The giveaway is closed, but read the comments for excellent, fun ideas for fitting action into your life.
When Erika Leaf, creator of Democracy Postcards at Collective Vision, sent me a pack as a gift, I loved them immediately. They’re full of inspiring, hopeful images of Americans speaking up for their rights and values. It makes me happy to use them.
We eventually met by phone and it turns out that we’re practically neighbors and kindred spirits in activism. We both believe in “going high” in our messages and staying encouraging. When she said was willing to do a guest blog post, I was thrilled.
Her story reminds me that you don’t need a lot of time, money, or even a cape and armbands to make a difference in the world. You just need a pen and the right address.
Finding time to get engaged in your democracy
Hi! I’m Erika, and want to first give a shoutout to Jen for her tireless work creating the weekly Action Checklist. These fabulous prompts have helped thousands of us begin to use our voices to impact policy decisions, thoughts, and actions.
But even with 90% of the work done for us, it can still be quite hard to carve out the time to actually make those phone calls and write those postcards, right?!?
Here’s what I do
These postcard packs are my activism of choice. When the shock of the election was threatening to drag me under, I needed to have something to turn to that felt positive and productive. So I took on a political action project of making it easier for people to speak out with postcards. Thus Collective Vision was born.
By mid-March, I had literally 24,000 lovely postcards with photos of the Women’s March in my basement! In addition to getting them out to many others to write, I figured I better practice what I preach and get going with finding my own postcarding groove.
Create a routine
I’ve hosted postcard parties with friends (very fun) and written a card here and there when I read an article or a postcard call to action that puts the fire under my feet. But mostly my routine is to collect topic info in a pile (and in open browser tabs) through the week and then when the Checklist arrives in my inbox on Sunday, I make myself a cup of tea, reach for my stack of postcards and stamps and have my own little speak out session in my living room.
I must say, it is very therapeutic to actually write and mail my thoughts to people who are in a position of power. Do you feel that too? It makes me feel less powerless and more content, knowing I’ve done my part and that there are literally hundreds of thousands of other people right now doing their part to help course-correct our precious country.
How do you fit political action into your life?
In this post, we’re going to create a brainstorm in the comment section to support each other in finding time, even just a few minutes, to be involved.
So think for a moment: What works best for you in your phone calling and postcarding? What strategies have you come up with to incorporate civic participation into your weekly routine?
Postcard giveaway
I’m giving away ten free Democracy Packs containing 20 postcards and tips for effective postcarding.
To enter, just write a comment below this post describing your postcarding, phone calling or other activist habits. Then Jen will use a random number generating thingamajig to choose 10 people to win. :J
So, scroll down to the comment section below and tell us:
- How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?
- Do you work alone or in concert with others?
- Have you done creative direct actions?
- What helps you stay engaged?
Hopefully we’ll all enjoy this crosspollination of our ideas for making civic activism a routine.
It takes all of us
I invite you to take a look at my site, CollectiveVision.us for Tips and Resources on how to make the most impact with your postcarding, and an easy way to restock your own postcard stash or bring a bulk set to your next postcard party. Also if you or someone you know is an artist or a photographer, I’m in the process of collecting inspiring art and photos for the next sets of postcards, the Justice Pack and the Sustainability Pack.
Thanks for all you do. Together we are making a difference!
Loved this article! Just sent Erika a message to try to coordinate these efforts with Americans living overseas who also want to participate in these great efforts! Look forward to hearing from her.
Activism has become my life. I need to make time to do other things. At age 70+, I have learned a lot about using my computer, got a “smart” phone, learned social media, and am speaking up and speaking out. I set a goal of doing at least one thing every day but, the truth is, once I get up on Facebook or Twitter, I get obsessed. I use T.V., the news, radio, social media, printed media and, of course, Jen’s weekly list to set my direction on any given day. I’ve sent postcards, letters, tweets, faxes, and e-mails. I’ve made phone calls, attended organizational meetings, marched, demonstrated and rallied. I am resisting and I believe that as many foot soldiers as possible will make the resistance strong. That’s me. A foot soldier in the resistance. One of the best things to keep me going is my volunteer work at a local boys and girls club. I’ve been doing that two times a week for about six months and, no matter how down I get, playing “grandma” to bunch of kids reminds me why we must all work so hard now to save their future.
I love that your activism has led you to learn many new things, and also that your activism extends to local kids at the Boys and Girls Club. We need that too! Ultimately we are the creators of our communities and our society, and giving our presence and our support in person to other human beings is a vital part of what is needed to move towards a more humane world. Thanks for your story, Gloria.
I work alone mostly, occasionally with a group of friends. It’s hard to keep up the enthusiasm, but somehow it comes back. I email, sign petitions, call my member of congress and senators and send postcards.
After the election, I realized I just had to do something to save our democracy. I am a “doer” and I just can’t sit idly by and let things happen. I went through my email list and picked fifteen people who I thought were in agreement with me and sent them an email telling them that I was going to send them easy things they can do to help with the resistance. My personal issues were the environment and women’s rights. Through word of mouth and such, I now have about 45 on my list. Yes, it isn’t much but I know some of the people are sending my email to others and if I can get ONE person to do something, it helps.
In addition to this, I went to the Women’s March the day after the inauguration. I am 62 years old and I have NEVER been to a march in my life! It was really a peak life experience being around all those other people who feel as I do. I have now been to several other marches and it makes me feel like I am engaged and visible in my beliefs. I have joined an Indivisible group, an Ultraviolet group and am looking for a Democratic Party group that I feel comfortable with. I have had only one other experience in politics 27 years ago when I fought a road being build through a park. We fought the city and we won. I have never been politically active like this! We will prevail because we are presenting a moral and ethically correct view of the world.
Thank you for what you are doing for our country!
Beth
Beth, I love your story about never having been to a march before and how active you are now! That story multiplied by hundreds of thousands or millions of newly politically activated people, is one of the most hopeful things to come out of the current situation. And I think 45 people who you are supporting in taking actions IS a lot! I have started sending a few actions a week to my mom and two of her friends who are all in their 80s and they have become postcard writers now. Even spreading these things to a few friends and family adds up. And overall, I think this habit of expressing our views and collectively moving towards positive change will be a force to contend with for both parties long into the future. Thanks for your work. ~Erika
Beth,
A democratic group you might be interested in is “Sister District” which helps campaign for Democrats running in other districts with current Republican representatives that have a good chance of beating the incumbent. You can find the one for Eugene on FaceBook at Sister District OR-4. The are other similar groups: Swing Left is one.
Sister in the Resistance,
Ginny
I also am using postcards. I buy the ones from usps and have them addressed to my senators, the white house and some blank. Each week I send two to the wh asking trump to resign and add the current proof he is unfit. Easy to find that proof. I send support requests to my senators and thank yous if they have represented the voters. The ones that are not addressed I use to applaud actions by people standing up for our Nation. I think they need the encouragement as much as I need to give it. Balance is my goal.
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? I try to get some done every morning so I can feel productive before I get into a crazy day. Sometimes if something really moves me, I’ll get out some in the evening after my kids go to bed too.
Do you work alone or in concert with others? I mostly work alone with my postcards but I have gotten some of my family and friends involved too. I recently started meeting with a local activism group and it feels good to talk all together in person! Maybe I should bring some postcards with me next time to see if we can amplify our messages.
Have you done creative direct actions? I’ve gone to some protests and rallies- and had fun making some creative signs!
What helps you stay engaged? My sense of obligation to my children’s future, reading “On Tyranny” and really starting to understand the potential gravity of the situation
Emily, It sounds like you are very engaged in this work. Thank you for that. Make sure to give yourself some recharge time too. We need each other for the long haul!
Journaling helps me keep track of what I’m doing and when. When I check in with myself daily I can keep tabs of how frustrated or helpless I feel. If I start to feel despondent, I know that I need to get back on the horse and be more concentrated on my efforts. I also found a place near me that provides and mails postcards for free so I try and stop by there once a week to mail a few postcards. I mostly do this on my own effort, but am also looking for ways to get more involved with others.
When the news is disheartening, I often start with a couple of THANK YOU post cards: I’d been writing thank you letters but the post cards are fast — I have Jen’s suggestions to thank for that. Remembering that there *are* legislators who are taking stands against the insanity is most inspiring. Erika’s habit of collecting information on a topic through the week (or at least for a couple of days) is what works best for me, as well. The postcard parties she describes are also a favorite when they come together: I can be tremendously inspired by reading other people’s ideas, and bouncing ideas off each other is helpful, too (“how did YOU tell Mitch McConnell you’re tired of ….”). A site I particularly turn to beyond Jen’s is Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), because as a Quaker, I appreciate their focus on key issues that really matter to me. For reproductive rights talking points and facts I like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, Center for Reproductive Rights, and Guttmacher Institute for data and facts.
I find the Friends FCNL site very useful too. Glad to see others mention it. One other good thing about postcards is they are not held aside to be checked for dangerous contents. So they get the message to your MoC faster. It is such an inspiration to read these comments!
I belong to Salemresist and am an active member in planning meetings, being in charge of a section called “worse than Watergate” and provide information to my action team members and to Salemresists in a google group.
I am a member of amnesty international where we speak up against injustice all around the world
I usually use my 3 y/o son’s naptime to take my actions, although some I like to save for when he’s awake and can see what I’m doing. I took him to the local branch of the Women’s March back in January, and I try to be near him if I’m making calls to reps. I’m in a bit of an introversion recharge mode right now, so I’m using Stance and ResistBot more, but I like Jen’s list and Rogan’s List for the curated do-able actions and to reduce overwhelm! This week I sent out 2 batches of handwritten postcards to voters in Archie Parnell’s SC district 5, and it felt great!
Hi Leah, I’ve done some of the voter-to-voter Get Out the Vote postcards too and I love doing it. For those who aren’t familiar with this, you are given addresses of voters (with no names) who have voted democratic in the past and who are in districts having special elections. Then you write a Dear fellow voter postcard reminding them to go vote and who is running. Since turnout is usually very low for special elections, even a slightly increased turnout can make a big difference. I’m so impressed with Tony the Democrat who has figured out the technology to make serving up voter addresses efficient and created guidelines to keep it respectful. For those who want to give it a try, here are the instructions for how to get the addresses. You can choose either 5, 10 or 15 addresses to write to: “Abby the Address Bot has a new number for this postcard campaign. Use your cell phone to text HELLO to (803) 630-0295 and Abby will immediately assign addresses to you if you have written for one of our previous campaigns. and then tell you how to complete your registration. If, for some reason, Abby doesn’t recognize you, please email us at Postcards (at) TonyTheDemocrat (dot) org”(She has been “introduced” to everyone. Text her and see how easy it is to receive new addresses.)
If you are new to Abby, she will begin with a few simple questions
Postcards have become a therapy for me too. I write them from my kitchen table in a person to person tune. Many to elected officials supporting their good choices and actions, many to elected officials asking them to change their stance and support or oppose some bill or action. And the majority to registered voters about upcoming special elections and reminding them how important their votes are, that their voices do matter, and that we need to restore integrity and balance in our government.
It takes a little time, but gives me the sense that my own voice might be heard, and that just sending out the message has an effect in the collective stream of consciousness. I will continue the postcard practice, along with a few calls, posting educational info, and making donations to candidates and causes who are aimed in the correct and progressive direction.
Thanks for what you do. We need each other to keep rowing, even if only a little, each day.
I post everything every day in my own FB group, Action & News for Liberals – real news not fake! I share the news and the actions that everyone else writes. I get it out there to 600 people. I would love for others to join in. I spend 12+ hours a day helping everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/345574939148997/
I make my calls but being in a blue state, this is my best action.
I love Planned Parenthood above all other groups and so I created 4×6 postcards by designing on my computer a bright pink background – black words “They were there for ME! VOTE NO to de-fund Planned Parenhood.” with a photo from the recent march and other that said “1 in 5 wormen use Planned Parenthood services sometime in their lives! Support health care for all women.” I turned these graphics into jpg files and used Shutterfly’s offer of 100 FREE photos to create 100 postcards. I use the blank side to address/stamp and write more message if needed. I use these to write my thank you notes to MoC.
I enjoy taking some time on Sundays to sit and write cards – sometimes I can add one or two for the local politicians. I often make my calls either early morning or weekend and leave a message with all my constituency information. So much quicker. And I love Jen and her spirit and caring for us. Glad she has an ally.
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?:
I take time each evening when i’m unwinding, maybe watching netflix, to check email, go through some daily action checklists and often use that time to write a few post cards, send some emails, and work on my various projects.
Do you work alone or in concert with others?
Some of both. I’m part of the fabulous Indivisible Calais Vermont crew and we all energize each other. We use our FB group and email list to share tons of information we each see in all our different circles. There is frequently some “easy daily action” type emails which I would otherwise miss.
Have you done creative direct actions?
Many over the years, my favorite I think was actually in college when we were protesting the Economics Department on campus for not teaching any alternative economic alternatives to neo-liberalism. We symbolically chained the doors to the Econ building shut and covered the treads of each of the staircases leading up to the building with color print outs of the faces of women and children. Students and professors had to literally walk on their faces to get to class and it made fabulous imagery! I’ve always wanted to recreate this idea.
What helps you stay engaged?
Thinking about the life my toddler nephew will have if we don’t win. Also really helps to have a local crew all working on the same projects. It really helps to stay motivated and excited about the work.
This has been a galvanizing year for me. I have started an “activist file” on my desk with scraps of papers and names of horrendous politicians on it (with state so I can remember come election time). I also have a list of rep numbers on my phone. I try to send 5 cards a week. Not all are petitions. Some are thank you notes. Small things everyday. I now use a single credit card for political donations be a use I am making so many small donations, I’m afraid I will not keep track at years end. Some are tax deductable! I would love some postcards, and can share images I have used as an artist. I am trying not to get depressed.
Small things every day. I love that idea. Much less overwhelming than a big pile of things to do all at once. What I’m really curious about is what makes you stop and do that one small thing instead of just putting it off?
Do share some of your images that you think would be good as postcards!
And regarding your idea to use a single credit card for donations in order to keep track of them all easier, I started doing that too this year, only I made a separate checking account at my credit union and I use the debit card from that (used like a credit card, with no PIN) to make all my charitable donations. I think it will really help simplify my record keeping and also keep me on budget since I only put in there the monthly amount I have decided to tithe.
Keep up the faith. All of us together doing these small and not so small things really does add up.
I would LOVE to cut the time spent writing to politicians down to one session a week!
I interrupted a book I was writing after the election and ever since have spent an unconscionable amount of time on line or on the phone, daily. The thought of doing one big session and reclaiming my time and my life is a wonderful thing!
I’m fortunate to have platforms for my small voice and I alternate writing columns about the conniving of the right wing with what I hope are spirit-lifting columns in a number of lesbian and gay outlets across the US. I also address our issues in my books.
I designate a day a week as my action day. I save all the e-mails I get from Jen, from our local activism chair, and from Rogan’s list, then on my day, I go through all of them plus Postcards from America, and determine what issues I will address that week. I also sign most of the petitions that are posted. I’ve taken a break a couple of times, but this seems to work for me. I am active in a local group that meets monthly, and I attended the women’s march in Chicago–the first time I’ve ever done anything like that in my 65 years. It feels good to do something, and postcarding works for me.
Thanks to all of you who keep us going!
Hi Jan. I rely on the PostcardCallsToAction from the Postcards for America Facebook Group too. Admin Jenny over there does such a fabulous job researching issues and putting out action items almost every day. I’ve learned to look in the Files section of the Facebook Group because that is where she keeps all the actions organized and available, so you don’t have to scroll through the posts if you don’t want to.
By the way, most of the images in the Democracy postcard pack are from the Chicago Women’s March because that is where I happened to be that day, visiting my mom, and it was such a sunny wonderful day that I was able to slip through the crowd with my camera and get all sorts of great photos.
I write a weekly e-newsletter outlining events happening in Washington and in my own state/region and include tips on what my readers can do to get involved. I use Resistbot to fax my representatives, and I have joined a bookclub made up of local Dems/open minded people to read about the things we need to know in order to do good in our community.
After the election I was crushed. I could not be idle so I created a group called “Nasty Women Bad Hombres (NWBH).” We meet monthly in my house and we have finally gotten through the “woe is us” to we have to fight. Last Sunday we had the ACLU talk to us about our rights as citizens to demonstrate. There are 25 in our group and we encourage new comers. It has been a great opportunity to meet like minded folks and I’m learning a lot about politics. I have been on our NPR station, to the Women’s March, Planned Parenthood demonstrations, Indivisble Meetings,the Climate March and I plan to keep moving. (I’m 68 years young!) is love to share your postcards with my NWBH!
Jane, it does help to be in a group of like-minded people working together. Quite heartening and encouraging, and just plain more fun. 🙂 How great that you started one up in your area! Keep up the good work.
Many hands make light work. Thanks for what you do.
My Actions?
About 3 hours a day calling and signing and commenting Petitions. Phew. Yes all my tabs are open with about 100 emails a day from Various organizations (Environmental, Climate Change, Our National Parks, my Senators and Rep. My Oregon people etc…). The Center of Biological Diversity sent me a box of condoms! Lol http://www.endangeredspeciescondoms.com/. I handed them out for Valentine’s day.
I would love to incorporate postcards! And support our postal service.
I’m sorry to say that it took this election to light a match…we’ve been so apathetic it’s pathetic.
I’m happy to say my 6’8″ 20 yr old nephew has decided to be a senator who won’t be sold out!
