September Member News

Posted on by Melisa Cardona Posted in Blog

September 1, 2023

 

In This Issue:
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Join Us! Art2Action’s 10th Anniversary Veterans Open Mic: 9/10 in Tampa, FL

On Sunday, September 10, Art2Action Inc., in partnership with ROOTS, is presenting a special 10th anniversary edition of Tampa’s beloved Veteran Community Open Mic, said to be the longest-running veteran open mic in the nation.

The Veteran Community Open Mic was founded by Art2Action in 2013, in collaboration with Linda Parris-Bailey and The Carpetbag Theatre, with support from the ROOTS Partners in Action program. Since then, it has grown into a creative space for veterans, families, community members, caregivers, allies, and artists of all kinds. The Veteran Community Open Mic is a creative and courageous space, where all people are welcome regardless of identity, a space where veterans and civilians can bring their full selves to listen, share, and grow together. Members are invited to join the celebration!

Veteran Community Open Mic 10th Anniversary Celebration – TWO events, BOTH on Sunday, September 10:

ROOTS Welcome Reception & Film Screening
11am-2pm
@ Screen Door Microcinema
1624 E 7th Ave #228, Tampa, FL 33605

Veterans Community Open Mic
6:30-9pm
@ Skipper’s Smokehouse Sunday
910 Skipper Rd, Tampa, FL 33613

Pre-registration is encouraged, but not required.

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Ignite Your Artistic Flame with Artistic Assistance / Application Deadline 9/29

Let’s talk dreams and metamorphosis.

The Alternate ROOTS Artistic Assistance program is that sacred cocoon where your art evolves into something extraordinary!

We are here to help you.

Please consider applying to partner with the ROOTS community for your next collaboration.

Who’s Eligible: Both general or voting members living and creating within our treasured Southern region. All recipients of resources are considered partners of the entire ROOTS community. 

Proposal Support: We’re by your side, offering guidance, support, and love as you put your brilliance to collaboration.

Key Dates:

Your journey, your narrative, your art – let’s make waves, together.

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ROOTS Weekend: Harlan County is Canceled 

As you may have seen last week via our Instagram or Facebook posts we will not be holding ROOTS Weekend: Harlan County at Pine Mountain Settlement School.

You can learn more about the white/Christian supremacist intimidation our Southern arts and movement partners, Waymakers Collective, experienced while convening at Pine Mountain Settlement School in their statement. We are sending our Appalachian comrades and friends all our love and support. (You can also send them some $$ here.)

Today we’re sharing the disappointing news that ROOTS Weekend: Harlan County is officially canceled for this fall. We have every intention of hosting a ROOTS Weekend in Kentucky in the coming years. But with less than two months to the gathering, it’s just not feasible to find a new venue while also prioritizing the safety of our community.

The Cultural Organizing team is currently working on a new plan for our fall gathering, in response to members’ desire for continued conversation coming out of ROOTS Week. We’ll let you know when the details are ready to share!

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—————————————-Get Involved, Get Connected

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Welcome to these new members!

Reactivating the Membership Work Group

The ROOTS Membership Work Group is being re-established! The Membership Work Group is a special group of ROOTers who volunteer to work closely with the Membership team to help 1) review current practices and 2) develop new initiatives for the ROOTS membership body. This reactivation is to dive deep into how we “do” membership, in response to ideas, concerns, and questions raised by many members over the past couple of years.

If you are interested in joining this Work Group or want to learn more about what’s going on with all things ROOTS Membership, join the next call! All members are welcome! Please register at the links below:

Thursday, September 7, 6:30 pm ET
Register HERE

Membership Team Office Hours

The Membership Team is holding office hours every Tuesday and Thursday! During office hours, the Membership team can be reached by phone to answer any questions and assist with any membership matters.

Membership Team Office Hours:
Tuesday & Thursday: 11am – 2pm ET
(404) 577-1079 EXT. 302

Questions? Reach out to membership@alternateroots.org

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—————————————News from Members

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Have news you want to share with your fellow ROOTS members? Fill out this form! 


Photo by: Jxn-Indie-Music-Week – Significant Developments.

Jackson Indie Music Week
January 7-14, 2024

Application Deadline September 18, 2023, 11pm CST

Jackson Indie Music Week is a South East regional music festival showcasing the best talent in Mississippi and the South. A week of acts from all genres, professional development workshops, film showings, art exhibitions, and experimental performances take place across multiple venues in Jackson.

A Celebration of, Black Joy Unbound: An Anthology
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
7:30pm ET
Register HERE

Charis presents a reading and panel discussion with contributors to the book Black Joy Unbound, a multi-genre collection that encompasses a broad spectrum of literary writing on Black joy. Writers include ROOTS member doris diosa davenport, as well as Stephane Andrea Allen, Lauren Cherelle, Esperanza Cintrón, Jasminum McMullen, Shawn Williams, Kwame Sound Daniels.


Image from 1973 Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival.

Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival
Jackson State University
November 1-4, 2023
Registration Deadline October 1, 2023

In 1973, Margaret Walker hosted Black women writers for the Phillis Wheatley Poetry Festival. Fifty years later, original invitees including Alice Walker, Paula Giddings, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, and Sonia Sanchez, are returning and will participate in intergenerational conversations with writers like Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jesmyn Ward, Imani Perry, and Angie Thomas.

Alternate ROOTS supports the creation and presentation of original art that is rooted in communities of place, tradition or spirit. We are a group of artists and cultural organizers based in the South creating a better world together. As Alternate ROOTS, we call for social and economic justice and are working to dismantle all forms of oppression—everywhere.