Raise Your Voice, Change The World
Your guide to getting Off the Sidelines
“How can I help? What more can I do?”
This is a question I’ve been asked almost every single day since last year’s elections. It’s clearer than ever that we’re at an important moment in our history. We’re all rising up and owning a place in our democracy, and it’s amazing to see.
In times like these, your activism is desperately needed — it’s necessary and good.
I want to do as much as I can to help, so I’ve put together a list of some of my best advice for how you can take action and make yourself heard on the issues you care about.
1. Contact your representatives
Getting in touch with your members of Congress is one of the most important things you can do. I get it: Sometimes it may feel like the tiniest drop in the bucket to pick up the phone and call your Congressperson’s office. As members of Congress, it’s our job to listen and pay attention, and it’s your job as citizens to hold us accountable for what you deserve. And when there are enough people raising their voices on a specific issue, we will act.
Here are some of the best ways to contact your representatives:
- Make calls. Dial the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224–3121.
- Write letters, send emails. Share your story with your member of Congress.
- Show up. Go to your representatives’ offices, show up at their town halls. They can’t ignore you if you show up in person.
- If you’re looking to do even more, Indivisible has great information on where you can take action locally and how to effectively talk to your legislators.
2. Raise your voice — wherever you can.
- Talk to your friends and family. Start that dinner table conversation about healthcare with the family. Bring up the importance of having a paid leave program when you’re grabbing lunch with a friend. Don’t make politics a taboo thing.
- Post, post, post. Take to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media. Spread awareness of your views through every possible avenue.
- Write down your best arguments, then send a letter to the editor or send it to your favorite blog or website.
3. Support good candidates running for office.
From school board to Senate, there’s a candidate out there that could use your support. When you find that candidate, the one that inspires you, make sure you do these two things for them:
- Donate. If you can donate a few dollars, or help raise money, do it. A little bit can go a long way to helping them win their races.
- Volunteer your time. Speaking from experience, there is nothing like helping with events, knocking on doors, or making phone calls for a candidate you believe in. Some of the dearest friends are the ones I’ve met while volunteering my time to help a campaign. It’s worth it your time.
Don’t know who to support? This year, I’ll be going all out to support my women friends in the Senate who are running for reelection in 2018. They’ll all need you next year, so I hope you’ll consider helping them out.
Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Dianne Feinstein (CA)
Heidi Heitkamp (ND)
Mazie Hirono (HI)
Amy Klobuchar (MN)
Claire McCaskill (MO)
Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Elizabeth Warren (MA)
4. Or better yet, run for office.
You’ve raised your voice, you’ve given to candidates, you’re very involved, but you still want to make more of an impact. Have you ever considered stepping up and running for office?
Think about it. Here are some great organizations that can help you get started.
Eleanor’s Legacy (NY)
National Democratic Training Committee
Women’s Campaign School at Yale
If you’re a woman considering running, here are even more resources to get you started.
5. Stay positive. Take care of yourself.
There is a lot of news out there, on your televisions and on your phones. I know that some of it can be deeply upsetting. So I hope you’ll take the time to step back and take care of yourself.
Stay informed, but always try to take a moment to break away from the 24 hour news cycle of Twitter and cable news. If we’re going to resist, if we’re going to change outcomes, we’ll need a lot of energy to do it. Make sure you do what strengthens you and makes you whole.
I’m hopeful. I’ve been hopeful since the day I saw millions of women, men, children (and dogs) participating in marches across the world for women’s rights, for Black Lives Matter, for LGBT equality, for immigration rights, for clean air and water.
We are just small pieces of something much larger than ourselves. Let’s do all that we can to own this democracy, own our ambitions, and fight for what’s right — because when we do, we will change everything.
