Our ROOTS Foundation

08/11/2026

On Saturday, August 29th, The Carry Their Light Project and Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation, in partnership with GVI, are bringing Dover together for our FREE Back-to-School Community Cookout!

This event is about meeting our community where they are and helping meet real needs. ❤️

👟 Our FREE White Air Force 1 Giveaway is more than giving away sneakers. For some families, a new pair of shoes can be one less expense to worry about. For a young person, it can mean walking into school feeling confident, prepared, supported, and knowing their community cares about them. Sometimes making an impact starts by simply meeting a need.

The day will also include 🏀 NESCO Hoop Session, ✂️ free haircuts, 🍔 free food, 🎶 DJ, bounce houses, giveaways, resources & more!

🤝 We are still welcoming businesses, sponsors, donors, stakeholders, community leaders, organizations, and vendors who believe in investing directly into our youth and families.

👉 Register for the Air Force 1 Giveaway

⁠ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGQu2iESIzHj9_7AsdM2BCeLWUd3Ws_o46l-fldEMKsTQSgA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

📩 Sponsorship, donations, vendors & questions:
[email protected] | 302-363-9368

07/29/2026

07/22/2026

The Pullup4Peace Conference reminded us that lasting public safety is built through partnership, lived experience, and bold leadership.

Our Executive Director, Dr. Lauren J. Footman, EdD was honored to join Darryl "Wolfie" Chambers from Center for Structural Equity, Cammerin Norwood from Our Roots Foundation, and Kaligah Parker from The Carry Their Light Project in conversations with regional and national leaders advancing community violence intervention. Together, they shared Delaware's work while learning from practitioners across the country, including leaders from the Center for Structural Equity, GVI Support & Outreach, and Leaders in Transition.

As Delaware continues to strengthen its statewide public-private approach to community violence intervention, opportunities like this allow us to exchange ideas, elevate promising practices, and bring innovative strategies back to our communities.

Thank you to everyone who made this gathering possible. Together, we are building safer communities through collaboration, accountability, and community-led solutions.

07/22/2026

Feeling incredibly grateful and inspired after attending the Giffords Community Violence Intervention Conference in Los Angeles.

Over the past few days, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with some truly amazing people from across the country who are committed to creating safer, healthier communities. The knowledge shared, the conversations had, and the collaborations that are already beginning to take shape have been invaluable.

Every conference reminds me that this work is bigger than any one organization it’s about building relationships, sharing best practices, and standing together to end cycles of violence while creating pathways to healing and opportunity.

I can confidently say that Our R.O.O.T.S. Foundation is preparing to go to another level. The vision is expanding, the partnerships are growing, and the impact we’re preparing to make is even greater than before.

This is only the beginning. We’ll continue showing up, doing the work, serving our communities, and turning vision into action. The future is bright, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.

Thank you to everyone I had the privilege of meeting. Here’s to continued collaboration, innovation, and making lasting change together.

06/27/2026

I hope you can join me for my next constituent coffee meeting on Friday, July 10 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Claymont Walk In Care and Adult Day Center.

06/25/2026

Honored to have served as a guest speaker at the Pull Up 4 Peace Conference. It was a privilege to stand alongside some of the most respected leaders in the Community Violence Intervention (CVI) field, sharing insights and contributing to meaningful conversations that advance peace and healing.

Thank you, Atlantic City, New Jersey, for the warm welcome and the opportunity to be part of such an impactful event. We will continue to pull up for peace, advocate for our communities, and push the mission forward.

06/19/2026