How can artistic/cultural practices be embedded within the planning and development of more sustainable cities? The research project Culturizing Sustainable Cities is searching for examples, from anywhere in the world, of two types of initiatives: (1) Development / implementation of policy and other actions of local…
Driving Sustainable Change from Our Cultural Roots
By Carlton Turner, Executive Director, Alternate ROOTS (Utica, MS) The following statements were prepared for and delivered at the Activating Networks: Changing Culture Through the Arts convening at the Ford Foundation on July 29, 2014. This program was made possible by…
The Aesthetics of Valuing Difference: Art & Movement Building in the 21st Century
By Collette Carter, Operations Director, Project South (Atlanta, GA) Alternate ROOTS is proud to be collaborating with Project South through our Partners in Action Program. Founded in 1986, Project South has developed thousands of leaders within communities directly affected by…
“True American Struggle Has Many Faces”: Carpetbag Theatre & Art2Action’s USF Residency Wrap Up
Article by Carmin Williams; Photo by James Geiger The open dress rehearsal of Linda Parris-Bailey’s Speed Killed My Cousin was performed last Saturday night in the theater department at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. I must say I was…
6 Big Questions I’m Asking Myself After Experiencing the Hemispheric Institute’s Encuentro
Article by Nicole Garneau; photos by Melisa Cardona We are present in the space with each other, relaxing shoulders and tingling feet. We have time to listen to each others’ truths. We are climbing, crawling, crying, and laughing up the…
Standing Our Ground for Marissa Means Standing Our Ground For Us All
Article by Aleta Alston-Toure’ The 20-year conviction of Marissa Alexander in the Old Duval County Courthouse was unreal for all of us that witnessed this most god-awful atrocity. Hearing Marissa’s daughter’s plea for her mother to the jury was more…
Partners in Action Transforms
Article By Nicole Gurgel In the past two years, Partners in Action — formerly the Community/Artist Partnership Program (C/APP) — has undergone a dramatic, dynamic transformation. The program’s new name reflects deeper structural changes. Compelled by the 2012 strategic plan, the…
Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizing Training Program
We are excited to announce that applications are now available for our fifth Anne Braden Anti-Racist Organizing Training Program, which starts up in February 2015! Applications are due October 1, 2014 and can be found online here: http://collectiveliberation.org/our-work-2/the-anne-braden-anti-racist-organizing-training-program/ The last several programs were a tremendous success built upon…
Freedom Summer 50th Anniversary
Acts and Movements: Arts and Culture in Times of Struggle Friday, June 27th 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Tougaloo College This panel will bring together multiple generations of artists/activists and scholars to uplift the role of cultural institutions in the Civil…
Alternate ROOTS to Manifest at the Encuentro
Article by Nicole Gurgel, Photos by Carlton Turner This June, six ROOTS members will travel to Montreal to lead a week-long workshop at the Hemispheric Institute’s tenth biennial Encuentro. The workshop will be led by Ebony Noelle Golden of Betty’s…
Raising Our Voices: Elevar Nuestra Voces
National Civil War Project Community Conversation JOIN US! Tuesday, May 20, 2014 6-9pm Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum 800 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30315 Space is Limited – RSVP here These conversations are graciously hosted by the Alliance Theatre…
Five Misconceptions about Documentation, Archiving, and Communication in the Field of Community Cultural Development
Article by Jamie Haft; Photos by Andrew Morikawa This article was originally posted on Roadside Theater’s blog. Virginia Tech recently hosted a small national meeting on documentation, archiving, and communication in the field of community cultural development. Articulated by convener Bob Leonard,…
“A Need to Make Something”: Opening Up a Year-long Exploration of Aesthetics
Article by Nicole Gurgel 2014 marks the beginning of Alternate ROOTS’ three-year initiative, A Call to Action, in which we will be deeply reflecting on our work as artists and cultural organizers. Each year of this initiative is focused on a…
Talkin’ Revolution with Dr. Doris Derby
Article by Michael “Quess?” Moore Dr. Doris Derby is a small woman, a small woman who left a big imprint. Standing barely over 5 feet tall, the first thing that jumped out at me were her enthusiastic eyes. She’s got…
“That’s Why I’m An Activist!” Reflections on the Community Organizing Learning Exchange
Article by Jasmine Brown Empowering, insightful, and inquisitive are just a few of the words that could sum up the impact of the Community Organizing Learning Exchange, held in Atlanta on November 1-3. Keynote Speaker and cultural organizer Tufara Waller…
Moral Injury Killed My Cousin
By Lynne Santiago A few weeks back, I had the privilege of being invited to view a live performance of Speed Killed My Cousin, a new play by Linda Parris-Bailey and The Carpetbag Theatre, during a rehearsal showing at University of…
Whisper, Howl, Sing: C/APP Projects Listen, Then Tell
This year’s Community/Artist Partnership Program (C/APP) projects share many connections. Each of the four projects merge art and activism, spring up out of local communities, and address the need for healing in the face of trauma and oppression. Last month we heard…
Emy Imoh
Visual artist Emy Imoh will collaborate with the youth of the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Atlanta, GA to create a culturally relevant public mural. In cooperation with the Andrew P. Stewart Center, the youth will beautify an exterior wall of their…
Speed the CAR: Creative Arts Reintegration
Speed Killed My Cousin, The Carpetbag Theatre’s newest play, is a multimedia performance rooted in the story of an African American female soldier and her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder upon her return home from Iraq. While driving down the…