the roots of change agency

Hello & Welcome 👋🏼,

My name is Sam Chavez (she/they/he). I'm a storyteller, strategist, and curious human. And I am pleased to welcome you to the roots of change agency, media ecosystem, and podcast!

If you're like me, you recognize our world is on fire 🔥, our institutions are crumbling, and 🧗🏼‍♀️ you want to do something about it. (listen to songs of resistance)

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Healthy Media for Liberatory Stories

Too many activists and organizations are building paths to a new sustainable, equitable society with little support and resources. However, growth and learning from our past is crucial to build a vision for the future.

Having worked in advertising where media, tech, and capitalism meet, I understand first-hand how activists and organizers are up against big money and big megaphones. Our mission is to make social change accessible and sustainable for all.

A Healthy, Heart-First Ecosystem

Our media ecosystem offers a whole body approach to activism and storytelling for social change. You won't only find checklists and easy solutions here, because creating change doesn't happen like that. Learn more about our indigenous approach to activism and learning.

"If I do not speak in a language that can be understood there is little chance for a dialogue." - bell hooks

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Root In for Communal Support

the roots of change agency and our financial model is created differently, away from the extractive advertising model and towards a model of reciprocity. We are a 100% community-led model and not funded by grants, organizations, or investors. Thank you to our members who keep our media ecosystem humming! Our organization's financial model is designed to bridge toward a decolonized view of work and value.

Our memberships unlock our library of resources, our private podcast, and more for activists, communicators, and organizations to strengthen the strategy and storytelling in their work. Subscriptions allow us to release and amplify more resources for the whole community. (Learn more)

Our world is built on old stories that no longer serve our people or the planet. In order to create lasting change, we must uplift the unheard stories. My vision for the roots of change agency is to do just that. Uplifting our stories for liberatory change, while protecting our collective wellbeing. Thanks again for following our work and I hope you stay rooted!

🌱 Thank you for learning and growing with us! If you have the means, please consider supporting our work.

🌱 About the roots of change agency

the roots of change agency was founded to support nonprofits, campaigns, and activists to avoid burnout and tell empathetic stories to cultivate connections that empower social change.

I started this agency to help make social change communications more sustainable & accessible. That's why we offer multiple solutions to support any organization no matter their size or capacity. Explore our direct services for communicators and organizations. Reach out to inquire about coaching, filmmaking/media support, de-Big Teching your tech, or speaker/media opportunities.

Storytelling for Social Change

Our society and institutions were built on top of the unhealthy soil of ‘white supremacist capitalist patriarchy’ (as bell hooks refers to it).

I believe that social change comes from uprooting the unhealthy soil that is rooted in our past and cultivating new soil that will allow all of us to grow in healthy, sustainable, and equitable ways.

Storytelling is our tool.

All messaging and communications can be forms of storytelling. Non-profit communications, Hollywood movies, political campaigns, underground poetry, and everyday conversations are all opportunities for us to use storytelling to influence and shape our culture.

Storytelling deepens human connection, which allows cultures to become more empathetic and open to change. Cultural change opens the door for lasting social change.

👋🏼 About Me…Sam Chavez

Hi 👋🏽 I'm Sam Chavez (she/they/he). I'm a New Texican who’s passionate about building a pathway to a livable planet & equitable societies. On the surface, I am white and femme, but I am also Latino, two spirit, & much more. I contain multitudes!

I founded the roots of change agency in 2020 to:  
🔭 Explore the roots of the old world to shape the future we deserve  
✨ Empower & sustain heart-first activists  
✍🏽 Develop regenerative messaging  
🌱 Spread empathy with storytelling  
🪢 Cultivate connection that builds  
🌍 Lasting social change

I founded the roots of change agency to harness my film, media, & advertising studies and 15+ years of marketing experience to shift the way organizations think about communications. Growing up as a closeted queer, indigenous kid in a conservative Texas family shaped my approach to activism and how I understand the urgency of shifting our culture away from harmful systems.

"If I do not speak in a language that can be understood there is little chance for a dialogue." - bell hooks

I'm passionate about social justice, landback, queer & radical love, equitable finance, mutual aid, and combating the climate crisis. I balance our innate curiosity & creativity with resilient strategies and stories to decolonize how we approach communications, marketing, & digital outreach.

Learn more. Connect with me on Mastodon!

🧗🏼‍♀️ What Does Activism Mean to You?

Activism is often defined differently by different people. I view activism in the broadest sense of the word as a way of being and living in this world. I founded this newsletter to harness my love of writing and 15 years of marketing experience to help less-resourced activists and organizations create impactful change starting with their messaging.

Assist an Activist: Making Change Accessible

We believe that the work of change is for all of us. That’s why we aim to have our resources accessible and affordable.

Our work is 100% reader-supported and not funded by grants, organizations, or investors. Paying subscribers and donors are greatly appreciated and help fund our efforts so we can release more content for the whole community!

If you would like to support our work, you can donate a membership to another activist.

Can’t Pay Now? Money shouldn't be a barrier to getting the support you need to advance social justice. Get on the list for a complementary membership for yourself or organization.

Explore Our Monthly Rooted Series

We dive into a social topic to understand the roots of how we got here and how we can move forward with a heart-first & liberatory framework. Explore some our past series below, browse our archives, or get a copy of our many zines and zine libraries.