We gather for ROOTS Week in order to struggle together, but also inspire each other with our stories and our art.

These are just some of the words that uplifted us at ROOTS Week 2026. Incredible video of ROOTS Week by @chattam. A friend of mine once told me that the only thing that we ever really have to teach with, or talk about, is our lives… -Yvette Hyater For me, art has always been the most revolutionary thing that you can do because there is nothing more revolutionary than being yourself and then putting your view, your view of the world, out there for everyone to see. One thing I firmly believe: you can not free other people, you can only free yourself… -Alice Lovelace A person must open themself to the possibility of bein whole: that’s what healin’ is… -Jo Carson, as performed by Cece Daratany Using culture, art, history, organizing, all of the tools that they can find to save their communities, to heal the wound… -Bob Leonard It is the individual, once they are free, who can join in community with others, who then begin to build a communal path for others to be free—and that’s Alternate ROOTS. That is ROOTS. -Alice Lovelace