With the myriad of changes happening in our country and community right now, it’s important to speak up and take action. Here are just a few of the ways you can help make change happen in the community:
Call your senators
Everyone has a right to share their views and make their opinions heard. One of the most effective ways to do this is to call, send letters or send emails to your state senators. Senators go to Congress to express the views and needs of the people they represent, and it is our job as citizens to make sure that they know what our views are. Even if you know they agree with your opinions, it is still important to remind them because everybody has a voice.
Petitions (signing or creating)
One part of the First Amendment is the right to petition. This involves a written request sent to a large government body. You can go around your community collecting signatures for petitions to raise awareness about a cause you care about, then send them to your government to advocate for change. The other part of this is to sign petitions that you agree with, if you personally don’t want to start one, because it can help to show a community’s support.
Attending Vigils
People will hold vigils for those who have died, both as a way of remembering them as a community and as a way to protest government action. Instead of having political rallies, it is a way to use silence, candlelight and mourning to provoke and urge government change. Public support is what makes this matter most, as it shows care for both the people affected and the political actions of the government.
Repost to Raise Awareness
Especially in today’s society, with the rise of social media, one thing we can do is to use it to our advantage. Repost about matters that you care about and use it to spread positive messages or to request change within your community. Be careful though as social media is dangerous, so don’t use it to spread violence. Use it as a means of peaceful protest instead of a way of promoting more danger and violence.
Support local businesses/boycott corporations:
Boycotting certain businesses that don’t align with ethical and inclusive standards in large numbers can lead to changes, whether they’re big or small. Many larger-scale businesses pay workers less and create a higher environmental impact. Even if it’s buying a coffee each morning, supporting local businesses is always the better option, as they often support better causes, while creating jobs for residents in the community. Furthermore, local businesses lead to a smaller carbon footprint and don’t mass-produce items.
Gather in peaceful protests and make signs:
Gathering in a location to protest for a specific or a wide range of causes can get points across to the community. There are many different kinds of protests, from organized programs to walking in silence. Any form of protest will make a difference in the community, and can even move local government officials towards making changes in law or plan of action.
Make donations/volunteer to help people in need:
Making donations to non-profit organizations can impact the community on a large or small scale. There truly is a non-profit for everything, whether local or non-local. In addition, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, farm stand, medical facility or another location helps those people in need.