Thank you for what you are doing.
This crisis has given me the chance to meet the greatest group of activist women! We call ourselves The PerSisters (honoring Elizabeth Warren). We gather over pizza, wine, checklists, and postcards printed by NWGSD here in Portland (Nasty Women Get Shit Done). The postcards look like a flag with red white and blue stripes made of statements of solidarity: “In Our America….all people are equal… love wins…. black lives matter… immigrants and refugees are welcome… disabilities are respected… women are in charge of their bodies… people and planet are valued over profit… diversity is celebrated.”
Thanks to all these unkind things being said by people in power, we have good group names, good slogans, good connections with one another, and no lack of reasons to write and activate!
I love that flag design. In fact I have one of the lawn signs in my front yard! For anyone else reading who’d like to see them or order some signs for their town, the URL is https://www.nwgsdpdx.org.
How great that you have a bunch of new PerSisters. (love the name, by the way!) Carry on. 🙂
I’m an artist who lives to paint. I order packs of blank postcards from amazon and when I have leftover paint on my palette, I make small abstract paintings on the backs of my postcards. I keep a stack of stamped ones by my computer and write to my reps, cabinet members — whomever I feel compelled to talk to – and send them a postcard with an original artwork on the back. I always hope that an aide will like it and tack it up or at least grab it from the stack. Just my own fantasy of getting my voice heard. Sometimes I do postcard drives in FB. For Women’s Day I offered to write a pro-voice message on three postcards and mail them to anyone’s congressional reps who messaged me. I sent 72 postcards that week.
Those sound fabulous!
My neighbor and I meet every Monday evening to go through the checklist together. We mostly send postcards, but also send some emails and make phone calls. During the week I sign petitions and sometimes make a few more phone calls. I find that having a scheduled meeting time at which I’m accountable to my friend helps keep me active. Even better, it helps me deal with the heaviness I sometimes feel listening to the news during the week. I know that I’ll be responding to what’s happening in a positive way on Mondays, so I have somewhere to channel my reactions during the other days. Thanks so much for helping us all do what we can.
I would love to have a neighbor to postcard with weekly! Might be time to reach out to some friends in the neighborhood and propose just that. Great idea!
The idea of postcards helped me stay active. I also email and call. RESIST.
After the election, My husband and I gathered a group of depressed friends and their friends to find actions. We all liked Indivisible and formed our group to meet in homes every other week- we did that for 5 months. Now we meet once a month and have postcard parties, join with marches, stay informed and look for ways to communicate respectfully with differing opinions. We find getting together gives us all hope.
I have a “pre-existing condition” which means a lot of times I lack the physical energy to march or picket or attend meetings that run late into the evening. So a lot of my activism is done from my home, often in the early morning. I make phone calls (“5 calls” is wonderful), I send postcards, I send e-mails. Some days my local Congressman gets all three.
The internet is a wonderful way to keep us all together, I’ve found friends and support across the country, all of us working to make our country and our world a better place. This country is great – we want to keep it that way and make it better.
Thanks Jen, for all of your vision and leadership.
Erika: I, too, have found postcards a way to stay active with out feeling too discouraged about it. Writing an actual message forces me to organize my thoughts and be clear about how I feel. I hope that a handwritten message has more weight these days than an on-line petition or internet check off form comments.
Thanks for your creative solution and vision.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
Handwritten messages definitely still carry more weight than online petitions of internet check off form comments. In fact here’s some research on this that was done recently by the Congressional Management Foundation. They surveyed Congressional staffers about how mail to Congress moves. (Staffers are the ones who receive and deal with the mail.)
70% of Congressional staffers said that fewer than 50 personalized communications from their constituents (including personal emails, postcards or letters) on a single subject would be enough to get the attention of the MoC and make him/her reconsider their position! Whereas only 16% said the same thing about less than 50 FORM emails.
Personalization really helps, and especially if you include your personal story. That has a very big impact. So if you say why you want something and how it will affect you personally, that carries more weight than just ‘please vote for X’. Even if you start with suggested text from the Checklist or elsewhere and personalize only 10-15% of the text, that is enough to make it ‘read’ as a personal communication.
And one thing I hadn’t realized was that noting your affiliation with a group is actually a plus in terms of having impact and getting noticed. And in fact, if you are the representative of a group, that REALLY carries a lot of weight, so definitely state that in the correspondence.
Keep up the good work.
Erika
Thanks for this very helpful information! I work in a profession where ‘evidence-based practice’ is a big deal. Collecting data like this helps us all channel our limited time and energy most productively!
Really helpful. Thank you.
Since everyone cannot go to every meeting concerning the “resistance”, whenever I attend a meeting or a lecture, I write myself notes and email them with others who go to my Huddle. In the subject heading, I write: HUDDLE: IMMIGRATION….or whatever the topic may be. This way, they can read or discard, depending on the focus of their efforts.
That’s a great way to keep people informed and encourage more action on that topic. Great idea!
I love the idea of the postcard giveaway! I’ve been writing 5 postcards a week since Feb 5th and it is AMAZING the difference I feel. We all need a sense of agency in our lives. As the wise ones used to say, When faced with what you feel is WRONG, it’s better to so SOMETHING than NOTHING. Every Monday or Tuesday I sit down with my coffee and channel that feeling.
My husband and I sign petitions, make calls, and send emails to legislators almost daily. We are looking forward to getting tips and some interesting post cards from your site. We all get weary of resisting and fighting back, but know we cannot let up. Your site will give us renewed energy!
Thank you!
There is a lot of quick info in the FAQ section https://www.collectivevision.us/faqs and some more in depth reading about half way down in the Resources section https://www.collectivevision.us/resources. Hope you find it useful and energizing. Together we can make a difference.
I’m part of a group of women — we call ourselves Ladies Rage and Resistance — who meet monthly to write postcards together over donuts or cocktails, depending on the time of day! Some bring action items and we share them and talk and laugh and rage together. Last month we collectively wrote 100 postcards!
