Introducing Rooted Resilience
A New Project Co-Produced by Bloom Local and Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity
Co-Directed by Luc Abbott and M Rudder
Preserving Intersectional Narratives of 2SLGBTQIA+ Creatives in Western Massachusetts
Rooted Resilience is a multimedia project that launched in March 2025 which explores narratives of current and contemporary 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives living on colonized Nipmuc, Nonotuck, and Pocumtuc land known as Western Massachusetts.
The project’s outcomes include a podcast, multimedia blog, and public discussion series. For weekly updates, and to listen to the podcast, visit the project blog.
“Despite the queer roots that run deeply in the Pioneer Valley, this ongoing documentation and archival footage of the 2SLGBTQIA+ & QTPOC doing grassroots work on behalf of the entire community writ large is a project of monumental importance.
The 2SLGBTQIA+ community has lost a generation already, and the privilege to age comes with the joyful obligation of preserving our rich history.”
— Corrie Locke-Hardy, Author of The Revolution Will Be Well Fed
Project Sponsors
Rooted Resilience is co-directed and produced by Luc Abbott and M Rudder and made possible by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC).
Additional support for Rooted Resilience is provided by
Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity
Bloom Local
And our 2025-26 Community Sponsors
Lemon Bakery
High Five Books
The Tiny Activist
Yet Another Queer Pop-Up Market
Mask Bloc 413
Root for Rooted Resilience!
Become a Community Donor
We are asking our community to join in supporting this project with donations of any amount towards the Rooted Resilience launch fundraiser. We still have $6,000 to raise to fund our first year of work on the project, serving as a fiscal anchor for additional grant writing and sponsorship opportunities.
Become a Sponsor
Partner with Bloom Local to clear a sustainable path forward for the Rooted Resilience project by becoming a supporting sponsor of this new podcast and event series (recently featured on The Fabulous 413 on NEPM)!
Review 2025-26 sponsorship opportunities and reach out to luc (at) bloomlocal (dot) live to secure your spot by April 15, 2025.