Since our founding in 2011, our programs have positively impacted participants in the following key areas:

  • Artistic skill-building

  • Collaboration and community connection

  • Environmental awareness and action

  • Waste diversion from landfill into artworks

  • Creative confidence and inspiration

2024 Program Hours:

In the past 5 years:

Across Los Angeles, RuckusRoots programs have empowered citizens to bring thoughtful-provoking, innovative artworks to life.

2024 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 215 program hours – a 30% increase from 2023

  • 1230 artworks made – a 230% increase from 2023

  • 6 unique communities served – a 50% increase from 2023

Where We Work:

Recent Program Evaluations Reveal:

88%

increase in feelings of connectivity to their community

55%

increase in creative collaboration skills

73%

increase in feeling creatively inspired

43%

increase in confidence levels pertaining to public artmaking

Our Audience:

Since 2011, our programs have converted over 25,000 pieces of trash into art.

Our recent impact reports tell the in-depth story of how our work strengthens communities through creativity and connection:

Art is at our core…

Artmaking serves as the primary learning medium in all of our programmatic offerings, while nature is our inspiration, our classroom and our toolkit.

In 2024, our workshops taught the following creative skills to L.A residents:

  • Natural building + design (cob + earth plaster)

  • Basic color theory and paint mixing

  • Wheat-pasting

  • Collaborative collage with recycled materials

  • Watercolor + acrylic painting techniques

  • 3D clay modeling + painting

  • Mural design, gridding + painting

  • Wild clay harvesting

  • Cyantype printing

  • Garden design + more!

What Folks Are Saying About Our Work…

"I have been donating to RuckusRoots for the past decade, evaluating its results every year, and I cannot imagine my money going to a better use. It is innovative, dedicated and effective.

As far as I am concerned, it is where my money is going in this sector.

Highly recommended."

— Robert, donor

"I am moved & inspired by the deeply purposeful work that Ruckus Roots is responsible for.

I truly believe my community is a better place for the work they do in connecting youth to the arts in profound & amazing ways”

— Anonymous, donor

"I think that RuckusRoots offered us an amazing opportunity to enrich our regular lessons with art and eco-education.

Allowing students a chance to learn art techniques and practice them while simultaneously learning about sustainability offered a chance for them to become stewards of the environment and truly make a difference!”

— Stephanie, classroom teacher