Hello Amazing ReSISTERS!
You asked a few questions. To answer them: yes, I make time to go thru Jen’s list each week. I print it out & make notes next to items of most concern for the week. Most of my postcard writing happens on Sundays because I’m charged up after reading the list. I work alone & with a group of postcard pals. I don’t think that any of my actions would be considered creative. Jen, my friends, the thought of what kind of world I’m leaving to my grandchildren, and my general concern, love & compassion for the whole world keep me motivated.
Let me also say that I have been sick since the election. I was diagnosed with pneumonia in Jan, complicated with asthma & allergies. Still struggling. Missed all the marches but one. I’m more than glad that I can at least write postcards. I appreciate the work you all do.
Hi Beverly, Thanks for your postcarding and engagement. Your efforts matter! Hope you feel better soon. Take care.
I have created a women’s political group from the Women’s March on DC and we meet monthly to develop plans of action.
Hi Jen. I live in West Palm Beach, FL and I host a postcard potluck on the first Monday of the month. It’s an opportunity to see friends who I worked with in previous campaigns and remain active. My favorite postcard this month was written by a friend: It said simply, Dear President Trump: STOP TWEETING!
If we don’t act, we submit to a government that does not fit our ideals. We are put on this earth together. We must care for each other, regardless of race, religion, or money. We must take care of our planet…our air and water that keeps us alive. Greed and selfishness can not destroy us. I am so tired of corruption.
Each week, I do some sort of action. I’ve signed petitions, given money, attended a townhall meeting, protested, attended a community gathering, participate in a resistance support group at work, and use Facebook to educate and affirm my friends with cited articles. Some days, I can’t even look at the activision pages but remember that this is not a short fight. It’s okay to step away.
We must resist to make our world safe and kind.
Beautifully said Rebecca. You are not alone in needing to step away at times. We must give ourselves the safety and kindness we want for all. It will definitely be a long journey. Take care.
My story parallels that of Gloria below. I am 72. I start each Sunday with reviewing Jen’s list and starting research in the topics I decide to follow that week. I engage in all forms of contact with my legislators along with a weekly card to McCain re:all things Russian. I enjoy meeting 2x month with a tri county activist group. Some of these members attend hearings and demonstrations and live stream for the rest of us. We stay pretty much plugged in. I volunteer with Sudanese refugee families locally and long term have been educating girls from war torn countries. A long time ago I was very active in the wonderful women’s group protesting the Vietnam war. “Another Mother for Peace” has been a foundational model for the power of women’s voices for most of my adult life. Today I highly value the work of Jen Hoffman to shine a little light. Cheers my soul with hope in our young people.
When I write a postcard, I take a photo of it and post it on social media so that others have an idea for message plus address. I have taken an action every day since November 9.
What a simple way to spread the impact of your effort by giving others the info to do the same. Love it! Great idea.
Thank you for all of your work! I have shared your weekly list with many people who have joined as well. I have been printing and sending postcards and home regularly, phone calling when I need to, and also am working as the organizer of a local ACLE group trying to get an ordinance passed at our town council level!
I sign petitions every day, I call and or use ResistBot or Stance to contact lawmakers almost every day. I write postcards occasionally
Every weekday morning I wait until my husband leaves on his morning jog and I get on my cell phone’s Resistbot to make one of my 5Calls to my MoC. I like to dictate my rather long faxes so it’s nice not to have an audience while I hesitate and get heated. After I have my say and they tell me the fax has been received, I can start my day with a feeling that I’ve sent out another small voice in the big wilderness. Whether it’s heard or not has become less of a question as time has gone by. Every week when I read what has happened in DC and what is going to be discussed or signed this week I get anxious enough that this daily routine helps me let some of the steam out of the pressure cooker that I have become.
There’s a lot of power in using our actual voice. How wonderful that you’ve found a way to *literally* speak truth to power! Love it.
Keep the faith!
Brilliant! I love the images and reading the signs. Writing thank you postcards, especially to those who are putting country before party, feels like the most powerful action to me. I am fortunate to live in Oregon where we have extremely active & progressive representation! My deepest gratitude to both of you – Erica & Jennifer!!!
Warmly,
Heather
I keep a spreadsheet on my computer listing every phone call, every e-mail, every postcard, every event and every donation I’ve made. When I feel like my tiny actions aren’t making a difference, I pull up the spreadsheet and realized I’ve done a LOT since November. It also encourages me to do more.
What an affirming and encouraging practice. Great idea!
Don’t let the tweets and Masters of Deceit get you down. The truth, treating others as you want to be treated and persistence will save the day. It’s up to you to take one positive step each day.
I am just getting going with my regular activism. I find that I can make a few phone calls to my representatives in congress regularly, but that is about it. I art at a state college and it is my students and their futures that keep me calling. I would love to have a packet to inspire my students to make post cards in the printmaking classes.
Hi Rhea,
I would like to invite you or any of your students to submit an image that would make a powerful, positive postcard. If the image is selected it is an opportunity for some exposure, to contribute to the efforts to steer the country in a positive direction, and also to receive a small stipend. It does not need to be a finished image. Even a sketch or an idea that could be fleshed out is fine.
The next themes I’m going to print are a Justice Pack and a Sustainability Pack. In addition to taking submissions from the artists themselves, I also have an open call for suggestions of images people have seen online or in person, and suggestions of quotes that would make a good postcard. The suggestion process is simple. The link to the form is here: https://www.collectivevision.us/upload-artwork I’d be honored if you would share this information and the link with your students and friends.
Hello, and thanks to Jen and Erika! I belong to a huddle in Salem, Oregon: RedDoor Resistance. We meet every Monday morning for an hour to write postcards and share information and support. We use Jen’s weekly activism checklist as our guide. Some of us have never been this politically active, and it feels good to try to keep the action positive. Thanks again.
