How to Get Involved in Activism
A guide for beginners, by someone who remembers what it was like to be a beginner
Over the past week, lots of Americans have suddenly realized they are going to have to start working, and working hard and fast, to protect their human rights.
I remember clearly what it was like to be a beginner at this! I wrote this post to help the new folks get involved in activism, advocacy and organizing.
A special note to folks who have been active and organizing for a long time already: try to be gentle with and welcoming to the beginners. Remember that waking up to the injustices of the world is hard and shocking, because every system is racist and patriarchal, designed to reward us for staying asleep and silent. The new folks are going to feel isolated and overwhelmed, and they are probably going to feel anger they don't understand yet. Hold space for them when you can, and when you can't do that, get out of the way so somebody else can. We need every person willing to stand alongside us now, period.
So, if you're new to activism and advocacy, welcome!
No matter your age or what inspired you to be here, we need you. Here's what I wish someone had told me when I was new to this. In this order.
1. Do Not Be Isolated
We Americans have been fed a steady diet of rugged individualism that sounds like, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" and, "You're enough all on your own! If you just work hard enough, you can get ahead." The truth is, humans need each other. Even the most individualistic among us uses roads and an electric grid that were paid for by other people's tax dollars.
The "you don't need anybody else" narrative makes it easier to control us, because when things get rough, we end up isolated and without a community to turn to. We end up lonely and demoralized, so we give up more easily and just go along with what the people in power want us to do.
If you don't have people in your life who are supportive, or if your existing community is trying to shut you up or shame you, please know you aren't actually alone - you just haven't found a good community for you to be a part of yet!
Believe it or not, an amazing (and free) place to find a sense of community immediately is your local library. I’m not kidding. Go to any public library, ask a librarian a question about the issues you're interested in, and you'll get respect and a treasure trove of resources. Bonus: they always have things for kids to do, too, if that's important for you. #ILoveLibraries
Attending local public meetings is another place you'll be able to connect with civic-minded people. You'll start to see familiar faces when you show up more than once at meetings of the school board, library board, zoning, county officials or public services. These folks might not be the people you're going to end up organizing alongside in the long term, but they will keep you from becoming isolated right now.
The work of advocacy can be draining and you won't last long if you feel alone. You’re going to need people who appreciate and encourage your commitment to making the world a better place. Be intentional about finding community to support you - then support them in return.
2. BE HUMBLE (especially if you're white or used to being in charge), aka "show up and shut up"
The truth is, it's hard to be a beginner as an adult. We've been taught that admitting to others that you're new to something is vulnerable and shameful. It's bullshit, but it's what we're all working with. (Ever wonder why that saying, "Fake it 'til you make it" is so popular? Yeah, this is BS about grandstanding to pretend you're not a beginner. Reject it, it’s nonsense.)
When I beg you to be humble about getting involved in social justice as a new person, when I say "show up and shut up," I'm not saying this to shame you. I don't believe you have to pay your dues, either; in fact, don't get me started on the exploitative power dynamics of that idea.
Over the years I've served as both staff and as a volunteer organizer. I've seen So. Much. Harm. Done. By people who think they can skip this step.
Please, listen to me on this. What I mean is: shut up long enough to learn. Bring your outrage, but leave your ego at home. Show up in the spirit of solidarity with your group members. Offer to do entry-level work, based on your physical and technical abilities. Maybe this means shoveling snow or cleaning toilets if you are non-disabled, or maybe it means indexing websites or doing the tedious work of recording hand-collected survey responses. Do NOT show up expecting to be large and in charge, since that individualistic hero complex is largely what got us into this mess.
Even if you are an expert in the issue, you're new to the particular group of people you’re spending time with. Learn how they look at the issue, learn about the group you're new to and the culture they've built together. Before long, you'll be able to make an informed decision about whether this is a group you want to spend time supporting. If so, that’s the time to find out what help they need from you long-term.
Also, if you are white (like me), we have a special need to be humble, because racism is the root of all oppression in the United States. I know that's a big statement to make, and maybe it activates some challenging emotions in you, but please wait to argue with me about it until you've got more grounding in this horrible truth.
If you aren’t already involved in anti-racist work led by people of the Global Majority/BIPOC, please, immediately read White Women by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao (here), and/or watch "Deconstructing Karen," the documentary about Jackson and Rao’s work (here). Find somebody to talk to about your experience reading or watching (leave me a comment or send me a DM if you can’t find anybody to talk to and I’ll help you). And be courageous about facing this, because racial justice MUST be a part of the shift you're already making toward social justice.
3. Learn About Issues
Start learning more about the issues you’re interested in. Learn about the history, public policy, funding, as well as related issues and groups working on the issues. You don't have to become well-versed before you get involved, but you'll probably find it to be helpful to have at least a bit of knowledge.
4. Give Financial Support
If you have discretionary income, please immediately support organizations working for the issues you believe in. Many of these organizations are ramping up their services at a breakneck pace due to overwhelming demand, so this really is urgent, and if you can provide financial resources, please do.
You can give money to just about any group, organization, or person. Past conventional wisdom was to only give to IRS-classified non-profit organizations, but since you can research anybody these days thanks to the good old internet, spread your money around in whatever way is needed works for you.
You can certainly choose to give every available dollar to a single group or cause if you want. But I look at this like an investment and I try to balance my portfolio of support across national legal and advocacy organizations, smaller local and issues-focused groups, and independent journalism.
Please be aware that if you're going to give a large amount of money to anybody, it's always a good idea to talk to an attorney or financial advisor first. Things in the U.S. get weird whenever you’re dealing with bigger sums of money.
5. Get Involved (Wait, this is last? Yes, it’s last.)
This step is last because you’ll be a MUCH better advocate for the cause when you’ve got people to support you, an attitude of solidarity instead of ego, you’ve committed financial support if you can, and you know a little bit about the issue at hand.
Finally, then, when you do find an organization or group that interests you, reach out to find out how they like to invite beginners to get involved. Every organization is different in their approach with new folks. Maybe you need to get a background check, have an interview, participate in an activity, or attend a public meeting.
If you find an organization that just can’t absorb new volunteers, don’t take it personally. It happens all the time in advocacy work. Put your name on a wait list (if they’ve got one - they might not, and that’s OK too), then find a different group to work with.