Contents

2. Jo Carson

3. Festival

4. Partnerships

5. Conferences, Boards, panels, commitees

6. Organizational/ Professional Development

7. Artistic Assistance

8. Tour and residency program

9. Development/ Finance & Administration

10. Income and Expenses

11. Resources for Social Change

13. Regional Membership Breakdown

10. Income and Expenses

11. Resources for Social Change

13. Regional Membership Breakdown

Funders

We Are Standing on the Edge of a Story-Jo Carson

Photo by Pat Arnow ©1983

In Memoriam: Jo Carson

As many of you know, right after attending the festival, Jo Carson, ROOTS founder and dear friend learned she was terminally ill; she ultimately passed September 19, 2011. As Jo was making her transition, artists from all over the country came to be with her in such an outpouring of love and healing hands, spending time with her easing her on her journey. It was a testament to the power of artists to make a difference even during one of life’s most difficult moments.

Over the course of her two-year illness, thousands of dollars were raised from donors all across the country to help pay medical expenses that were not covered by her inadequate health insurance. One of things that Jo requested toward the end was that, instead of flowers, people should make a donation to Alternate ROOTS.

Jo has left the world a rich legacy with her plays, stories, and books. But I am certain that wise and sage storyteller that she was, back in 1976 when Jo put out the call for artists in the South to gather and birthed what has become Alternate ROOTS, I don’t think she imagined the long-term impact that one simple act would have upon her life, and ours.

Jo has left the world a rich legacy with her plays, stories, and books. Wise and sage storyteller that she was, back in 1976 when Jo put out the call for artists in the South to gather and birthed what has become Alternate ROOTS, it’s doubtful she imagined the long-term impact that one simple act would have upon her life, and ours.

2.http://arnow.org/

Our 35th anniversary event, ROOTS Fest 2011: Many Communities, One Voice, June 22-26, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland represents a watershed event for ROOTS. Not only did we produce a three-day national conference attended by more than 200 participants, coupled with a two-day outdoor festival attended by more than 11,000 people, we also had more than 200 artists participate, and for the first time ever we received national press both print and electronic with interviews on the Tavis Smiley Show, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, and Sister 2 Sister magazine, among a plethora of other press including multiple articles in the Baltimore Sun and the widely read City paper, among others.

As importantly however, ROOTS Fest demonstrated the power of community engagement through art and culture to have a demonstrable impact upon a community. As a Baltimore police captain told our festival site coordinator, “It isn’t a question of if someone will get shot, it’s only a question of when!”

During the entire week of ROOTS Fest, even with 11,000 people in a community that people normally assiduously avoided, there were

no incidents of violent crime. None. There was crime the week before, and the week after, but the week of the event…nothing. There were many things that made me proud of the work we did in West Baltimore, but none so much as bringing a sense of peace and place to the people of a community in need of both, if only for a moment.

-Keryl McCord, Development & Marketing Director

Festival

3.

“Even with 11,000 people in a community that people normally assiduously avoided, there were no incidents of violent crime. None.”

Partnerships

CultureWorks – Alternate ROOTS worked with Ashley Milburn and Denise Johnson over the past two years to create space in Baltimore, MD for ROOTS Fest 2011 to take place. On September 10, Bob Leonard, Ashley, Denise, myself and outside facilitator Wendi O’Neal met to begin the creation of a memorandum of agreement to define the scope of our ongoing partnership.

Young Activist Leaders Cohort - a partnership with Alternate ROOTS, Roadside Theater and the Forward Thinking Museum. This partnership produced a group of eight young activist leaders that have been convening virtually since May and in-person at ROOTS Fest 2011. This group is working together to develop an analysis of the present historical moment as it relates to movments for social justice and how those movements connect to cutural equity.

NALAC / FPF Consortium – Alternate ROOTS has been developing relationships with the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and First People’s Fund, first through the Ford Foun-dation’s New Works Cohort and then through the Kennedy Center Capacity Building Program. Through our conversations and shared experiences we have come to all agree that our organizations need each other in order to move the field towards cultural equity. Because of our collective work with the Kennedy Center we cemented our understanding that there are very different needs for our constituents than are being met by the current national institutions. To work on these needs our three organizations have taken up the mantle of pro-viding opportunities for our constituents to engage in capacity building steeped in our own cultural traditions. To this end we have submitted an NEA consortium proposal to support three gatherings over the course of the next two years to engage our collective members. In addition our organizations will conduct cross-training sessions to learn more about our partners’ processes and programs.

4.

As with most years, Carlton spent quite a bit of time on the road representing Alternate ROOTS at various events and conferences. Here is a quick snapshot of those things he and other ROOTS staff have been involved in since the last Annual Meeting.

● Association of Performing Arts Presenters | New York City | January 2011

● Folk Alliance Conference | Memphis, TN | February 2011(Presenter)

● ZAPP Conference | Atlanta, GA | September 2011(Presenter)

● Creative Time Summit | New York City | September 2011(Presenter)

● Grantmakers in the Arts | San Francisco | October 2011(Presenter)

● Neighborhood Funders Group | Albuquerque, NM | October 2011 (Presenter)

● Policy Link | Detroit, MI | November 2011 (Presenter)

● National Performance Network | Tampa, FL | December 2011 (Presenter)

Boards, Panels & CommitteesThere have been many invitations for Alternate ROOTS leadership to participate as part of planning teams, advisory committees, and boards. Here is a list of both completed events and ongoing responsibilities.

● Theatre Communications Group (panelist)● We Shall Overcome Fund Advisory Committee

(ongoing)● APAP Conference Planning Committee● Appalshop Executive Committee (Board)

(ongoing)● Ford Foundation Networks Convening● National Endowment for the Arts (SPPA Working

Group)● Art & Social Justice Workgroup (ongoing)● Network of Ensemble Theaters’ Theatre of Place

Advisory Group (new)● NALAC Leadership Institute (Observer)● Grantmakers in the Arts Thought Leader Forum

Planning Team

5.

Conferences

Kennedy Center Capacity BuildingOver the past 18 months Alternate ROOTS has been participants in the Kennedy Center Diverse Arts Spaces Capacity Building Program along with 9 other organizations. This program has been geared towards presenting organizations that are managing spaces. Alternate ROOTS was one of three network/service organizations participating (NALAC and FPF). The facilitators for this training program all come from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and follow a course designed by Michael Kaiser for the DeVos Institute for Arts Management.

In July Michael Kaiser visited the ROOTS office to do an organizational consultation for Alternate ROOTS. On October 4 & 5 this group met in New Orleans for the last time as part of this program. One of the most valuable outcomes of this work has been the deepening of the relationship with peer organizations NALAC and First People’s Fund and the push towards a better understanding of marketing and strategic planning.

Chief Executive Officer ProgramAlternate ROOTS Executive Director Carlton Turner has been invited to participate in the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Officer Program. Beginning in in the fall of 2011 and ending in late 2013, this program engages leaders from a range of disciplines in the US and abroad in the big questions that preoccupy us all: competition, relevance, and investment in our work. The Chief Executive Program creates a leadership community to reframe issues and develop new opportunities for individual institutions and create meaningful models for the field at large; and helping a set of outstanding individuals re-imagine what cultural institutions will be and how they can contribute to civil society. Carlton is one of 100 executives in the program. Trainings will be held at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, the University of Texas - Austin, and at Harvard Business School.

Organizational/ Professional Development

6.

rtistic Assistance is a vital granting program that gives artists the ability to hone their own craft by purchasing needed equipment, studying with a mentor, or

attending conferences. The program has grown substantially in the last few years, not only in terms of how much money we have to give out, but also in the numbers and diversity of those applying. A streamlined on-line application process has helped give the program more access. Additionally, a growing archive of final reports from participants can be found on the website.

2010-11 Statistics● Total # of cycles: 4 ● Total dollars spent: $29,605 ● Total dollars requested: $33,915● Total number of grants: 36

2011 Recipients

Gwylene Gallimard | Charleston, SCJean-Marie Mauclet |Charletson, SCCamille Shafer | Hot Springs, NCdoris davenport | Augusta, GASage Crump | Atlanta, GATrina Fischer | Louisville, KYNick Slie | New Orleans, LASamuel Thompson | Baltimore, MDDon Harrell | Winter Garden, FLTheresa Cunningham | Baltimore, MDBailey Barash | Atlanta, GARaquel de Anda | New Orleans, LA

Artistic Assistance 2010-11

7.

A

 “A streamlined on-line application process has helped give the program more access.”

Tour & Residency Program

n 2010 Alternate ROOTS received program specific funding through a multi-year grant from the Ford Foundation to support

artist fees in association with their Diverse Arts Spaces program. In year one Alternate ROOTS supported the presentation of 9 artists through the Tour & Residency Program. This funding is intended to support the larger Diverse Arts Spaces program and not just to fund the program as it has traditionally existed within ROOTS. This pool of funding, although still to support ROOTS artists, is now available to organizations outside of the ROOTS service region (14 states and DC). As part of the strategic planning process Alternate ROOTS will re-imagine how this funding can best support the ROOTS mission. In 2011-12, Alternate ROOTS supported performances & residencies by our roster artists with the following presenters:

8.

