“I will not believe this to be inevitable. I will not believe that all that was must be.” - W.E.B. Du Bois
Our distributed organizing model lets us support emerging leaders in any town, school, or state across the U.S.. By equipping student teams to be trusted messengers for civic engagement in their schools, we promote local leaders. Our growth is limited only by time, not by space.
Movements are built on ideas. We stand on the shoulders of giants and strive to learn from the work that came before us. We dream big and prioritize love in the work we do. This Principle - Problem - Solutions framework grounds us in the principles that make Rhizome unique.
“What you are picks its way” - Walt Whitman
“I work, and working I transform the world.” - Paolo Freire
We are committed to paying the Organizers who lead our work for 3 reasons:
First, paying students at the start of their careers allows Organizers to treat Rhizome as a launching pad toward a lifetime of service, and a lifetime of knowing their worth. Paying Organizers lets us work, learn, and grow sustainably.
Second, paying young people lets us represent the communities we work in, retain local talent, and create leadership pipelines. By paying Organizers, we ensure access to leadership positions and support emerging leaders to take responsibility for organizing their communities.
Third, it’s the right thing to do.
HELP US SERVE MORE STUDENTS