🌱 Creating Media & Tech Amidst Rising Fascism

Hey y'all, welcome back! 👋🏼

What does fascism fear the most? Empathy. How can we connect and build empathy? Through stories. Today, I share a little more about how I've been building a heart-first media ecosystem as protection for us against fascism. Read on for more...

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📚 for communicators: 📚 Actionable Roots for Radical Communications

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Building Independent Media Amidst Rising Fascism

Part II: Building A New Media Ecosystem, Old Roots for New Growth

I sat down with Bold Journey Magazine earlier this year to talk about my election experience and why I’m building a decolonized media ecosystem and communications agency. My life experiences have been nothing short of interesting and have prepared me to be an organizer in this moment of rising fascism and growing climate collapse. I hope you enjoy my story!

On November 7, 2020, I had a vision for an agency & media ecosystem to support heart-first humans as activists and social change communicators. I was snowed in and stuck in Big Bear on the day it was announced Biden/Harris would make it to the White House. I was relieved, but worried. They had narrowly won against a clear threat.

I quit what had been a dream job, a senior position in an ad agency for Big Tech, to build a decolonized communications & media agency that supports activists, movement leaders, and social change communicators. The roots of change agency now supports thousands of folks who are moving our world forward across our newsletter, podcast, memberships, gatherings, and coaching support.

I love working with folks to expand their capacity by being more creative and strategic. My favorite part is witnessing the excitement when folks see how a decolonized view of communications transforms their daily work with more imagination and energy.

We just released our private podcast feed that I’m very excited about. On the roots of change podcast, I talk with organizers and communicators from The Global Majority who are cultivating change differently to combat the threats we face, while creating a liberatory world. Introducing a separate private feed lets guests feel more comfortable sharing insights away from the prying eyes of Big Tech so that we can offer a deeper understanding of our world, actionable ideas for our activism, and insights into building strategies to meet the moment.

As Sam Cooke aptly said, change is a comin’ no matter what people in leadership today say. And that’s what the roots of change agency is here for. To support us navigating change, while staying human.

Aligning Values with Vision

As someone who doesn’t fit well into a binary, traditional school was not always my favorite. However, I was fascinated by history and learning. I just did most of my learning outside of classrooms. In high school, I was known as both an athlete and a film geek. Playing lacrosse, field hockey, and soccer every year, helped me to learn the values of community and mutuality. It’s just as important to trust your teammate in activism as it is on the field.

My love of film was how I arrived in advertising and ultimately came to create the roots of change agency. I love stories and imagination. I dreamed of writing scripts for a galaxy far far away and ultimately decided that I had more possibility in advertising to grow. I’m very grateful for the foundation that advertising agency’s gave me. Working across so many different Fortune 500 clients gave me a fascinating view into Corporate America and how I want to build a different kind of organization.

The advice that I share the most and one that I try my best to follow myself is to build strategically, while being patient. In our hyper-connected world, we expect so much to be immediate. However, good growth comes from tending to the soil for a while before anything sprouts from the ground. Building with intentionality and connectedness will help build something sturdier and more lasting.

Having just reached the roots of change agency’s four year anniversary, I can see how many of the decisions I made at the beginning were important growth areas for me to learn so that I can now manage my time across writing, podcasting, strategic coaching, and deepening my organizing. My steady growth now means I have a suite of trainings, resources, and writings for communicators to use now in their work and heart-first humans to deepen their activism.

Next week: What Does Decolonized Media Mean Amidst Rising Fascism?

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• 🎟️ Friday, May 30th - Give Your Future Self a Gift and Register for Rootid Respite's Monthly Community Care Call (Rootid Respite)

Racist Afrikaner's Infiltrate U.S. Government

Peter Thiel and Elon Musk are both South African white men who believe in upholding the colonial system that was established centuries ago.

Watch & follow on YouTube.

And that's a wrap on this week’s newsletter! We hope you found this helpful in your work. Forward this to a friend and help democratize communications! If you have any topics you want covered, questions, or curious about our Assist an Activist program, please reach out and let me know.

In Solidarity,
Sam Chavez
the roots of change agency