Root and Branch Post Mortem: Qualified Success

Your view of Downwinders' first Branch and Root Revue grassroots conference depends very much on which event you went to and what you were expecting. For the most part however, participants seemed to agree that for a first time effort it was a valuable addition to the annual activist calendar.

Beginning Wednesday night the 4th, we sponsored the November show of Bar Politics featuring an evening of satire targeting local environmental scandals and screw-ups. A full crowd showed up at the Rustic to see Josh Kumler and Company hit one out of the…bar. Smog and the woefully misnamed Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were targets. So was the City of Dallas and it's attempts to "civilize" the Trinity river bottom into more productive uses like an equestrian center and golf course.

Amidst tornado warnings, we hosted a brainstorming session at the Texas Theater on Thursday evening that began a discussion on the "Future of Fighting Fracking in Texas."  Although not as well attended as we hoped, the momentum from this first session led into Saturday's SRO Part 2, and what emerged was several new, more coordinated strategies that look like they might have a future. If you want more information about these brainstorming sessions and what they produced, please get in touch with Tamera Bounds of Mansfield Gas Well Awareness.

With the announcement that the Keystone pipeline was dead, Friday the 6th was a good day to be an environmentalist. An energetic group of 30-40 DFW residents celebrated by setting-up shop across the street from EPA Regional headquarters in Dallas and constructing a huge block-letter "S.O.S." on Munger street, along with a gigantic inflatable inhaler with the message: "HELP! We live in Texas." EPA employees got the message that we need them to take over enforcement of federal environmental laws instead of letting a state government that doesn't even believe smog is a problem delay, block and challenge needed reforms.

Without a doubt the most well-attended and popular event of the entire conference was our one-day "University of Change" on Saturday at First Unitarian Church. Between 60 and 70 activists were split into two tracks of nine workshops, including "How to Get Better Media Coverage," "How to Do Your Own Environmental Sampling," and "The Basics of Fighting Permits in Texas." Whatever second thoughts organizers might have at the beginning of the week were quickly dispelled by the high level of energy produced by these workshops – and carried over into a two-hour post-conference social gathering at the near-by Five Creeks Tavern.

In large part the success of this year's inaugural Root and Branch can be traced directly to the featured guests – Lois Gibbs and her husband Stephen Lester. It's hard to imagine any other living environmental legend being a better fit with the personality of Downwinders at Risk, AND having the spectrum of skills and resources in demand by local activists. Down-to-earth, direct, approachable, empathetic, incredibly helpful – the couple was described by participants as all of these things during their stay. 

One of the most satisfying outcomes was being able to acquaint or re-acquaint people with Lois' incredible personal and professional story. Workshop participants not born when Love Canal was making national headlines learned why it's a milestone event. Those of us already in the know were grateful for so much face time with someone who's been described as "the Rosa Parks of the environmental movement."

Despite constant badgering, media coverage was at best sketchy, and at worst, non-existent. This was especially disappointing to see from publications who one would think would be more citizen-friendly, including the Dallas and Texas Observers. Even the Star-Telegram ran a preview piece. Only the reliable Fort Worth Weekly came through in the way you'd think an "alt media source" would.

Thanks to all who came to one or more events. Thanks to all of our sponsors and donors. A round of cheers for the Downwinders at Risk board, who took a leap of faith and landed on their feet. We're already mulling the lessons learned and looking toward Root and Branch 2016. After the holidays, we'll be looking for help to put together next year's festivities. Let us know if you're interested.