I have built it in as a daily habit like toothbrushing and find that the best way for me to be in action is to have everything I need at my fingertips… postcards, stamps, pens right near my computer. That way if a work call ends early I can make use of a couple minutes here and there. I keep my messages brief and to the point. Also, I try to send as many thank yous as I do “resistance” notes because I think people doing the right thing need to hear from us and because it helps me keep my energy up.
Brief and to the point messages are exactly what the overworked Congressional staffers appreciate. But if any of the issues you’re writing about will affect you personally, do include that story in your postcard if at all possible. They say that these types of stories carry an even bigger weight and are sometimes read aloud in testimony on the floor or can change the minds of MoC’s whose views do not initially match your request.
When I was a camp counselor in my youth, we were told to make sure to give as many or more compliments and supportive statements to each camper as we gave corrections or reprimands. I have kept that philosophy in mind all these decades later as a best practice and I love that you consciously use that as a guide to where your activism energy goes. Bravo!
Hello!
I start the day by listening to NPR’s Up First to get a sense of the big issues for the day. If I have time, I check the New York Times for lead stories. And at least every 2 days, I check Fox News to see what they’re reporting.
Once I have my head wrapped around what to focus on that day, I pick up the phone. I use the 5 Calls App religiously! I’m almost up to 300 calls through the app. Though I live in California where my representatives are doing all they can, I also call South Carolina Senators, because I grew up there and still feel a connection. I also sign petitions that I believe in and I make small donations to organizations that are doing the good work these days.
My morning routine lets me feel like I’m doing something, despite the daunting news out of DC.
Thanks for your inspiring weekly actions!
I have heard of others who write to the Members of Congress from the state where they grew up. Though Members of Congress are most focused on the feedback from those who live in their district, I think the volume of mail they get sometimes makes it hard to determine exactly where someone is from so if there is a clear reference to a place you were connected to, you may be counted as a constituent. Keep up the great work!
Thank you for this post! It’s wonderful to meet kindred spirits.
After the election, I felt the pull to incorporating creativity into activism, so began making collage postcards and photocopying them on card stock. I work alone, preferring solitary time to consider my thoughts and feel what I’m feeling. If I can make the post cards part of my spiritual/meditative practice, my activism will be more sustainable. I often write cards of gratitude as well as opposition. I mail them to friends who are overwhelmed or discouraged, and to reporters who cover perspectives that move me. I am drawn to resources that help me better understand lives different from my own, and my role as a white person in the fight for equality for all people, to cultivate wise action.
A motivating strategy I use is to keep a running list of all the calls, cards, rallies etc. I participate in- when I feel discouraged about not doing enough, it helps to look at that list! Like many, finding the time in an already busy life is a constant challenge, but a little here and there adds up to a lot.
🙏🏼 Jenn and Erika for your continued inspiration! It can feel like the cards go off into a vacuum, so it is encouraging to read of your work.
Beautiful ideas Bonnie. If you’re open to sharing your collage postcards, post some photos to the Collective Vision Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CollectiveVisionPostcards/ We’d love to admire your work.
Or if you’d like to share them more widely, I encourage you to consider submitting them to be considered for part of the upcoming Justice Pack of postcards. I am so excited to be able to include illustrations, collage, and other forms of art in the upcoming postcard sets, an especially images that reflect as you say ‘lives that are different from my own’. There is a lot of power in art, both for the artist in the creation of it and also for others who can take it in. And art can be an important way to amplify the words we are writing on the other side of the postcards.
Here is a list of FAQs I wrote about what I’m looking for https://www.collectivevision.us/images-faq-2 and here’s how you can Suggest an Image https://www.collectivevision.us/upload-artwork I hope you’ll consider participating. Thanks for all that you do. Together we ARE making a difference.
I’ve always thought I “should” be more politically active, but never more than now. Nowadays, when life threatens to squeeze out time for activism, I think: But now is THE time and we are all needed NOW! It isn’t hard to remind myself of the urgency of our current political crisis; that urgency spurs me to carve out a little time many weeks.
I find I can often spare around an hour a week without feeling overwhelmed, and I can do enough in that hour to feel like I’m doing something meaningful. I get Jen’s checklist on Sundays and glance through it, then sometimes return to it over the course of the week. On Friday, my day off, I try to spend an hour on politics in the afternoon. I look for things I especially care about in the Action Checklist, and my go-to response is always to make phone calls, because I’ve heard they’re most effective.
Here’s a great phone call tip I’ve followed: For ease of calling, I have the numbers of all my US and State Senators and Representatives, plus important folks like Paul Ryan and Mike Pence, in my phone under “A”. (So when I open my contacts, the first thing I see is: “A – Mike Pence, A – Mitch McConnel, A – Oregon Dems, A – Paul Ryan, A -State Rep Ann Lininger, etc.)
Each Friday afternoon, I read Jen’s synopsis of important issues and pick my issues. With each issue, I skim any articles she’s linked to make sure I’m informed, and take a few moments to think about how the issue is meaningful to me personally. I practice what I’m going to say out loud, then make my phone call(s) to the folks in my phone or whoever else she’s mentioned. Even if Jen suggests sending a postcard, I instead find the person’s phone number and call them–it’s just easier for me than postcards so far, though I love all of Erika’s suggestions! Then I go on to the next issue and keep going down the list. I end up making maybe 10 phone calls a week this way, and I feel good because it’s what I can handle and something is better than nothing! And I love knowing that there are thousands of other people out there doing the same thing.
Thank you, Jen, Erika, and many others, for being so encouraging and making activism effective and manageable!
Katie, great idea to use A before the entries in your Contacts list so they’re right there and visible! Calling is a great way to be heard, absolutely. And if you get a busy signal at the DC office, it works well to call the district office too.
I think your ten phone calls a week is awesome! That is a lot. And definitely keeping what we do in a range that is manageable for us, with no guilt whatsoever about not doing more, is the best way to keep ourselves balanced and strong to keep at it for the years to come. Thanks for all that you do Katie.
