WHO IS: THE ROOT EXPERIENCE
Spokane-based & BIPOC-led 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, The Root Experience amplifies BIPOC & underrepresented voices by showcasing diverse lived experiences. Through art, gathering, and mentorship, we champion racial & social justice, healing, and empowering the next generation. Our call to action: acknowledge that We Rise Together.
OUR MISSION
Our mission of The Root Experience is to amplify BIPOC & historically underrepresented voices in the arts, and through all disciplines. We aim to show The City of Spokane and the Pacific Northwest the common threads of cultural knowledge, creativity, and storytelling themes that connect us to our humanity. Continuous BIPOC representation in our city is beyond important, it is a necessity. We hope to inspire BIPOC youth to embrace their passion, in order to bring vital resources to the forefront. To remind our community that we truly are all in this together.
We are celebrating culture. We are celebrating story. We are celebrating community.
OUR VISION
Our vision cultivates a positive impact for BIPOC and historically underrepresented communities in Spokane and the PNW through all disciplines. Recognizing that strong and consistent representation is essential for our shared future. We will bring transformative opportunities through strategically implementing initiatives. With focus on the arts, holistic practices, and professional development. Forging a vibrant, sustainable ecosystem that ensures access, and empowers creative talents and entrepreneurial spirit across all generations. Through the elevation of BIPOC cultures, we affirm a fundamental understanding: We Rise Together.
OUR VALUES
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We believe everyone has the right to learn about their culture, and the respective knowledge that stems from them. It is a human right. Living in a society built on colonization, an unfathomable number of BIPOC peoples are left to fumble through their heritage weeds. Connecting and focusing culture bearers and storytellers will revitalize our communities for generations to come.
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The Root Experience Collective believes in the power of collaboration to transform communities, and our ecosystem as a whole. When uplifting each other we are saying that we all matter, and deserve to take up as much space as anyone else.
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Growth starts at the center; You. As individuals, although we walk this life with others (friends, family, community members, etc) we follow our own lived journey’s that dictate the way we navigate this world and everything around us. It can dictate how we create, perform a job, raise your children, show up for your family and community, and so many crucial moments in life. If the self is not okay, then it’s likely whomever you're interacting with is picking up on that. Healing is resistance. But what our society doesn’t tell you, you will heal — it’s just a matter of when, if you do the work and let creativity and vision be the guide.
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Storytelling is an intrinsic instinct for human beings; It’s rooted in our spirit. It’s a way we connect and help other people see us in this world. Stories are what drive battles, triumphs, legacies, movements, knowledge, and take down harmful systems; Conversely, false narratives can be and are used to takedown those who cannot stand up against the forces. Stories root us to our identity and offer insight into who we are individually and collectively.
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As an organization brought to you by Indigenous artists, we use an Indigenous lens when creating as well as what we offer to the community in terms of programming. Diving back into traditional practice, we invite culture bearers, elders, our personal and collective cultural knowledge, and community members with crucial cultural knowledge to fuel every event and opportunity. This being said, we nurture a non-extractive model known as a barrier-free model, in which there is no cost to apply or to show up, to make sure that all walks of life are able to participate in these opportunities.
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We believe sustainability and accountability are major players in personal and community empowerment. As we swim through a society that doesn't typically hold them as a standard, it is a value to be nurtured, and boast compassion and patience towards. A journey is a long game, and so is the journey to sustainability and accountability. Recognizing this journey will look different for each individual and their families.
MEET: THE ROOT EXPERIENCE COLLECTIVE
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Director/ Co-Founder/ Multidisciplinary Visual Artist/ Professor
Olivia Evans is a grant-awarded, multidisciplinary visual artist, producer, and owner of Mama Wolf Media, LLC, based in Spokane, WA. Working in video, photography, drawing, film, and beadwork, her work is heavily influenced by motherhood, nature, the subconscious, and personal experiences - intertwining traditional and digital media to create narratives of the self. All these influences echo her eclectic cultural background of growing up as a Black, Italian, and Native woman. She boasts a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, and a minor in Film from Eastern Washington University (2018). As a producer and social media manager for the Alliance for Media Arts + Culture, an arts non-profit, she continues to elevate marginalized communities in film & art through Social Media posts, Documentary Film events, and other projects. She has consulted at various organizations and schools such as, Spokane Arts, Artist Trust, Whitworth, Gonzaga, and 6-months as a Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition, where she empowered victims of Domestic Violence through visibility on social media, marketing materials, MMIWP Campaign, and community partnered events. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions, for instance, Spokane Art’s SATURATE, Terrain 12 & 13, INT’L All Media Exhibition ‘22, Land Acknowledgement exhibition ‘22, and as a co-curator at the GU Urban Arts Center for “Home: Imagining the Irrevocable.” She has also been featured on KXLY, Krem2, and various radio stations. Today, she continues to expand her art practice in many facets, such as directing Spokane's 1st BIPOC art, film, and music festival The Root Experience: Living Cultures of Art, Music & Soul, grant reviewing/ writing/ paneling, adjunct teaching, and film festival paneling.
