Taking Action from Home

Despite the pandemic, SLP students have shown us just how many ways there are to be an engaged citizen from home. Here are some ideas to help you make your voice heard- without leaving the house.

  • Find out who represents you. Your opinion is extremely important to your local representatives, and their positions often directly reflect feedback from their constituents. Find out who your local representatives are here: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/addr/
  • Identify your strengths & comfort level. Are you great on the phone or do phone calls give you cold sweats? Can you whip up a powerful email but have no idea how to work Twitter? If phone banking isn’t your thing, don’t feel pressure to do it. It all makes a difference and you can do whatever feels most comfortable.
  • Decide what issues concern you most. There are so many important issues and it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Choose a few to focus on, or even just one. You’ll find yourself more invested and more effective when you focus on one issue at a time.
  • Become an ally. Find a group or movement whose work you connect with and sign up for their email list or follow them on social media. They will share regular updates with concrete ideas for how to get involved. Mutual aid groups, for example, often need online coordinators, social justice movements need help with social media campaigns, and political candidates need help with phone banking or letter writing.
  • Attend a community meeting. Since life is remote now, it’s much easier to attend meetings organized by local decision-makers. You can find out more about the challenges facing your neighborhood and share your own concerns and priorities.
  • Stick to a schedule. Life is very hectic and finding time to get engaged in your community can be challenging. Making volunteer or advocacy work a regular part of your schedule can help. Plan a set time each week that you’ll volunteer – just like you might for an exercise class or an after-school club – and organize around it.
  • Follow their lead. More and more young people are getting involved in social action these days. Talk to the kids and teens in your life, and ask them what they are most worried about. If they are already involved in an issue, ask how you can help. If not, find an activity you can do together.