Roots Camp FAQ
Honoring Our Legacy, Focusing on the Future 🌟
RootsCamp has been a cornerstone of progressive movement-building for nearly two decades. Since its founding in 2006 by the New Organizing Institute (NOI), RootsCamp has served as a unique “unconference,” bringing organizers, activists, and changemakers together post-election to reflect, learn, and strategize.
From 2006 through 2014, RootsCamp flourished under NOI’s leadership. It transitioned to Wellstone Action in 2016 and 2018, continuing its legacy of empowering grassroots leaders. In 2020, when Democratic GAIN evolved into GAIN Power, we proudly took the reins as the host organization alongside our incredible partners:
🔸 RE: POWER
🔸 Netroots Nation
🔸 Organizing 2.0
🔸 The Democracy Initiative
RootsCamp 2020 was held online, keeping the tradition alive during the pandemic and creating a virtual space for collaboration and innovation. The event is still live if you want to learn more about it and be inspired by the sessions.
Looking Forward: RootsCamp in 2025
This January, RootsCamp returns in person, and we’re more energized than ever to create a space that reflects our shared values of equity, inclusion, and collaboration.
What to expect:
🌱 Interactive Unconference Format: Propose and lead sessions on topics that matter most to you and your work.
🌱 Topics Centered on Underrepresented Communities: Ensuring marginalized voices are amplified and prioritized.
🌱 Career Development & Professional Growth: With GAIN Power at the helm, expect expanded opportunities for networking and building a thriving career in progressive organizing and advocacy.
🌱 Networking for Impact: Meet leaders, thinkers, and doers who are shaping the future of democracy.
RootsCamp: A Legacy of Ideas and Action
Past RootsCamp sessions have covered a wide array of critical topics, including:
"Digital Organizing with Conversational AI"
"How to Mitigate Harm from Bad Email Practices"
"Building Progressive Movements in the Red States"
"Elevating Women and Marginalized Communities in Advocacy"
You can revisit the RootsCamp 2020 schedule online at RootsCamp 2020 for inspiration and insights.
Who Should Join?
RootsCamp is for anyone who has worked on:
🔸 Candidate campaigns
🔸 Ballot measures
🔸 Party committees
🔸 Independent expenditures
🔸 Labor unions
🔸 Political consulting firms
🔸 Democracy and justice-focused organizations
We welcome:
🌟 Organizers and campaigners
🌟 Grassroots activists and volunteers
🌟 Donors and foundations leaders.
🌟 Social justice advocate
🌟 Data and tech experts in progressive work
🌟 Anyone passionate about building a more equitable and just future
Whether you’re new to organizing or a seasoned veteran, RootsCamp is for anyone who believes in the power of collective action and wants to be part of building a stronger movement.
Our Values
RootsCamp is more than just an event; it’s a gathering of people committed to the values that drive movements for justice, equality, and democracy. These values are reflected in the messages we often see in our communities: Black Lives Matter, No Human is Illegal, Love is Love, Women’s Rights Are Human Rights, Science, and Climate Change Are Real, Water Is Life, and Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere.
At RootsCamp, we take these principles further, embracing the belief that Abortion is Healthcare, Healthcare Should Be Universal, and Gender Is Personal and Trans Rights are Human Rights too.
Our community is diverse, and we welcome everyone: black women, Black men, Latines, Asian/APIA, women, rural organizers, LGBTQIA+, Native Americans, disabled folks, white men, and more. We aim to create safe spaces where each identity can connect, find support, and build community. Importantly, we believe that identity should always serve as a bridge to foster understanding and solidarity—not as a barrier to divide us.
These principles reflect the heart of our community: a commitment to equity, inclusion, and the transformative power of collective action. We prioritize including underrepresented and marginalized voices, ensuring that equity remains at the core of our event.
This is not a partisan event, but it is deeply values-aligned. We welcome Democrats, Progressives, anti-Trump/MAGA advocates, and all democracy supporters.
Share Your Knowledge!
We encourage you to lead a session if you have lessons learned, innovative strategies, or unique experiences. This is a space for your voice and your vision.
RootsCamp Details
Location: Maritime Conference Center, 692 Maritime Blvd, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090, (at BWI)
Dates: February 6-8, 2025
Hybrid Option: In-person registration is open now, and virtual registration will launch soon.
#RootsCamp
We will periodically update this post with more details.