🌱 Reflections on RootsCamp: Panic attacks, trauma, and a whole lot of joy. 🌱
Gratitude & our upcoming virtual RootsCamp.
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I'm rarely comfortable showing off the beautiful mess that is my daily life, but here goes because RootsCamp was undoubtedly that. Apologies that this is a bit long, but there is much to share.
Some things in our movement are too important to let go of and RootsCamp was one of them. I didn't start it, but I had been part of most of them in the past, and I loved them. I grew from the experience, and our movement did, too. When the opportunity arose to bring it back, it felt personal but, more importantly - strategic.
Movement-building is never neat. It's never easy. And it's always a little chaotic.
RootsCamp was always chaotic but also brilliant and essential. Like so many things in our movement, it existed not because of one person or organization but because our community made it happen together. But keeping it alive? That came at a cost.
💰 Risk and Sacrifice
✅ I promised people I would pay them when I wasn't sure I could
✅ I committed to a venue when I wasn't 100% sure I could afford it.
✅ Delayed other important projects and planning.
✅ Cancelled holiday plans.
I'm not a fundraiser. I am a voter contact and campaign consultant. Through my firm, Amplify Power, I make a living doing direct mail. GAIN Power is a side hustle I don’t draw any salary from—quite the opposite, I fund it with money and a huge amount of my time.
The hardest part of bringing back RootsCamp was raising the money. We needed close to $400,000 to do this. While the logistics, programming, and execution were challenging, the fundraising kept me up at night because I was personally liable at the end of the day, which was terrifying. RootsCamp triggered more than one very real panic attack. I also got very ill the week between Christmas and New Year’s with a kidney infection that had me in a Rwandan Emergency room for a day and bedbound for over a week, but I had to keep working.
Working through the holidays, illnesses, and other personal crises - wasn’t something I did alone - our whole team did, too.
Thankfully, many more stepped in to help, and I'm so glad we did it!
🌿 Why We Took It On
RootsCamp always felt more than a conference. It was a special part of our community, a place where organizers, campaigners, and movement leaders could come together without a rigid agenda, without the usual hierarchy, without the bullshit. It was about sharing real lessons, the wins and mistakes, and learning from each other.
After this election, I wasn't the only one feeling the absence of that space. My colleague Julia Rosen put it perfectly in December:
"What I wouldn't give to have RootsCamp back to debrief this cycle with the folks who ran the programs on both sides of the wall."
Hundreds of people commented on Julia's post, echoing the same sentiment: we need this back.
I responded: GAIN Power wants to do it.
And then, something incredible happened—Billy Wimsatt, founder of the Movement Voter Project, reached out and offered to help fund and organize if we took it on. That was the moment it became real.
🏆 Champions Who Made It Happen
Billy Wimsatt—A Champion for This Movement
When I first suggested bringing back RootsCamp, Billy didn't just cheer me on from the sidelines—he made it real. He offered seed funding to help us get started and promised to help with organizing.
Billy doesn't just talk about investing in the progressive movement—he does through his brainchild, the Movement Voter Project. His work is fueled by love, passion, and an unshakable belief in our collective power.
At RootsCamp, he kicked off the event with fire and closed it with the same energy. If you've ever been around Billy, you know his energy is contagious—his work is driven by values rooted in love, justice, and relentless optimism.
Billy, I cannot thank you enough. You believed in this when so many others doubted it. We did this because you helped make it happen.
Congressman Steny Hoyer—Stepping Up When It Mattered Most
One of the biggest reasons I pulled off RootsCamp—and one of the most personally meaningful moments of this experience—was Congressman Steny Hoyer's colossal step up.
Most people don't think of Steny Hoyer as a name you associate with progressive movement-building. He's long been seen as part of the Democratic Party's old-guard establishment—but that perception misses something critical: he has been one of the most important investors in our progressive talent pipeline.
And I know that because I am one of the people he invested in.
I worked at the DCCC as a regional political director earlier in my career. Mr. Hoyer and I became a traveling duo moving all over the Midwest, recruiting people to run for Congress. I cannot even begin to explain how much I learned from him.
A few years later, he asked me to become Treasurer of his campaign committee and leadership PAC, AmeriPAC—a volunteer role I've held for almost 25 years. Over that time, I've had the privilege of seeing his commitment to this country and this party up close, in a way few people get to.
I was terrified about the financial risk I had taken on. And then Mr. Hoyer called me personally to tell me he would step up and make it happen. This was my most enormous ask ever, and the fact that he responded meant everything.
A special thank you to Taylor Doggett from Hoyer's political team, who brought my request to him and then showed up herself to see what RootsCamp was all about. It was a bonus that we were in Maryland, making it easier for her to experience the event firsthand. Taylor, your advocacy behind the scenes made a crucial difference!
