Like many of you, our team has been filled with a lot of conflicting emotions around the recent events – anger, fear, frustration, inspiration and energy to fight. Internally, we have been holding a lot of discussions over the last year about race, racism and systematic oppression.
Like many others, our immediate response to the murder of George Floyd was to speak out in support of the protests and communities of color that have born the brunt of systemic oppression and inequities for centuries.
However, our words are only as good as our actions, and our actions are only as good as the intent behind them.
To meet the moment, we are adjusting our upcoming communications strategy cohort. See details below.
But, we also know that to make this change permanent, we must learn, listen and attempt to understand lived experiences so we can come together as communities.
Positive change is not a one-time event.
We can’t acknowledge injustice, and then allow the world to fall back into complacency. This year is the year we, as a society, are finally forced to grow and accept the need for change.
We do not have the answers, but we promise to earnestly seek them. Always.
Our team is here to listen and to serve—to work for change and live up to our tagline: agency for change–through partnerships and conversations with mission-driven organizations, conveners, thought leaders and funders that value experimentation, anti-racism and shared learning.
This is the path we chose for Rootid at its inception, and we will continue to approach it from a place of humility and introspection.
Everyone must start somewhere.
As a member of our community, we invite you to join the conversation and learn alongside us. If you need a starting point, here are a few of the more recent steps we’ve taken:
- Our team has been training with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion consultants to inform our business goals, project processes and individual growth work.
- We are committed to deepening our alignment with the Design Justice Network Principles across our team, partnerships, clients and projects.
- We will continue to design services, frameworks, strategies, and tools in partnership with our extended community and in alignment with the Liberatory Design process.
Rootid is adjusting our upcoming comms coaching program to meet the moment.
Over the past nine years, Rootid has had the privilege of working with hundreds of social impact leaders. This has given us a unique perspective on how to step back, center, and amplify underrepresented voices.
That’s why we, alongside the Brower Center, have decided to open our upcoming, virtual communications cohort to all organizations.
Participating nonprofits will select a black-led organization to receive a portion of the proceeds from the cohort. The price to participate in the cohort is now pay-what-you-can. There is no longer a fixed fee to participate.
The communications coaching program will include monthly office hours, weekly group coaching sessions, smaller group learning opportunities, and one-on-one consultations.
The application deadline has been extended to Thursday, June 11th to allow more organizations to apply. So please spread the word!
There is still much to do, but this is one small step forward. ♥