Months ago, while writing lovely Royal Horticultural Society postcards to my nursing-home bound Auntie, it struck me that legislators might better enjoy hearing from a constituent if the not-always-pleasing comments arrived on a pretty and bright floral card. Being homebound, one can nonetheless contribute to the “resistance” by mailing postcards, sending emails, writing real paper letters, and making telephone calls. It’s not much I know from just one “indivisible” resistor but en masse we do make a difference. My appreciation for all you do, too, Jennifer & Erika.
Cathy, if each of us does a little bit, it adds up to a powerful force. That’s the beauty of this mass activation of regular folks.
Have you ever heard the quote from the Dalai Lama that says “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
It makes me smile. And it’s definitely true. Keep up the good work in whatever way works for you. Thanks.
Everyday it is something new. I have now ceased to be surprised by anything that comes out of the President’s mouth or
twitter feed. The overnight twitters are usually impetus enough to get me going in the morning..I write postcards almost every
day to the White house, my Senators (who are great — I’m encouraging them to keep it up !) and my Congressman (definitely
not so great), the various Cabinet members and Committee chairs. Don’t destroy what is good about America !
Hi. Thank you for your energy. I write/call/send an email daily.
I am 71 and I have been politically active my entire life.
A democracy is a living organism and we must be active PARTICIPANTS for it to work.
I also have not missed one vote since I registered the moment I was eligible.
I love our country and travel abroad has made me aware of our gift of freedom we need to cherish.
March on. Write on. Be open. Listen.
My Indivisible chapter sends off a post card for each member 15-20 and growing) at each meeting. Though it’s not much for one person, the feeling of empowerment that replaces my helpless, hopeless feelings. I bet each of the card packs does the same for you!
Thx for all you do, including the cards.
In solidarity,
Dee
First, I selected two organizations to get involved in: Moms Demand Action and ACLU. After all, one person cannot do everything, so focus is important. And then I found a local chapter of Moms to attend once a month. I next found a local active group with ACLU, and got involved with their activities and planning. Finally, I bought pre-stamped postcards from the post office so I could conveniently write postcards. I have found this activism work to be both stimulating and optimistic. The more I work at it, the more I am convinced that democracy will eventually thrive once again.
Hi Jen,
I really like these postcards and would love to have a set. I hope to get a free set, but even if I don’t, I’ll probably buy some to have on hand.
My activism started immediately after the election and the Indivisible Guide came out. I began calling my representatives on a random basis, just to feel that I was doing something. Then I joined a local group here, Stronger Together WNC-North. We share action ideas with each other and join in activities together. In response to your questions:
– I use Jen’s Checklist to review the issues for the week and go back during the week to decide what actions I want to take. I also use Rogan’s List for additional action items and when I just need a quick resource for the day, I use 5-calls.
– I call three or four times a week, email when an issue is brought to my attention, tweet very occasionally and sign petitions that are of immediate importance, I have written some letters and postcards, but was not sure if this was an effective way to use my time. Now I feel the need to express thanks more often, and postcards will work well, so I’m planning to do that.
– I usually work alone, but I also join our groups in rallies, marches and other activities. I joined a group to visit our congressman on a scheduled visit. We spent about an hour sharing our concerns about issues of importance to each of us.
– It is sometimes difficult to stay engaged and motivated, so each week that I receive the Checklist, or each day that I receive Rogan’s List, I am reminded of the support I have and the guidance you provide us to keep moving forward!
– I also have come to depend on the weekly Small Victories list from the FB group Peace is Loud. Nothing keeps me motivated more than the victories and the positive results of our collective actions. Thank you, Jen, for keeping your list positive!!
I hope I get chosen to receive the post card gift pack. Thanks for everything you are doing!
Peggy McLeod
Dear Peggy, Great comments! You are doing so many positive things. You are the first commenter I think who mentions having gone to visit your congressman on a scheduled visit. This is a very powerful way to have an impact. And doing it in a group would provide the support to do it more comfortably for most of us. I hope that more of us find a way to do that as well as all these other forms of communicating. Bravo!
i made my own postcards about climate change using clippings of weather maps in a collage about 2 years ago. i was sending them to weather announcers asking why they don’t talk about climate change. i don’t scan to e-mail but would be happy to send one to you by snail mail if interested. i use these and my partner bought blank 3×5 cards to send to people and i have been embellishing some of the cards with my own drawings. i am most drawn to thank yous that jen publishes. i usually don’t get to the action lists until later in the week. often i choose local actions to do and/or call, once in a while sending a letter to the editor of local paper regarding something sierra club wants comments made about. they are helpful in having a “rio writers group” notification and talking points and suggestions if wanted for changes. my spouse says she finds the summary/talking points helpful as do i and i try to change the wording a bit. what helps me stay engaged is jen’s listserve and encouragement to rest and small victories listserve. i am now working on a traveling (in abq, nm) exhibit called refugee blanket with 35 artists making 60 9×9 squares expressing welcome for refugees. this has been positively received and is uniting different communities, feels really good to be positive. will have to get more photos of what we have done/are spreading. thank you for being there and asking.
Hi Joan, I would LOVE to see some of your collage postcards about climate change! If you ever email photos (rather than scans), you can send it to postcards (at) collectivevision (dot) us or if you want to use snail mail, you can send it to Collective Vision, 2852 Willamette St. #232, Eugene OR 97405. Make sure to write your contact info on there so I can get back in touch with you. Thank you so much. I’m excited to see them!
I love that you were asking the TV meteorologists why they don’t talk more about climate change! And writing about local issues to our local, county and state representatives is HUGELY important. They hardly get any constituent mail so I think they really pay attention to what they do get. I think these more local actions we get inspired to do by ourselves or with a small local group can have a very important cumulative impact. In fact, I think this is where the majority of the societal changes we want to see will be happening in the future. We will all be hearing more about this kind of activism, I feel sure.
Your refugee blanket is a wonderful creative collaboration. Sharing our values through art and through creative ways can reach people who would be closed to “getting” the same message in a more straightforward way. Plus it is so good for one’s own soul. I feel inspired after reading your comment Joan. Thank you for sharing.
