Rooted Resilience: Intersectional Narratives of 2SLGBTQIA+ Creatives in Western Massachusetts is a multimedia project exploring and preserving intersectional narratives of current and contemporary 2SLGBTQIA+ creatives in the region.

Our mission is to preserve and amplify the voices of marginalized creatives and their often overlooked creative contributions. Through our podcast, blog, and event series, we'll be sharing creative and personal histories from artists of all disciplines throughout the region, exploring resilience, identity, and community along the way.

We see the work of preserving the rich 2SLGBTQIA+ history of this region as a privilege and a joyful obligation to our communities. Our hope is to create visual and audio experiences and dialogues that are accessible to as many within our community as possible.

This kind of holistic, community-focused project takes labor, equipment, expertise to produce.

In 2025-2026, it will take at least $40,000 to create and release our first podcast and blog series, hold community dialogues, etc.

Our 2025-2026 budget covers:

research and interviews
production equipment and labor
honoraria for participants
marketing and distribution of the podcast
low-to-no cost access to a community dialogue series

We have raised just over $2,000 in community donations so far, and we are grateful for every dollar and every contribution.

We still need to raise $6,000 to complete production of our first season.

Thanks to our partnership BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity, every dollar you donate is tax-deductible.

🌟 Support storytelling, creative resilience, and queer futures with your donation today.🌟

Rooted Resilience is produced by Bloom Local through a partnership with BOMBYX Center for Arts & Equity and made possible by Mass Humanities with funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. 2025-2026 sponsors include Lemon Bakery, Yet Another Queer Pop Up Market, High Five Books, and The Tiny Activist.

BOMBYX is a non-profit organization established to steward the property at 130 Pine Street, in Florence, Massachusetts - a historic gathering place founded by abolitionists who championed anti-slavery, gender equity, and religious tolerance. Carrying these values forward, we serve our community as a venue for transformative arts experiences, spiritual growth, and challenging conversations.

Celebrate + preserve 2SLGBTQ+ histories in Western MA

Rooted Resilience: Intersectional Narratives of 2SLGBTQIA+ Creatives in Western Massachusetts