Rooted in the Work was created on Rikers Island, in Enhanced Restraint Housing, where we were forced to face an undeniable truth:
No one was coming to save us.
And once you’re “released,” you realize that truth stretches far beyond those walls. Its not just Rikers - it’s the government, the non-profits, and the legal system. The very institutions that claim to help are the same ones keeping people trapped.
But here’s what we learned:
We don’t need saving.
We need resources, power, and control over our futures.
Rooted in the Work was created because we don’t have to wait to create, build, or define what’s possible for our communities.
Because power is the difference between waiting and building, between surviving and thriving, between hoping the system changes and being the ones who will change it.
How we Move
Rooted in the Work isn’t funded by outsiders. We do not answer to grant funders, corporations, or politicians.
We answer to the people we serve. And that means our money moves differently.
1. Community Redistribution → 100% Funds the Movement
(When you donate or shop, your money is split evenly across our core areas of work.)
25% – Travel Fund (So staff & community members can connect & build.)
25% – Anti-Gentrification Support (Direct aid to fight displacement.)
25% – Community-Led Projects (Funding work led by the people closest to the issue.)
25% – Operations (To keep our work running & growing.)
2. Paying for Labor → Sustaining the People Doing the Work
(Patreon, educational content, and consultations directly support the labor behind this work.)
We believe in redistribution AND sustainability. We take care of our people without exploitation or burnout.
Why we Exist
Because justice isn’t just about reacting to harm. It’s about building what should have always existed.
The system thrives on punishment. We build pathways for healing & transformation.
The system thrives on scarcity. We move money, time, and resources without gatekeeping.
The system thrives on control. We teach people how to take power back.
We don’t just critique broken systems. We replace them.
How you can Engage
There’s no one way to engage - choose what works for you.
SHOP → Supports community redistribution.
DONATE → 100% funds Rooted in the Work’s movement-building.
JOIN PATREON → Directly sustains the labor behind this work.
ACCESS FREE RESOURCES → Learn, unlearn, and build wherever you are.
Justice is not just a conversation. It’s a daily, lived practice. However you choose to engage, you are part of this work.