainers are artists experienced and schooled in the methods of using and bringing art into communities that traditionally may not have considered the important role that the arts can play in addressing oppressions and effecting social change. RSC teaches methods for initiating and building partnerships between cultural workers and their community partners, and ways of using the arts as “search engines” in community work. The RSC program provides training, mentorship and peer education to artists, cultural workers, arts administrators, students, and community activists from diverse cultures and disciplines, using local community artists to present case studies of model projects taking place within their communities. The five principles of working in community that RSC covers in its community training workshops are:
- shared power
- partnership
- open dialogue
- individual and community transformation
- aesthetics of transparent processes
RSC Mission
The Resources for Social Change (RSC) program of Alternate ROOTS seeks to uphold the cultural organizing work of Alternate ROOTS and its mission to eliminate all forms of oppression. RSC honors and utilizes the experience and expertise of communities in facilitating interactive and participatory gatherings. Using the lens of the RSC Principles of Community Engagement: Shared Power, Equal Partnership, Open Dialogue, Aesthetics of Transparent Processes, and Collective and Individual Transformation. RSC provides workshops, mentorship, and peer education to support the use of art as a tool for social justice and to promote practices that are inclusive, ethical and equitable.
Specific RSC Goals
- To support arts-based practices which promote social justice
- To discover and develop the assets within partnerships among artists, cultural workers, organizations and community members
- To expand ROOTS' knowledge in the field of Community Arts in support of larger movements toward social justice
- To support regional Alternate ROOTS membership development
- To address and respond to specific issue-based requests from communities throughout the Southern United States
Free Resources for Social Change Workbook on line!
The work of RSC is documented in a Resources for Social Change Workbook. This publication is available for download here. If you would like a hard copy of this publication, please contact the Alternate ROOTS office. The download is free, the hard copy is $5 (which covers our printing and postage). Also, feel free to make a donation to help support the work of Alternate ROOTS.RSC Membership
To find out more about RSC membership and to apply to become a member, click here.| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 2011 C/APP Guidelines.doc | 494.5 KB |
| 2011 C/APP Application Form.doc | 146.5 KB |
| Partnerships_Work_Kit.doc | 86 KB |
| RSC Bios.pdf | 105.76 KB |
| RSC workbook.pdf | 851.84 KB |