The phrase "return to your roots" is often used to mean stepping back into your past: returning to the places, people, and identities that shaped who you are now. For plants, roots act as their very foundation, giving them structural support and nutrients from the ground where they were raised. Our 2025 conference theme, Rooted, is a wider exploration of this concept that challenges how applicable the original analogy is to humans.
Over time, some of us do remain closely attached to those people, ideas, and values we grew up with. Other times, however, our environment becomes unhealthy. Like a plant trying to grow in polluted soil, it becomes necessary for us to uproot ourselves and re-root into a healthier community. When a plant uproots, it can be tumultuous and dangerous, but with enough care from a gardener, the plant can recover. When humans uproot and re-root, many times we are our own gardeners, giving ourselves the care we need to thrive.
Whether drawing from your past or separating from it, both pathways are equally valid as a source of personal strength and a celebration of one's roots. We invite speakers to share their personal history of what their roots mean to them, their relationship with their roots over time, and where those roots may lie today. Don't miss this welcoming opportunity to meet and hear from renowned University of Michigan faculty and alumni. Stay tuned for more information about our speaker lineup!
Organizing team
