๐ŸŒฑ about the roots of change agency

for activists, campaigns, organizations, & heart-first humans

Table of Contents

๐Ÿ’ก
Navigating heart-first activism & storytelling. We explore the ๐ŸŒฑ roots of our world to support organizations and activists ๐Ÿฅต avoid burnout and ๐Ÿ“š tell empathetic stories that cultivate connections that ๐ŸŒ empower โœŠ๐Ÿฝ social change.

๐Ÿ’Œ Why Subscribe?

If you're like me, you recognize our world is on ๐Ÿ”ฅ, our institutions are crumbling, and ๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ you want to do something about it.

Whether you are an activist, a heart-first human, or you work in the non-profit, political, or social justice world, this newsletter is for you! We offer multiple newsletters and paid tiers to choose from depending on how you relate to and participate in social change.

โค๏ธโ€๐Ÿ”ฅ for activists & heart-first humans

Navigate ๐Ÿงญ  social change activism in today's uncertain digital world.

  • ๐Ÿ’Œ The Roots of Change Newsletter: a monthly 4-part series exploring the roots of a topic to take action sent weekly.
  • ๐ŸŽ™ Bi-Weekly Podcast: Conversations with activists, candidates, and communicators about shaping change.

Upgrade for a Seedling Membership ๐ŸŒฑ

Join as a ๐ŸŒฑ Seedling (Activist) Member to join our monthly Zoom gatherings (starting May 2024), a space for activists and communicators to decompress from the chaos, enjoy some community & connection with amazing humans, and discuss how we can act to create change.

Our weekly newsletter takes a deeper look at social issues to help us build healthy practices that cultivate ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŒพ lasting social change while caring for ourselves and our communities.

Explore popular series:

You will also have access to ๐Ÿงฐ resources for navigating our world, ๐ŸŽ™ bonus conversations, and VIP access to ๐ŸŽŸ events. Upgrade starting at $5/month or inquire about gifted memberships.

๐Ÿ“š for social change communicators & organizations

Reshape ๐Ÿ“š digital communications to avoid burnout, cultivate connections, & advance change.

  • ๐Ÿ’Œ Storytelling for Change Newsletter: a newsletter about reshaping digital comms built for social change communicators.
  • ๐Ÿงฐ Planning Tools: planning templates to build strategy and save time.
  • ๐ŸŽŸ Events: free & discounted access to workshops, trainings, & interviews.

Upgrade for a Flowering Membership ๐ŸŒบ

Tired of signing up for newsletters and not finding them helpful for your everyday work? This newsletter is built differently. Itโ€™s created for you

  • for cultivating social change in a chaotic digital world
  • for busy communicators with limited time
  • for folks who want to do it differently

๐ŸŒบ Check Out the Flowering Member Hub

Join to get a ๐Ÿงฐ library of digital outreach tools, ๐ŸŽŸ VIP access to events (free, early access, partner discounts, etc.) Subscribe starting at $10/month or inquire about gifted memberships.

๐ŸŒ for allyship & community

Our work is 100% reader-supported and it's important to me to keep much of the content free. Fruitful members help us produce more content for everyone! A fruitful membership will get you everything in the other tiers plus:

  • ๐Ÿ‹ 1:1 Strategy Call (1-Hour): If you're a social change communicator or activist with a strategy question or problem, your membership includes a complementary 1-hour strategy session with me! The time can be used however you need. We can focus on a big theme or I can help answer specific questions.
  • ๐ŸŒ Help fund our efforts & support the community

๐ŸŒฑ 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. Reach out to me to inquire about direct consulting services or media opportunities.

  • Tools & Resources: Use our planning resources for social media, email, fundraising, etc. to make your communications work more strategic and sustainable.
  • Events & Workshops: We offer a variety of events including strategy workshops, live podcast recordings, and our popular Set Yourself Up Lunch & Learn series, a 30-minute monthly session where I cover actionable tips on a communications topic with my partner, Brit Holmes (they/them) from Did Juno.
  • Consulting Services: Tell stories that matter to reshape the roots of our society. We support organizations to build communications strategies of all varieties. Inquire for more information.

Storytelling for Social Change

Roots of Change Agency - Storytelling for social change
*Image inspiration from Praxis Projectโ€™s Social Determinants of Health

Our society and institutions were built on top of the unhealthy soil of โ€˜white supremacist capitalist patriarchyโ€™ (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.

๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿผ About Meโ€ฆSam Chavez

Photo by Brooke Anderson, Movement Photographer

Hi ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿฝ I'm Sam Chavez. I am a queer, white, New Mexican American activist whoโ€™s passionate about a livable planet, belonging, and equitable societies.

I founded the roots of change agency in 2020 to:   ๐Ÿ”ญ Explore the roots of the old world to shape the future we deserve   โœจ Empower & sustain changemakers   โœ๐Ÿฝ Develop regenerative messaging   ๐ŸŒฑ Spread empathy with storytelling   ๐Ÿชข Cultivate connection that builds   ๐ŸŒ Lasting social change

I founded Roots of Change to harness my storytelling and 15+ years of marketing experience to shift the way organizations think about communications. Growing up as a closeted queer kid in a conservative Texas family shaped my approach to activism and 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, equitable finance, mutual aid, and combating the climate crisis. I bring a data-driven, empathic, and storytelling approach to strategic digital communications.

Connect with me on Twitter & LinkedIn


๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ 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.

We believe that the work of change is for all of us. Thatโ€™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 are greatly appreciated and help fund our efforts so we can release more content for the whole community!

Canโ€™t Pay Now? Money shouldn't be a barrier to getting the support you need to advance social justice. Reach out to me if the subscription cost is a barrier.


Navigating heart-first activism & storytelling. We explore the ๐ŸŒฑ roots of our world to support communicators, organizations, and activists ๐Ÿฅต to avoid burnout and ๐Ÿ“š tell empathetic stories that cultivate connections that ๐ŸŒ empower โœŠ๐Ÿฝ social change.

Learn more about the Roots of Change Agency.