I

“This funding is intended to support the larger Diverse Arts Spaces program and not just to fund the program as it has traditionally existed within ROOTS. “

Presenter City State Artist/Organization PresentedOrange County Arts Education Center

Orlando FL Orisirisi African Folklore

Great Performances at Vanderbilt

Nashville TN Jose Torres-Tama

Clarkston Commu-nity Center

Clarkston GA Mather Site Art

Dance Place Washing-ton

DC Dance Box Theater

BlackRock Center for the Arts

German-town

MD ClancyWorks Dance Company

Arts Council of Beaufort County

Beaufort SC Elise Witt

City of Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs

GA Gateway Performance Productions

Azule Hot Springs

NC Gwylene Gallimard & Jean-Marie Mauclet

University of Central Arkansas

Conway AR CORE Performance Company

9.

Thanks to the leadership of Cecille Ericta, our full-time (hooray!) Finance & Office Manager, we have streamlined our financial processes resulting in improved monitoring, tracking and reporting of the financial inflows and outflows of the organization.

We researched and improved on the previous Policies and Procedures Manual to be in line with the times and for practices to be comparable with the other organizations in our field. The final draft of the Policies and Procedures Manual is currently under review by the Personnel Innovations Ensemble.

We have also been working on how to effectively capture the Organizations In-kind Donations, increase collection of Membership dues and continue with the practice of conscientious allocation of the organization’s financial resources.

Finance & Administration

Development From the perspective of the development and marketing desk, 2011 was quite a year. Through our 35th anniversary celebration, ROOTS Fest 2011: Many Communities, One Voice; June 22-26, 2011 in Baltimore, MD, we raised a lot of money, more than one million dollars over two years. Because of ROOTS Fest, we garnered national press with the Tom Joyner Morning Joy, Sister to Sister magazine, and the Tavis Smiley Show, as well as more than twenty articles from local Baltimore press such as the City Paper and the Baltimore Sun.

More importantly, though, 200 artists participated in the festival as performers, facilitators, visual arts installers, etc., etc.! It was wonderful to be able to support that many artists. Furthermore, it was a treat to shine a spotlight on this corner of the world, that of community-based art and artists. It could not have happened without those who support and promote Alternate ROOTS by word and deed: Ford Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Open Society Foundations, PNC Bank, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Fund for Southern Communities.

As critically, during ROOTS Fest, we raised almost $4000 in individual donations with our bucket brigade! Thanks to all the board, staff, and members who braved the hot sun to solicit donations. That’s commitment.

We came home from ROOTS Fest at the end of June. In August we were delighted that the hit band, My Morning Jacket, selected ROOTS as their Atlanta local charity while on national tour. ROOTS had a table at the concert at the Verizon Amphitheater, affording us the chance to meet and greet concertgoers who came from as far away as New Orleans for the concert. Then we were totally floored to receive a check for more than $5,000! ROOTers, when My Morning Jacket is in your city, please support them.

Alternate ROOTS has a stellar reputation in the field. It makes our job so much easier. Thank you, ROOTers, for all you do.

Income

Expenses

10.

11.

Resources for Social Change

LEADERSHIP

Omari Fox has been the 2011 RSC Chair. We introduced a new contracted Coordinator position that, at the beginning of the year, was held by Mat Schwarzman and then by Trey Hartt.

Currently, RSC will be without a specified Coordinator between October 1 and the end of the year but Carlton and Omari Fox will help make sure the program stays on task.

BY THE NUMBERS...● 4 RSC Learning Exchanges:

○ In the People’s Hands, Durham, NC

○ National Learning Exchange, Baltimore, MD

○ Clear Creek Festival, Clear Creek, KY

○ Cucalorus Film Festival, Wilmington, NC

● 55 Members● 8 New Members● 18 Facilitators● 8 Shadows

EVENTS

Learning Exchanges (LE) continue to be the primary activity for Resources for Social Changes. In 2011 we organized and often led 4 total LE’s.In the People’s Hands IntensiveDurham, NCLead Facilitator: Ebony GoldenTrainer: Jessica SolomonEbony Noelle Golden lead an interactive session with participants exploring creative approaches to liberation, RSC’s principles of community engagement while framing the scope and range of the weekend intensive.

National Learning ExchangeBaltimore, MDRSC was not the main organizer of this exchange but rather support in developing the curriculum and designing the facilitation of the 3-day event. RSC members were called upon as facilitators throughout the event and were instrumental in the planning team.

