ROOTS’ work is movement-based, so we should note that the ROOTS membership is actually larger than those who are current with their dues. Fundamentally, our membership is based on affinity, affiliation, and allyship. As ROOTS
members move in and out of the region, and the country, they continue to say, “I’m a member of Alternate ROOTS.” This spirit is part of what makes the ROOTS family vibrant, strong, and enduring.
INCREASED STAFF CAPACITY
Throughout its history, the staff structure of ROOTS has erred on the side of lean and nimble. However, in recent years it became clear that this approach was preventing ROOTS from pursuing opportunities to deepen and expand its impact. In 2015, after an extensive process of evaluation and visioning, Alternate ROOTS shifted our staff structure to enable deeper partnerships with and support for members, to proactively seek collaborations with peer organizations, and to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of our operations. The resulting staff structure is more team-oriented and cooperative, removing silos and increasing knowledge building among staff. It is also larger, consisting of six full-time and two part-time employees. This represents significant growth. Only five years ago, ROOTS had three full-time staff alone. This new structure has four teams: Organizational Strategy Team: Led by the Executive Director, this team holds executive-level oversight and management of the organization and ensures the organization’s work is aligned with the strategic plan. Operations Team: Led by the Operations Director, this team’s primary responsibility is to manage ROOTS’ finances and development, including
fiscally sponsored projects; payroll, billing and interns; membership renewals and records; office management; and logistics such as travel, contracts, catering, etc. Programs Team: Led by the Programs Director, this team is responsible for managing all of ROOTS programming done through Artistic Assistance and Partners In Action, and for events such as ROOTS Week and Learning Exchanges. Communications Team: Led by the Communications Manager, this team ensures that ROOTS’ internal and external communications (website, newsletters, social media, and archive) are strong, in support of our operational and programmatic needs, and position us as a thought leader in the field of arts and social justice. Already, we are seeing benefits from our increased capacity. ROOTS is now able to plan projects and events one year in advance, which is necessary now that the organization increasingly works across the region and supports a larger number of partnerships. ROOTS’ board and staff will continue to evaluate and refine this new structure to align with the needs of members and deepen the organization’s impact.
THE RESULTING STAFF STRUCTURE IS MORE TEAM-ORIENTED AND COOPERATIVE, REMOVING SILOS AND INCREASING KNOWLEDGE BUILDING AMONG STAFF. 30