Thank You to SEIU and Carli Stevenson
Carli Stevenson, who is a friend, a client, and one of the biggest RootsCamp cheerleaders—you, along with SEIU, deserve credit not just for the financial sponsorship but also for giving me the confidence to do it and then showing up to be an essential part of it. Thank you!
Megan Hull
I know you don't like attention, but I still need to give you some public thank you.
Will Robinson & the New Media Firm
Will has been a friend for longer than we care to admit, and I can always count on him. He is one of the best trainers and media consultants in our movement, but more importantly, he is a caring and dedicated individual to the folks who do this work.
Special Thanks to the Maritime Conference Center Staff
I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the venue staff at the Maritime Conference Center, especially Bethe and Stacey—you were an absolute pleasure to work with. Your flexibility, professionalism, and warmth helped make RootsCamp successful. In the high-stress world of event planning, you were joyful partners who helped us with every challenge.
On a personal note, I also loved this venue because I could bring Bruno, my emotional support dog! 🐕 Having him there kept me grounded through the chaos, and I'm so grateful for a venue that accommodated my having him by my side. I hope others enjoyed meeting him.
👏 A Huge Thank You to the RootsCamp Team
RootsCamp was a massive community effort.
I want to give a special shoutout to my ride-or-die partner in arms, Jess Grennan, who led the team through incredible, tough personal challenges—not mine to share but worthy of recognition. Jess, I see you. I appreciate you. I couldn't have done this without you.
This event was also possible because of an incredible team, including:
Stephanie Nogueira and Karasira Gildas from GAIN Power, Seth Tanner of both GAIN Power and my partner at Amplify Power, Kathryn Poindexter, Natalie Rojas, Victoria Nolten, and Alison Egbers with Jess's Simple Majority, Natasha Smith, Chuck Rocha and Roberto Nava at Solidarity Strategies, Akilah Ensley at Invictus Strategy Group, Tim Phan, Malinda Frevert - Queen of the Wall and critical keeper of RootsCamp Legacy, Brandon Thompson Anatole Jenkins from Contrast Campaigns, Aniyah, Laura, and Tamia Booker at T Booker Strategies, Roderick Smith, Emma Mont and Organizer Memes, Brad Bauman and the Raben Group, Darikka Scollard from Digital Turf, and the indomitable Judson Scanlon.
I want to thank every volunteer, speaker, panel organizer, attendee, and sponsor who stepped up and ask those who didn't to consider sponsoring the virtual versions. We still have much to raise for it, and we can't do it without you.
🎤 Key Highlights: Who Took the Stage?
We were honored to host some of the most inspiring voices in progressive politics:
Heather Booth - a civil rights activist, feminist, political strategist, and co-founder of JANE and my forever Shero.
Reggie Hubbard - a righteous activist, yogi, and sound master.
Emmy Ruiz - President Biden's WH Political Director and inspirational leader in our space.
Rep. Ruwa Romman – Georgia State Representative and longtime activist, who the Uncommitted National Movement put forward to speak at the 2024 DNC Convention
A'Shanti Gholar – the brilliant President of Emerge and founder of The Brown Girls Guide to Politics.
DNC Vice Chairs Malcolm Kenyatta and Reyna Walters-Morgan are engaging leaders in the future of the Democratic party.
💬 What We Talked About
RootsCamp is an unconference, meaning attendees set the agenda. Here's just a glimpse of what we covered:
Making Every Vote Count: Pathways Forward for Proportional Representation
Making Use of No Code & Low Code Tools
Digital Security for the "I've Been Meaning to Get to That" Crowd
Powering Change: Using Stories to Champion Clean Energy & Counter Disinformation
2024 Latino Vote: Lessons and Challenges
Abortion in the 2024 Election: What Happened? And How Do We Talk About It?
❤️ Testimonials: From a few attendees:
"The realization that this thing is like clay—experiences shape us and can improve."
“Rootscamp is one of those magical places you go to think beyond what we know is the most collective way possible.”
"Session on digital security was EXTREMELY HELPFUL!"
“Attending RootsCamp was a transformative experience that profoundly impacted my work as a progressive organizer…”
"I had an AMAZING time at RootsCamp! The vibes were great, the content of the sessions was wonderful, and I loved how participatory it was. The location was fantastic. The fact that tickets included food, snacks, and Diet Coke on tap was incredible. Overall, it was a 10/10 in my book!"
“Roots Camp has transformed my activism and provided valuable insights I can apply in my community. For any elected officials reading this, if you truly care about investing in activism, I encourage you to support Roots Camp…”
“RootsCamp is unlike any event I've attended in the past. There were so many opportunities for networking, learning, and collaborating with folks in the movement. The speakers were inspiring, the sessions were engaging, and the attendees were some of the best people I've ever met. I left feeling the best I've felt since Election Day.”
