It feels like an understatement to describe the current political climate as “uncertain” and “heavy” given the implications of the recent transfer of power that has occurred. While you may be feeling a wide range of valid emotions in response - combinations of anxiety, hopelessness, anger, sadness, etc. - here is an offering of some ideas for ways to channel these emotions into small acts of resistance. Please note that every person has access to different resources and capacities, so take extra care to identify what feels sustainable for you specifically.
Making your voice heard by politicians
Contact your elected representatives. You can say, “I’m calling to express my support for/opposition to (insert issue here). What is your plan for addressing this issue?” Worth noting is that every call gets tallied. Please reference the following to find out how to contact any of your relevant elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Attend a city council meeting or school board meeting. Local politics can be just as important as the national level and are often easier to influence as an individual. Call your mayor’s office to ask when the next public event is. Then show up, ask questions and express what’s important to you and your community.
Register to vote. Make sure you’re registered before any elections, put election days (both primary and general) in your calendar and make sure you vote.
Run for office. If you have the time and energy to do so, this can be a great way to affect change. Reference Massachussetts state guidelines here: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/getting-on-the-ballot/how-to-run-for-office.htm
Giving money and/or time
Donate. If you have the financial means, you can donate to a national or local organization that supports your values. Remember that any amount (yes, even $5) can help.
Volunteer. If you have the time, this is another great way to contribute. Find a local group working for a cause you believe in and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Organize a drive. Challenge your school, place of employment, or any other community space to donate needed items to local organizations, whether that be clothing, coats, food, feminine products, etc.
Reach out. If you participate in organized religion, ask your minister, rabbi, or imam to write to other local congregations, expressing goodwill and solidarity. Otherwise, you can ask your mayor to write to local groups that are likely to be targets of hate (such as mosques or synagogues) to affirm community support.
Additional actions to consider
Think hard about your language. Our words MATTER. Pay attention to whether or not you habitually use terms that are sexist, racist or ableist (such as “retarded,” “crazy,” or “gay” as insults) and cut them from your vocabulary. It may seem small, but it goes a long way with helping others feel welcome.
Use a reusable shopping bag, lunch bag or water bottle. This will help reduce your impact on the environment even if you’re not able to do this 100% of the time.
Bike, walk or use public transport. Again, this is better for the environment, even if you aren’t able to give up driving entirely.
Stay informed. Regularly read/listen to (and subscribe to, if possible) media source(s) committed to providing reliable journalism. Please remember to PACE YOURSELF with media intake so you don’t get overwhelmed to the point of shutting down instead.
Avoid being a bystander. If you see harassment happening, and it is safe to do so, speak up. If it isn’t safe, you can still talk to the harassee to help them feel less alone. Call for help if necessary.
Talk to your family and friends about racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism and more. These can be particularly hard discussions, but the likelihood of having a productive conversation may be higher if it’s coming from someone they love and respect.
If you’re comfortable, share your experience(s) with racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc. Whether this is expressed publicly or privately, it can empower others to speak out too.
Read and (if you can) buy diverse literature. Books by women, BIPOC authors, LGBTQ+ individuals, differently abled people, immigrants, etc. are a great way of broadening horizons and building empathy. Share these titles with others. Bonus points if you can ask your teachers/professors to assign more diverse literature.
Random acts of kindness. This could be as simple as sticking a post-it note in a public space that says, “You matter.” Again, it may seem like a particularly small gesture, but it can make a significant difference for someone who is struggling.
Let companies and individuals know when you approve of their stands. If you agree with what a company is doing, you can call or email to thank them for supporting your values, which will reinforce the behavior(s).
Pressure companies and individuals that promote intolerance. Ask companies and public figures that promote intolerance to pull their ads or change their policies.
Put your money where your mouth is. Make intentional choices about which companies you are willing to financially support as a consumer. Even if you aren’t able to completely stop using a specific company, decreasing the amount of money you spend with them adds up.
Make art — especially if your voice is underrepresented. Music, dancing, visual art, theatre, film, writing – any medium you can express yourself with. Then share it, promote it and talk about it with others. If you’re not an artist, you can still show your support by attending performances, promoting, purchasing, etc.
Hopefully this list helps you to get started. Again, I can’t stress enough that the most important thing with any form of activism is pacing yourself. Remember, at the end of the day, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
Kim Johnson, LMHC, MT-BC, is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and board certified music therapist (MT-BC) who graduated with her master’s from Lesley University in 2017. She has experience with adults and adolescents in group private practice and community mental health settings. The levels of care she has worked in are outpatient, with both individual and group therapy and in partial hospital programs for mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, she has had intensive training in dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD.
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