Clear Creek FestivalClear Creek, KYLead Facilitator: Kathie DeNobrigaCo-Facilitators: Eleanor Brownfield, Trey Hartt, Maurice Turner (did not attend but helped plan)Working with Robert Martin and Carrie Brunk (both ROOTS members and organizer of the festival), this Learning Exchange sought to advance the festival as a vehicle for social change & transformation.

Cucalorus Film FestivalWilmington, NCLead Facilitator: Hope ClarkCo-Facilitators: Omari Fox, Melanie St. Ours (shadow & trainer)This LE is set to take place November 10-13. A report will be given upon completion of the event.

RETREATS

The RSC Innovation Ensemble met once in March and plan to meet again in late fall/early winter. The March retreat focused on planning for the National Learning Exchange, beginning the visioning process for the program, and continued progress with the Curriculum Project. The upcoming fall/winter retreat will focus much on planning and implementation of a plan RSC will follow for the next 3-5 years that is aligned with the overall ROOTS strategic plan.

12.

SPECIAL PROJECTS/

RELATIONSHIPS

Apart from Learning Exchanges, RSC engaged a process of developing a Curriculum Book (tentative title) that will highlight multiple Learning Exchanges and other ROOTS events from the past 3-5 years in order to promote the Principles of Community Engagement and community-based art practices within RSC and ROOTS. We also have been continually developing our relationship with CultureWorks in Baltimore, MD.

C/APP

2011 was a very busy year for Community/Artist Partnership Program projects throughout the region and especially in Baltimore as part of the lead-up to ROOTS Fest. In 2011 ROOTS provided more than $50,000 in support of community partnerships.

Thousand Kites (Nick Szuberla) / Creative Alliance Junebug Productions / People’s Institute for Survival and BeyondSpirit House Inc. / Harm Free ZoneMondo Bizarro / Gulf Restoration NetworkJeff Mather / Harlem Park Elementary Middle SchoolThe Carpetbag Theatre / FISH Hospitality PantriesMAY I SEE YOUR ID CollectiveCulture Works / Bon Secours of Maryland FoundationSheila Gaskins / WombWorks

EVALUATION

Members of RSC (Carlton Turner, Bob Leonard, Laura Schandelmeier, Stephen Clapp, Jeff Mather, and Trey Hartt) are in the middle of an evaluation process of RSC covering the past 3-5 years. The team has been tasked to develop and evaluation plan that will cover the following areas:

RSC Internal ProcessesLearning ExchangesNational Learning ExchangePartnershipsC/APP Grant Program

The results of this evaluation process will be used to develop a 3-5 year plan for RSC in alignment with the overall ROOTS strategic plan.

Regional Membership BreakdownWe like to say that membership is a focal point of Alternate ROOTS. To that end, we took on over 100 new introductory members in the first part of 2011, particularly as a result of board house parties and pre-Festival recruitment. It’s helpful to take a look across the region at how our membership breaks out.

The figures in the map diagram represent a combination of voting, introductory and satellite memberships in each state.

Artistic DisciplineArts Administration 73

Cultural Organizer 63

Theater 83

Dance 42

Performance Art 68

Movement 38

Music 53

Spoken Word 34

Hip Hop 15

Vaudeville 9

Writer 62

Visual Art 51

Film / Video 30

New Media 19

Presenter 23

Multidisciplinary 65

Appreciative Audience Member 58

Teacher 64

13.

First Name

Last Name Position

Jaehn Clare Board ChairSage Crump Vice Chair/President

D. Patton White SecretaryDan Brawley TreasurerAshley Milburn At-LargeMarquetta Dupree At-LargeMelisa Cardona At-LargeMya Hunter At-LargeNicole Garneau At-LargeNikki Brown At-LargeRebecca Mwase At-LargeRobert Martin At-LargeS.T. Shimi At-LargeTufara Waller Muhammad At-Large

StaffShannon Turner Manager of Programs &

ServicesCarlton Turner Executive DirectorCecille Ericta Finance & Office ManagerKeryl McCord Development & Marketing

Director

Executive Committee and Staff:

15

 *One thing to note from this data is that, when the question was answered, rarely did our members identify as a practitioner of only one discipline.

14.

3

30

3 2 94

15

8

36

29

9

201

DC - 10MD - 31Satellite - 64

18.

Our Essence

Alternate ROOTS is an organization based in the Southern USA* whose mission is to support the creation and presentation of origi-nal art, in all its forms, which is rooted in a particular community of place, tradition or spirit. As a coalition of cultural workers we strive to be allies in the elimination of all forms of oppression. ROOTS is committed to social and economic justice and the protection of the natural world and addresses these concerns through its programs and services.