Beloved Community,

This has been quite a year. In fall of 2023, we stepped forward to serve ROOTS as interim co-executive directors. Less than a year later, we were named co-executive directors of Alternate ROOTS. We are honored to provide leadership for the next chapter of Alternate ROOTS. 

We deeply love and enjoy this community and are dedicated to bringing the visionary and steady leadership that ROOTS needs at this time in our nearly 50-year history. We’ll continue building strong partnerships and comradeships across the South and nation, just as we’ve done for our shared 20 years at ROOTS and 40 years working for the public good. As we move further into our roles, we are committed to meeting our members and staff where they are, listening to their perspectives, and working together to find solutions. 

Our vision for the next chapter of this beloved community involves rooting ourselves in best practices, retaining talented folks, and supporting their wellness and ability to make their strongest contributions. We envision a membership, staff, and Executive Committee that feels fully integrated into the work and community. We will build on ROOTS’ history and support our leaderful community where many can step into the roles needed to seed, tend, and nourish our thriving organization through our 50th year and beyond. 

Our 2024 theme is Southern Soil: Sankofa Seeds. Sankofa is an Akan word from the Twi language of Ghana, meaning “go back and get it.” As we move forward as a community, we do so grounded in our history, in our people, in our culture and legacy. When we are challenged, we find solutions in innovative visioning, but also look back to where we have been. We take the lessons we have learned along with the new ideas, and we braid them together.

Grounded in our mission, rooted in our art and organizing practices, we can’t wait to see what we can create together!

In joyful community,

Paige Heurtin
Wendy Shenefelt
Co-Executive Directors, Alternate ROOTS