The resources on this page are here to support pathway intermediaries in that work. The Fruit and Root framework, along with case studies and research, can help you to powerfully communicate how racism shows up—and can be interrupted—within education and workforce systems.
The Fruit and Root Analysis™ helps us do just that. Using the analogy of a tree and its root system, it illustrates how racism operates across multiple levels—interpersonal, institutional, structural—to shape the outcomes we see (the fruit) and the assumptions and histories that feed them (the roots). This framework gives practitioners a way to examine those forces in their communities and design more equitable narratives and strategies.
Seeing examples of ourselves in the world—whether through art, culture, or community initiatives—validates our dreams and fuels our determination to achieve them. Even small examples can help us imagine a future different from our history and current reality. But to create stories that truly reflect the full humanity and potential of every learner, we must also confront the deeper forces shaping who gets to be seen, celebrated, and supported.