Their mission is to support the creation and presentation of original art which is rooted in a particular community of place, tradition or spirit. As cultural workers they strive to be allies in the elimination of all forms of oppression. Alternate ROOTS provides the connective tissue for a distinct segment of the arts and culture field - artists who have a commitment to making work in, with, by, for and about their communities, and those whose cultural work strives for social justice. While this is a large sector in US arts and culture as many artists work in this way and share these aims, it is, for the most part, informally organized and collaborations are often the result of chance as much as choice. Alternate ROOTS contributes to the sustained artistic development, increased visibility, and stability of activist artists.