Affiliations:
Washington Filmworks Equity Committee
Spark Central Board Member
Elk Soup Board Member
SFCC Advisory Board Member
@olivia.evans.1232 Olivia's FB www.oliviaevans.biz
mamawolfmedia.com @mamawolfmediallc MWM LLC FB mamawolfmediallc@gmail.com
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Co-Founder/ Co-Producer / Performance Artist / Filmmaker
James Pakootas is an award-winning artist, producer, and filmmaker from The Colville Confederated Tribes who cultivates change through the power of words. As an emerging community leader, he brings a fresh lens to his work as consulting producer at The Alliance For Media, Arts + Culture. In 2019, James co-produced an unparalleled event at the Garland Theater showcasing Indigenous excellence. By combining a screening of the film “RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World” with an evening of live musical performances by contemporary Indigenous artists and an opening given in the Spokane language, James and his team successfully held space to empower and celebrate a living culture. James draws on the culture and ways of his peoples as he navigates what it means to be a Native storyteller in a digital world.
@Iam.justjamez @newagefilmcollective @scatteredrootscollective
jamespakootas@gmail.com
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Operations Manager/ Co-Founder/ Co-Producer/ Performance Artist/ Audio Engineer
Devonte Pearson is an African American audio engineer, producer, songwriter, and performing artist based out of Spokane, Washington. Mr. Pearson graduated Spokane Falls Community College with degrees in Audio Engineering and Business Management. He has booked, produced, and completed a handful of tours around the Pacific Northwest and has been doing so since 2013. As an artist, he has performed for festivals such as The Tinnabulation Festival, Volume Music Fest, and Upstream Music Festival. He has also been invited to perform for colleges including Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, and University of Washington. Devonte’s portfolio also includes opportunities in the film world that include sound designing for a short animation, location recording for independent and feature length films, and mixing audio for commercials and documentaries. His experience in entertainment production includes a unique perspective obtained from working multiple roles from conception to final breakdown.
Affiliations:
Washington Filmworks Wheelhouse Board Member
@ts_the_solution_ @panoramicdreams @newagefilmcollective @tsmusicpage
tsthesolution@gmail.com
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Program Director/ Co-Producer/ Multidisciplinary Artist
Jáiz Boyd is a multidisciplinary artist humbled by each opportunity to express himself creatively. His work spans thought-provoking installations that leave each audience captivated, dynamic set designs that immerse his guests in creativity, and innovative event curation that evoke lasting impacts with every community he serves. Originally from Northern California and now based between Sacramento, CA, and Spokane, WA, he remains deeply committed to community service. Jaiz is a visionary. He is a cutting-edge fashion designer and powerful creative director. He gratefully collaborates with non-profits, supports various events across the nation, and curates programming for emerging creators and at-risk youth. As a fashion designer, he humbly explores new realms, crafting unique pieces that resonate with those seeking artistic expression. Above all, Jáiz finds profound inspiration in his role as a loving husband and father. Whether spending time with his family or aspiring to his next mission in life, Jáiz Boyd continues to push artistic boundaries and seeks to inspire others through his creative endeavors.
@jaizboyd Jáiz FB jaizboyd@gmail.com @birdsinthecoast FB birdsinthecoast.com @be.real.do.something
MEET: THE FOUNDERS
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Director/ Co-Founder/ Multidisciplinary Visual Artist/ Professor
Olivia Evans is a grant-awarded, multidisciplinary visual artist, producer, and owner of Mama Wolf Media, LLC, based in Spokane, WA. Working in video, photography, drawing, film, and beadwork, her work is heavily influenced by motherhood, nature, the subconscious, and personal experiences - intertwining traditional and digital media to create narratives of the self. All these influences echo her eclectic cultural background of growing up as a Black, Italian, and Native woman. She boasts a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art, and a minor in Film from Eastern Washington University (2018). As a producer and social media manager for the Alliance for Media Arts + Culture, an arts non-profit, she continues to elevate marginalized communities in film & art through Social Media posts, Documentary Film events, and other projects. She has consulted at various organizations and schools such as, Spokane Arts, Artist Trust, Whitworth, Gonzaga, and 6-months as a Marketing & Communications Coordinator for Spokane Regional Domestic Violence Coalition, where she empowered victims of Domestic Violence through visibility on social media, marketing materials, MMIWP Campaign, and community partnered events. Her work has been featured in several exhibitions, for instance, Spokane Art’s SATURATE, Terrain 12 & 13, INT’L All Media Exhibition ‘22, Land Acknowledgement exhibition ‘22, and as a co-curator at the GU Urban Arts Center for “Home: Imagining the Irrevocable.” She has also been featured on KXLY, Krem2, and various radio stations. Today, she continues to expand her art practice in many facets, such as directing Spokane's 1st BIPOC art, film, and music festival The Root Experience: Living Cultures of Art, Music & Soul, grant reviewing/ writing/ paneling, adjunct teaching, and film festival paneling.
