Tending to the Internal Work: Reflecting on our Scheduling Practices

Dear ROOTers,

As we approach ROOTS Weekend-Atlanta, we are writing to acknowledge our misstep in scheduling this event during one of the Jewish High Holy Days, Yom Kippur. To our Jewish members and friends, we wish you a meaningful celebration.  

As we continue to strive to live out our mission of creating a better world together and dismantling all forms of oppression, we are reminded that we must tend to the internal work, as well as the external. Our scheduling practice is largely informed by federally designated holidays, which we understand to be a flawed model. We realize we need to have a larger conversation to set policies around holiday observance of events that is reflective of our intercultural organization, one that brings together people of diverse faiths and cultures. We will begin reflecting on this with input from our Executive Committee, so that our scheduling practice is more in line with the needs and sacredness of the membership we serve.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

The ROOTS Staff

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.