We Are Rooted
As we navigate change, we gather resilience, keeping hope alive.
We continue to grapple with the realities of the coming days, weeks, and months and what the current and coming atmosphere means for this project and for our communities. We are rooted in continuing this work, feeling that perhaps it’s more important than ever that these stories be preserved, and knowing that we will need to build even more support to be able to present these stories to our communities in a way that is safe and sustainable for all involved.
This is the work that brings us deeper into our own resilience.
To keep building beyond fear.
To keep the hope alive.
We are reminded of this quote from bell hooks:
“Hope is essential to any political struggle for radical change when the overall social climate promotes disillusionment and despair.”
What is happening with the project this week?
We’re still navigating the less glamorous aspects of receiving a grant, but new and exciting developments are underway.
Recently, we met with Cassandra Holden, Executive Director of BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity, to address remaining questions about our partnership. (Fun fact: BOMBYX is our fiscal sponsor for this project and manages all of your generous donations!) Having their support is an incredible gift, and we’re deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission. This partnership continues to inspire dreams, foster growth, and strengthen the roots of our work.
And some exciting news: We hosted one of our 2025 Creatives for their interview! Queer magic was definitely in the air; the timing of our conversation on 11/6, right after the election results came in, turned out to be a powerful antidote to a tense day. We can’t wait for you to meet this interdisciplinary artist next year—their work is layered, raw, soulful, and beautifully intersectional.
P.S. There’s been some design magic happening too! Our postcards (pictured) are ready to spread across the valley. If you run a business or would like to help distribute them to local bulletin boards, let us know. Let's spread the word far and wide!
We want to thank you!
Thank you!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Because of your generosity, we’re almost 25% of the way to our match requirement of $2,000 for the Mass Humanities Expand Massachusetts Stories Grant! This match must be met by December 26th to assure that we receive the remaining 60% of our funds from this grant.
We’re also 5% of the way to our GoFundMe campaign goal of $10,000 that will insure that we can cover research, production, labor, honoraria for participants, distribution, promotion, and low-to-no cost access to the Rooted discussion series!
Whether you donate $5, $25, $50, or more, every single (tax-deductible) dollar grows a living foundation for understanding the unique experiences, challenges, and contributions of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Western Massachusetts, through our podcast series, blog, and community dialogue events. These creatives are actively shaping the cultural landscape of this region, each narrative capturing a thread of resilience, creativity, and identity that weaves through our communities.
In building Rooted Resilience, we aim to do more than tell stories. We’re preserving histories that might otherwise go undocumented, inviting current and future generations to engage with and learn from these narratives. And in a world where histories of marginalized voices are so often silenced or overlooked, we hold this project as a counterpoint—a space where these stories are valued and celebrated.
We understand these are incredibly challenging times, and many are being pulled to support multiple causes and catastrophes. If financial support isn't feasible, you can still help us by sharing this post, following us on Instagram or Facebook, or spreading the word in your networks. Every action brings us closer to amplifying the voices of 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives in Western Massachusetts.
