About R2L
We serve Minnesota’s social justice ecosystem, walking alongside communities to deepen roots and nurture practices that help movements flourish and endure.
Mission
Rooted to Last (R2L) strengthens networks, builds knowledge and resources, and champions collective action that increase investments in leaders and organizations from Minnesota’s communities of color to build enduring social justice movement infrastructure.
Vision
We envision a world where everyone is part of a thriving community with boundless opportunities to pursue self-determined and joyful lives.
Our values
1.
Trust and Relationships: Trust and relationships are foundational to creating deep connections between people, fostering longevity and power sharing, and creating environments for regenerative innovation and collaborations. By fostering solid and trusted relationships, we create environments that support innovation and adaptability and accelerate strategic solutions so communities thrive.
2.
Freedom and Liberation: Every person has inherent potential and worth and deserves to experience dignity, joy and peace. Given equal opportunity, equitable support, restoration and healing, everyone can achieve their full potential and actively contribute to their families, community, and society.
3.
Interconnected & Collective: We are all interconnected and our actions and decisions impact the well-being of others. This interconnectedness extends to how we pursue collective good and transformation through the power of alliances and collaborations that must honor ancestral wisdom, lived experiences, strengths and the contributions of everyone.
4.
Justice: Justice is the foundation of our work. We strive for equity, fairness, and truth, and aspire to bring healing and a reparative approach to challenging and transforming systems.
At Rooted to Last, we build by learning and learn by building.
our origins
Rooted to Last began with a question born from lived experience: What becomes possible if the leaders and organizations driving change in communities of color had the enduring support they needed?
From her own journey, Bo Thao-Urabe knew the answer started with deep listening and grounded practice. She invited Marcus Owens and Tracy Fischman, two leaders equally committed to community-driven change, to join her in listening to communities of color and ecosystem leaders, designing with care, and bringing bold ideas to life.
From those conversations and shared commitments, Rooted to Last was born. Today, we stand alongside leaders and organizations who know their social justice work must be generational. We honor cultural and lived wisdom, and we work to grow the infrastructure that will sustain social justice movements for generations to come.
Our Team
Bo Thao-Urabe
Bo Thao-Urabe is Co-Founder and Chief Belief Officer at Rooted to Last. A transformative leader, systems strategist, and movement builder dedicated to creating a more just and thriving world, her energy and spark led to the creation of Rooted to Last. She provides strategic leadership and executive support. As principal of Seed Grow Bloom LLC, she helps organizations bridge theory to practice to meet their mission. A self described possibilian, Bo has built movements, organizations, and pathways that harness community assets towards reimagined possibilities. Among organizations she co-founded and led are the Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL), BMPP Giving Circle, Hnub Tshiab, and RedGreen Rivers. Honored with numerous awards, her work has strengthened community leadership, advanced policies, and increased philanthropy so communities can shape their futures. Bo serves on the boards of several organizations.
Marcus Owens
Marcus is Co-Founder and a Core Team Member at Rooted to Last. He is passionate about driving transformative change through institutional engagement, economic systems innovation, and strategic public-private partnerships. With over two decades of experience in community development and business, he co-founded Nawe Partners to catalyze economic vitality and equity nationwide. Previously Marcus served as Executive Director of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF)–Twin Cities and President and CEO of the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) where he helped revolutionize strategies to bolster the economic vitality of underserved communities through creating unique public and private partnerships. At Rooted to Last, Marcus helps innovate strategies that build enduring social justice infrastructure for Minnesota’s communities of color. Marcus is an avid traveler and has traveled to over 22 countries.
Tracy Fischman
Tracy Fischman is Co-Founder and a member of Rooted to Last’s Core Team. She is principal consultant of Fischman Consulting, helping clients advance and shape equitable strategies and systems and supporting executive leaders. Tracy’s leadership spans fields and sectors. She has served as Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Revenue and for over 11 years as Executive Director of Prepare + Prosper, where she led expansion of their footprint, scope, and impact. Tracy’s leadership includes roles with Planned Parenthood of Illinois, as VP of public policy, as well as the Chicago Department of Public Health, as director of policy and legislative affairs for STD/HIV/AIDS. Tracy’s Board experience has included GiveMN, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Women Winning, Girl’s Best Friend Foundation, AIDS Action Council, and more. Tracy holds a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and Master’s of Public Policy from University of Chicago. She lives in Saint Paul with her spouse and two talkative kids.
Camille Caster-Cyprian
Camille Caster-Cyprian joined Rooted to Last as our Chief Network Weaver. As a dedicated change-maker, long-time community organizer, and justice activist, their life’s work revolves around empowering individuals and groups to envision, embody, and engage in transformative practices that move humanity closer to liberation and justice. They bring valuable leadership experience from their positions at Penumbra Center for Racial Healing, Minnesota Council of Foundations, Greater Twin Cities United Way and Wellstone Action. In addition to their work at R2L, Camille is a doctoral candidate at University of Minnesota–Twin Cities focusing on Culturally Embodied Organizational Leadership. They are a certified community healing justice coach, certified embodiment coach, and a certified mind-body medicine facilitator. They currently serve as a Firekeeper of Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary. Camille lives in Saint Paul with their wife and enjoys line dancing to Southern Soul Blues/Country music.
Viva Yang
Viva Yang joined Rooted to Last as Director of Organizational Infrastructure & Network Systems. A longtime nonprofit professional with experience in program development, management and administration, and communications, Viva has served in various roles at both local community-based and large statewide social service organizations. Viva is a curious, passionate, and introspective communicator, writer, cultural bearer, polyglot, and appreciator of knowledge. Viva grew up bilingually as a native speaker of Hmong and English, and he has also studied Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese. When Viva is not stationed at Rooted to Last working on developing infrastructure, networks, and systems, he remains dedicated to developing access to Hmong language learning resources and reclamation, as well as serving as the inaugural Chair of the St. Olaf College Hmong Alumni Network, working to build community across eras of alumni and connecting with current and prospective students. Viva has a B.A. in Communications from St. Olaf College.