Community Roots

Grown from The Third Thirty | Community Roots Oral History Project

Community Roots evolved from oral histories shared from The Third Thirty project. The project celebrates our community's rich traditions of creative expression and activism.

Community Roots is a series of artist talks, performances, & conversations grown from The Third Thirty. We gather oral histories from local artists, activists, and organizers to document and share powerful stories and ideas, and ask what is possible today and tomorrow

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Weaving wisdom from the past into the present and future

Artists, activists, and organizers share the gift of creating beauty and belonging during times of turmoil and struggle, and they help us imagine what is possible in bold and urgent ways. Olympia has a rich history in these traditions and our elders shared vital historical memories through their Third Thirty interviews. Community Roots engages with these stories, asking: What can we learn from our elders who have stewarded traditions of art, activism, and organizing in our community? What threads from the past are woven into how we organize and create here in the South Sound today?

Gatherings celebrate our rich traditions of creative expression and activism. We invite folks to share powerful stories and ideas, and ask what is possible, today and tomorrow. September 2022 events were supported by a grant from the American Historical Association. We look forward to seeing you at more Community Roots events!

Our Bodies, Our Choices: An Intergenerational Conversation and Interactive Theater Experience

Friday, September 9, 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Olympia Family Theater
612 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501

An intergenerational conversation and interactive theatre experience in partnership with Olympia Planned Parenthood. Listen to an intergenerational panel discussion, and then participate in (or watch) an interactive community storytelling circle and image theatre experience. Reflect on themes of access to abortion, sexual health, bodily self-determination, and how systems of power and oppression have impacted individuals and the larger community over time. Planned Parenthood will share information, legislative updates, and ways to take action.

This event grew from the stories Pat Holm shared with us through The Third Thirty project and was produced in collaboration with Planned Parenthood.

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Playback Theatre! Stories of Weaving the Wisdom of Art & Activism

Featuring members of The Heartsparkle Players, The Thunders, and Brave Practice Theatre Collective

Saturday, September 10
2:00pm - 3:30pm performance | 3:30pm - 4:30pm panel discussion
Olympia Senior Center
222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia, WA 98501

An afternoon of Playback Theatre, a spontaneous collaboration between performers and audience. People tell real moments from their lives, then watch them re-created on stage. This is an Audience Up! performance. In this performance audience members are invited to join and perform alongside us. Come for the performance, and stay for a discussion with performers about how playback has grown in the community over the past 31 years!

This event grew from the stories Debe Edden shared with us through The Third Thirty project and was produced in collaboration with Senior Services for South Sound.

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Sharing Stories Through Handicraft:
An Artist Talk with Dan McKinstry & Harvest Moon

Sunday, September 11, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Arbutus Folk School
610 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501

An artist talk with Master Storyteller and Basketweaver, Harvest Moon, and Master Luthier, Daniel McKinstry. Both have deep ties to the region and a shared love for western red cedar as a medium for their craft. Explore how handicraft is a form of storytelling and how it connects us to our home-place and to each other.

This event is part of our Community Roots series and grew from the stories Harvest and Dan shared with us through The Third Thirty project. Produced in collaboration with Arbutus Folk School.

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