Community Involvement: Our Work Isn’t Done Yet
The US is currently in a state of social unrest. With the intersections of major crises like climate change, homelessness, racism, being brought to light, many folks started looking for ways to engage in fighting for social change. But now that 2020 is over and there is still so much work to be done, where do we go from here?
Building Community Resilience
Getting involved in your local community is one of the most important ways to fight for social change. Establishing resilient communities is the first step to creating autonomous communities, giving power back to the people. Looking back, one of the Black Panther Party’s primary goals was to care for communities because when it comes down to it, it’s all about the people. Fighting for justice is about fighting for the people around us. The more we come together to take care of one another, the more people power we build.
But even on an individual level, getting involved locally has its health benefits. Getting involved can lead to being able to talk to you neighbors, feeling safe walking around your neighborhood, and having a community support system, which are all examples of “social capital” in communities. Social capital has been linked to lower risk of health issues, like heart disease. Furthermore, supporting the basic needs of your community helps you establish personal connections, broaden your understanding of the world, and build a network of friendly folks who will support you.
However, community engagement takes a considerable amount of individual action and commitment. How do we ensure continued engagement and responsibility?
Sustainable Commitments
Before getting involved, it’s crucial to do some self reflection. You want to make sure that you’re staying committed long term and that your energy is being used in the right places. Burnout can be discouraging to many, and lead to a future lack of engagement. Prior to throwing yourself in the ring, here are a few simple questions to ask yourself:
1. What can you contribute?
There are a lot of different avenues to get involved. If you have any special skills (art/graphic design, communication, public speaking), think about the different ways you can contribute to organizing locally. Are there resources (clothes, school supplies, books, toiletries) in your household that could benefit others in your community? Do you have any knowledge (cooking, sewing, gardening) that you could pass on to people around you? Tailor your contributions to skills you have or want to pick up to ensure that you’re spending your time and energy efficiently.
2. What are your boundaries?
A really important part of ensuring that your commitment is sustainable is setting boundaries for yourself. It can be really easy to overload yourself, and exhausting yourself early on may deter you from getting involved again. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, maybe try and find a different way to stay engaged. Always remember to prioritize yourself, remember your limits, and step away as needed. Whether you choose to disengage every once in a while or set time limits on the amount of work you’ll let yourself do in a day, avoiding burnout is crucial to ensuring a long-term commitment.
3. How will you hold yourself accountable?
Once you have this laid out, it’s important to also remember to hold yourself accountable for these actions. But holding yourself accountable doesn’t mean you need to do it all on your own! Getting involved with a friend to can help ensure continual engagement for both of you. Following local organizers on social media(i.e. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook) is a great way to keep up to date with important announcements and events while keeping them prevalent in your mind. Talking to people in your circles about how you’re feeling (i.e. if you start to get overwhelmed) can promote a healthier environment to engage with. That said, it’s still ultimately your individual responsibility to make a commitment to social justice.
Looking for a place to start
Before jumping into social justice work, it’s important to consider your place in the space you decide to enter. Often times, there are spaces exclusively for BIPOC individuals or queer individuals to build community. Before reaching out to an organization and asking how you can get involved, be sure to ask yourself if it’s okay for you to be there. Some organizers are willing to hold learning spaces for allies, but no one is obligated to guide you through how to be a better ally. Be sure to do your own research and be respectful of people’s work and time when joining from a place of privilege.
Lastly, some communities are not going to be as active or have as many resources as others. If you live in a community that doesn’t have a lot of organizing opportunities, there are still ways to get involved! Try to broaden your engagement outside of your city or county to your state or even national level organizations. You can even create your own opportunities to get involved! No matter where or how you decide to get involved, be sure to consider your goals and the needs of your community.
Resources for UCSD Students
If you’re a UCSD student looking to get involved around San Diego, here are a few great local organizations to support:
