Why Rootscamp? Here’s why
We can't wait for someone to tell us the answers to our movement.
Yesterday, I was reading about Meta’s decision to end fact-checking and loosen content moderation as a way to enable Trump to wield even more influence over information, and I was shook. We need to have a serious, honest conversation about how we fight for the progressive movement in a world where the very channels folks get their information are completely manipulated to silence our voices.
That’s what Rootscamp has always been. A place for us to have an honest, warts-and-all conversation around how we learn and push the movement to innovate. Addressing the very modes of communication across platforms, reaching those who need to hear us and ensuring we are building the operations capable of organizing, mobilizing and communicating—in the face of extraordinary odds—that is what Rootscamp has always been about. That’s why I’m so excited that it’s coming back this year.
Something extraordinary happened in the last 100 days of last year’s campaign. Despite the fact that we lost, operatives and activists at every level were forced to try new things, and we saw so many of the old strategies outright fail. I think we all learned that we can’t just keep doing the same thing—hoping this time…this time we’ll win because of vibes.
We can’t all sit around frustrated, waiting for someone to tell us what the answers for our movement are. We need to come together—and encourage the staffers who were at the front lines of 2024’s fights to join us in order to answer those questions TOGETHER.
I want you to join me in either attending or supporting Rootscamp this year. There are several ways that we are asking folks to get involved:
I know that many of you have lessons and sessions that you might want to discuss. We’ve moved the deadline for panel and speaker submissions to this coming Saturday. Please submit a topic or panel HERE
We need you to be there. Rootscamp was always successful because it brought together activists and operatives at EVERY level. These conversations can’t be siloed. We need to participate together and learn from one another. Please sign up to attend January 23rd to January 25th HERE
Rootscamp is sponsoring a scholarship fund for operatives who were fighting the good fight in the states and might find themselves looking for the next movement opportunity. We are looking for folks to step up and help us subsidize their attendance HERE
MOST IMPORTANTLY, we need you to help spread the word. If you got this email from me, it’s because you are one of our movement’s leaders now. You have the networks, contacts, allies, and reach to the staffers who should be at Rootscamp this year, and we need your help to encourage participation. We have language to help you make the ask.
If you really aren’t in the position to attend or help subsidize, I get it. Please, help us by sending this out to 20-50 folks who you think would be interested in attending.
Thank you so much for your friendship and your continued work.
Brad Bauman
Brad Bauman is a principal in Raben's Strategic Communications practice, where he brings decades of experience and leadership in progressive communications, causes, and campaigns.