Five Powerful Ways to Engage in Activism
If you have found yourself feeling hopeless or afraid while doom-scrolling through recent news stories, you are not alone. The political climate right now is scary for so many of us, and that is absolutely a valid reaction to have. If you are feeling ready to take action but don’t know how to get started, here are five simple actions you can take to reclaim your power and show your bravery in the face of adversity.
Write, Call, or Visit your Elected Official
Despite appearances, your local, state, and federal representatives in all branches of government still work for the People and that means you too! One of the most influential things you can do is to speak your truth to your elected officials. You can find contact information for your elected officials at all levels here (https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/). Once you know who to contact, try one of these methods:
Write/Email: This is probably the easiest way to contact your officials. While you can find templates online, I recommend using your own words if you are able. It only takes a few sentences to share your perspective and ask your representatives to take a needed action. It is likely that your message will be one of many and may not get a response or even a full read, but every message helps to give your elected official insight into their voter base.
Call: I know for many of us, talking on the phone can conjure up anxiety, but a phone call can convey so much more than a written message. I invite you to lean into that discomfort and give it a try. You can write a short script if it helps ease your mind. Try starting with an after-hours phone call where you can simply leave a voicemail message, and when you feel ready, try calling during office hours where you might be able to speak with a constituent services representative or your elected official directly.
Visit: If you are lucky enough to have free time and can travel to your local or state capitol, a face-to-face visit with your official can be incredibly powerful. If your local building allows, bring a sign or wear a shirt that represents your cause for more visibility. When you meet your representative, speak confidently and from the heart. Practice in front of a mirror or with a friend if you’re feeling nervous.
If you are able to name a specific piece of legislation or a specific action, that can hone your message and make it super clear what you are asking them to do, but even just sharing your general thoughts can help your official understand the needs of their constituents. Whatever method you choose, stay polite and only share what you feel comfortable sharing.
2. Attend a Rally or Protest
Rallies and protests are energizing and highly visible events that can move the conversation forward. If you are feeling the need to be loud and active, attending one of these events can not only be an awesome moment of activism, it can also feel incredibly cathartic. There are differences between the two types of actions, so let’s break them down so you are prepared.
Rallies are usually pre-emptive events that are intended to demonstrate community support and build momentum for further action. These are great for first-timers or folks who worry about police retaliation. It’s usually okay or even encouraged to take photos (of yourself or with consent) and share the event on social media. People will typically bring signs or wear symbols for their cause.
Protests tend to be reactive events that range in terms of their organizational structure. Some are pre-planned like the 2017 Women’s March on Washington while others are more spontaneous like the Stonewall Riots in 1969 or the Ferguson Protests in 2014. Regardless of their structure, protests are meant to be disruptive to normal activity in order to force those in power to listen and respond. In recent years, police violence at protests has increased, so protestors should take steps to protect themselves. I recommend checking out Access Frontlines Guide to Protests (https://acrossfrontlines.org/protestsafety) to learn more.
3. Talk to Someone You Know About the Effects of a Policy
Let’s face it, there is probably someone in your life who holds a different viewpoint from you. Whether it’s a loved one, a co-worker, or a community member, it can be hard to sit with the fact that they see the world through a different lens. However, when we share our truth with those who are close to us, it can provide a safe space for them to explore a different perspective. Here are some tips to make the most out of your conversation:
Only share with consent. If politics or social justice issues are not already the topic of conversation, ask first before sharing your perspective.
Use the Facts-Emotions-Desires (FED) model as a guide to sharing. State the facts of the policy outcome without judgment, share your emotional reaction, point to a desired outcome that might be common ground. For example, “When XYZ policy came through it meant my friend/family member couldn’t get the care they needed. It made me feel scared and angry that something like that could happen. I just want people to be able to get the care they need.”
Keep the bar set low. You are not likely to change anyone’s mind with a single conversation. Simply voice your perspective without judgment and let it be a seed for change.
4. Engage in Mutual Aid
Taking care of one another is an important part of activism. In the modern world, many of us are afraid to talk to our neighbors. For marginalized folks living in the South, we might have real reasons to fear backlash from people we don’t know. However, the effects of “neighboring” or engaging in social contact with those who live near us, can be extremely beneficial. Studies show that those who get to know their neighbors report less loneliness, more connection to place and identity, and better health outcomes. [1, 2] On a community level, neighboring leads to increased community trust and less policing. [3]
Mutual aid is the practice of sharing resources and services in order to overcome barriers to meeting the needs of the community. A common misconception about mutual aid is that it needs to be highly organized or formal. While there are certainly examples of highly organized mutual aid networks like the Black Panther Party, mutual aid can be as simple as asking for and offering help within a community. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Offer to mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor
Ask someone to teach you how to knit or crochet
Offer your gently used clothing to a younger person or someone who is transitioning
Ask to borrow a tool or kitchen appliance
Share your phone number in case a neighbor needs a house sitter or other help
Ask for recommendations for local restaurants, services, or events
Mutual aid not only helps folks get their needs met, it also helps strengthen bonds between community members. Everyone wants to be needed, so practicing offering and asking for help from those who are physically or spiritually near to you can help boost the self-esteem of your community.
5. Radically Care for Yourself!
A crucial part of activism is knowing when to rest. Activism is a team-sport, and not all of us need to be on the field at once in order for our efforts to be effective. Rather, we should show up when we can, do our best while we are out there, and take the time we need to care for ourselves knowing that our teammates will pick up where we leave off.
For some of us, the entirety of our activism will look like rest. That is okay! You may have heard Audre Lorde’s famous quote from her 1988 essay collection A Burst of Light:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Lorde wrote this in reference to the importance of preventing over-extension and burnout as she was battling breast cancer so that she could continue to thrive both in body and mind. Your beautiful existence as a whole human being is radical in and of itself. You deserve to survive and you deserve to thrive.
If you would like extra support in caring for your mental health, consider working individually with one of our clinical therapists, connecting with others in group therapy, or caring for your spiritual self with our holistic care options.
Activism comes in many forms and each of us can play a small role in combatting harm to our communities. Regardless of the kind of activism you choose to engage in, we want you to know that you are not alone. You are more powerful than you know, and we are more powerful together. Take good care - you deserve it.
References
Seifert A. (2020). Day-to-Day Contact and Help Among Neighbors Measured in the Natural Environment. Innovation in aging, 4(2), igaa009. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaa009
Jiang, Y., Li, M., Chung, T., (2023). Living alone and all-cause mortality in community-dwelling older adults: The moderating role of perceived neighborhood cohesion. Social Science and Medicine 317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115568
Haslam, S. A., Fong, P., Haslam, C., & Cruwys, T. (2024). Connecting to Community: A Social Identity Approach to Neighborhood Mental Health. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 28(3), 251-275. https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683231216136