“I loved speaking to people engaged in politics all across our country from so many different backgrounds and remembering just how important that we stay in the fight is instead of giving up. RootsCamp energized me to keep our spirits high and fight for justice for all.”
📊 By the Numbers
Attendance: 325+ people representing 43 states and 161 organizations
Sessions: 142 submitted, 81 live sessions with 76 unique session leaders
Support: 65+ sponsors/donors, 22 partner organizations, 150 total scholarships awarded
🚀 What's Next? Virtual RootsCamp—March 17-22
For those who couldn't attend in person—or those who want to keep the conversation going—we're hosting a Virtual RootsCamp from March 17-22.
Moving to a virtual format means we can:
🌍 Reach a broader and more diverse audience
💚 Remove barriers like travel, costs, and accessibility limitations
🌱 Keep the spirit of RootsCamp alive in a format that works for everyone
This isn't just a post-election event—it's a space to build the future.
💭 Regrets, I have a few
Despite all the successes, I do wish we did more:
💔 We didn't raise enough money for everyone who wanted to attend. We funded 150 people through travel support and fee waivers, but we had to decline more than that number who wanted to attend but need financial support or fee waivers to do it. That's why I'm so passionate about the virtual event—it's a chance to include everyone who couldn't make it in person.
⏱️ Being too busy to experience it fully. As the organizer, I ran around putting out fires and handling logistics. I wish I could have sat in on more sessions and met more amazing people who showed up. I caught glimpses of brilliant conversations I would have loved to participate in.
🎨 Vision boards vs. bar caucus: I wish the vision board caucus had been bigger than the bar caucus! But I'm genuinely proud that we offered non-political, non-alcohol-focused "camp activities" to build better bonds. Creating spaces for connection that don't revolve around drinking is something I believe our movement needs more of—and something I'll continue to prioritize in future events.
⏱️ Will Robinson didn’t do the session we discussed.
⏳I wish we had more time to avoid our many mistakes and omissions.
🧌 the trolls, there were some, sadly, on our side. Do better.
These regrets aren't complaints; they are just an acknowledgment that I wish we could have done better.
The truth is, we're not done yet. While in-person RootsCamp was a success, we took on significant financial risk to make it happen, and we're still working to close the gap. As we prepare for Virtual RootsCamp (March 17-22), we need your support more than ever.
💰 An Ask: Contribute now. Here's why your donation matters right now:
We're still paying the bills from in-person RootsCamp. Despite amazing sponsors stepping up, I took on financial risk to ensure this vital space existed for our movement. Your contribution helps us fulfill our commitments to vendors, staff, and scholarship recipients.
Virtual RootsCamp needs to be accessible to everyone. While virtual events don't have the exact venue costs, they require technology, staffing, and resources to ensure seamless experiences. We want to ensure anyone who needs this space can access it, regardless of their ability to pay.
This is about movement infrastructure. Given the challenges we face in 2025 and beyond, we need spaces like RootsCamp where organizers can connect, strategize, and build power. Your investment today builds the foundation for progressive victories tomorrow.
We want to fund everyone who wants to participate. One of my biggest regrets was turning people away due to funding limitations. With your help, we can ensure that the virtual event is accessible to all who want to join.
🌿 What Your Donation Can Do:
🌱 $25 can provide a scholarship for one organizer to attend Virtual RootsCamp
🌿 $100 supports the technology to host an interactive virtual session
🌳 $500 helps us pay the remaining bills from in-person RootsCamp
🌲 $1,000+ invests in the future of this critical movement space
I put my financial security on the line because I believed RootsCamp was that important. If you agree, please join me by contributing what you can today.
→ 💚 Donate now 💚
🔗 How You Can Get Involved
📝 Share your feedback in our RootsCamp survey - constructive criticism welcome - stories and testimonials appreciated.
👕 Get your RootsCamp merch & Rwandan baskets.
🔔 Follow RootsCamp.com for all updates and announcements
💻 Join our new GAIN Power Slack Community to continue the conversations
👏 With Risk Comes Reward
Creating connections, helping people showcase their powerful work, giving credit for it, and building careers in this space are just some of the things that bring me joy in doing this work, and RootsCamp does all that and more. It deeply fueled my soul during a time of despair, and I know it did that for all who attended. We need convenings like this to bond, build, and keep on.
RootsCamp did something even more important for me - it gave me the confidence to keep doing this work, which is hard and rarely rewarding. We need each other more than ever to fight over the next four years, and I, for one, know I will keep doing it because of the RootsCamp community and all who were part of it.
Phew—that was a lot. Thank you for getting this far. I don't have all the answers yet, but we must keep doing more. Thanks for fighting this fight with me.
— Amy