Affiliations:
Washington Filmworks Equity Committee
Spark Central Board Member
Elk Soup Board Member
SFCC Advisory Board Member
@olivia.evans.1232 Olivia's FB www.oliviaevans.biz
mamawolfmedia.com @mamawolfmediallc MWM LLC FB mamawolfmediallc@gmail.com
-
Co-Founder/ Co-Producer / Performance Artist / Filmmaker
James Pakootas is an award-winning artist, producer, and filmmaker from The Colville Confederated Tribes who cultivates change through the power of words. As an emerging community leader, he brings a fresh lens to his work as consulting producer at The Alliance For Media, Arts + Culture. In 2019, James co-produced an unparalleled event at the Garland Theater showcasing Indigenous excellence. By combining a screening of the film “RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World” with an evening of live musical performances by contemporary Indigenous artists and an opening given in the Spokane language, James and his team successfully held space to empower and celebrate a living culture. James draws on the culture and ways of his peoples as he navigates what it means to be a Native storyteller in a digital world.
@Iam.justjamez @newagefilmcollective @scatteredrootscollective
jamespakootas@gmail.com
-
Operations Manager/ Co-Founder/ Co-Producer/ Performance Artist/ Audio Engineer
Devonte Pearson is an African American audio engineer, producer, songwriter, and performing artist based out of Spokane, Washington. Mr. Pearson graduated Spokane Falls Community College with degrees in Audio Engineering and Business Management. He has booked, produced, and completed a handful of tours around the Pacific Northwest and has been doing so since 2013. As an artist, he has performed for festivals such as The Tinnabulation Festival, Volume Music Fest, and Upstream Music Festival. He has also been invited to perform for colleges including Gonzaga University, Eastern Washington University, and University of Washington. Devonte’s portfolio also includes opportunities in the film world that include sound designing for a short animation, location recording for independent and feature length films, and mixing audio for commercials and documentaries. His experience in entertainment production includes a unique perspective obtained from working multiple roles from conception to final breakdown.
Affiliations:
Washington Filmworks Wheelhouse Board Member
@ts_the_solution_ @panoramicdreams @newagefilmcollective @tsmusicpage
tsthesolution@gmail.com
-
Program Director/ Co-Producer/ Multidisciplinary Artist
Jáiz Boyd is a multidisciplinary artist humbled by each opportunity to express himself creatively. His work spans thought-provoking installations that leave each audience captivated, dynamic set designs that immerse his guests in creativity, and innovative event curation that evoke lasting impacts with every community he serves. Originally from Northern California and now based between Sacramento, CA, and Spokane, WA, he remains deeply committed to community service. Jaiz is a visionary. He is a cutting-edge fashion designer and powerful creative director. He gratefully collaborates with non-profits, supports various events across the nation, and curates programming for emerging creators and at-risk youth. As a fashion designer, he humbly explores new realms, crafting unique pieces that resonate with those seeking artistic expression. Above all, Jáiz finds profound inspiration in his role as a loving husband and father. Whether spending time with his family or aspiring to his next mission in life, Jáiz Boyd continues to push artistic boundaries and seeks to inspire others through his creative endeavors.
@jaizboyd Jáiz FB jaizboyd@gmail.com @birdsinthecoast FB birdsinthecoast.com @be.real.do.something
“The Root Experience Collective believes in the power of collaboration to transform our communities.”
Get Involved!
How to Volunteer:
We are looking for volunteers to help at the event for the 3 days of programming. Reach out to this email provided, if you are interested, we'd love to share in this event with you!
therootexperiencefestival@gmail.com
How to Become a Sponsor &/ or a Partner:
We are looking for sponsors and partners to help support the artists and events in The Root Experience Festival. Reach out to this email provided, if you are interested – We'd love to have you!
therootexperiencefestival@gmail.com