I call, e-mail, send postcards, sign petitions, post/share info about marches/actions. I’ve also gone to 6 rallies and marches at the Capitol.
Like so many others, I couldn’t stop wringing my hands and shouting at the television after the election. Then I found Indivisible. That changed my life. I’d never been active or particularly political, but I found 9 friends and we started a little Indivisible group of our own. In four months we have grown to more than 140 members. We meet in small groups or large. We phone, email, write letters and postcards. We’ve turned our local newspaper “Letters to the Editor” column from red to blue. I use many of Jen’s ideas and add some of our own to a weekly action email to my group. I stress that doing just one thing a day is the key. It has been an amazing journey.
Did I mention we live in Florida and are all retired? We are all transplants, so our influence is much larger than 140 people. We all have relatives, friends and neighbors in others states and we forward action emails to many others. Some of our group are snowbirds who only winter in Florida. Those snowbirds have gone “home” and joined or started Indivisible groups there. Our impact continues to grow. It is exciting.
We are connected and busy. Just today I found the campaign to get out the vote via postcards in this blog. How wonderful! I’ve already registered. Also found the Resistbot app. These are things I will share with my group. I believe together we can make the difference needed in our country.
Seeing your efforts snowball like you describe is so awesome! I love the cross pollination that happens when people reach out with these actions and concerns to friends and family who live somewhere else. I too forward action emails to my mom and several of her friends in Chicago. We are all connected by our vision for a world that works for all. Glad you’re finding in these comments some more ideas to add to your long list. “And still she persists…” 🙂
This is so wonderful to hear! I was in a conservative area of coastal florida on the day of the election visiting relatives and it was so incredibly disenheartening to see how excited everyone was. I am so glad to hear that you are standing up for your values in that kind of atmosphere. Thank you!
It has gotten so bad that I have to take a break one day a week from media input…It is so easy to get discouraged. But I sign petitions, call my representatives (even though luckily enough here in NM most vote in line with my thoughts) I also look for opportunities to engage with people of differing view points without name calling etc- oh and yes I send postcards- sometimes with friends but more often by myself- oh and post action opportunities on FB. and participate in local marches.
I send postcards, emails, and make phone calls. It just depends what the issue is and how upset I am about it. Example: Betsy DeVos – hate her and what she stands for. She had ruined Michigan schools in urban areas!
My son plays baseball, so I usually grab a stack of postcards and write one between each inning. I send a lot of postcards to my local rep, but have also been sending postcards to encourage voters in special elections in GA and SC. I have also started using Twitter a lot more to share info, but also to enjoy the funny memes and comments to save my sanity 😁
In January a friend offered me a calendar from our representative knowing I do not like the guy and call him on a regular basis, even before 45 was elected. I decided to take it graciously and use it to track actions I am taking each week. Ironically the only thing I could get to show up when I tried to write on it was a red sharpie! Each week I was doing an action a day, started to burn out and decided that it is best to focus on five actions, and to mix it up, I bought a book of postcards called Women Who Dared and based on the message I am sending I try to include a second message with the choice of card. Sometimes I feel like talking, so pick up the phone and make a call, and on occasion write a full blown letter or send an email if I’m feeling the need to get a message delivered quickly. I’ve been tracking responses I receive via email so I can refer to them when this representative flips in a bad direction on an issue to remind him to be reasonable. I am in this for the long game, so do send a thank you note to one person a week, just to keep me grounded. Thank you, everyone who is on the road I am taking to bring about change and get us all back onto a positive track where we can feel good about being a citizen of the United States and a world player. A special thanks to Jen who works so hard to guide us along the way.
I watch and read about the news daily. I keep the phone numbers if local, state and national officials by the phone and make callswhen critical votes come up.
I’ve slacked off of my postcard sessions. Your post inspires me to get going with them again. Thanks
I vowed to send President Trump a postcard each week with a quote that would help him learn about the office of the Presidency and about our form of government. The first card sent had a quote from George Washington: “Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy.” The most recent one sent was a quote from Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” I have sent those weekly postcards, but have also felt compelled to send “special topics” cards when the POTUS does something I find especially egregious. When he issued his skinny budget in March, I sent a quote frm Dr. King: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
I know Mr. trump will never see these cards, but it has helped me to feel more involved and has taught me a few things along the way.
Every other Wednesday at 4:00 (sometimes every third Wednesday) a few dear friends of mine come to my home to share, eat, drink and most importantly make our voices heard by writing postcards-sharing our concerns and gratitude with a wide range of local, state and national people and organizations. We always have copies of Jennifer’s latest Weekly Checklist and often, someone will bring an idea of her own to inspire us. What keeps us going? A combination of a growing frustration over our current administration, a belief that our voices need to be heard, the knowledge that we can speak freely, ask any question or share an unpopular belief without being judged, and not to be taken lightly, we have fun drinking and eating while we work. For me, work needs to include an element of fun, in order to be sustainable. The meetings have an additional productive value beyond writing postcards, as we gather good information about upcoming political events and possibilities for volunteering. We began meeting in early spring and hope to continue indefinitely. We may change our format, tweak our focus, but hopefully we will help keep one another rooted in the belief that no matter how small or large our actions are, we are helping in the effort to make our country a better place. We are important.
Camaraderie and a space to learn together without being judged….that sounds excellent. You ARE important! Thanks for sharing Susie.
I retired the end of Dec 2016, which was timely, since my wife and I are now engaging in 3 – 5 resistance actions per week. We have marched, protested, rallied, died-in and written emails, faxes, letters and postcards. We belong to our local Indivisible group and also a group called RiseUp (former Nasty Women), plus half a dozen other groups organizing and resisting. We are giving our pink pussyhats (the winter and the summer versions) a workout! We are taking our country back.
I started out by buying 100 stamped post cards from the post office (I cleaned them out) so I didn’t have to worry about postage or cards. I have ’em. I read a daily paper and I cut out and date articles and editorials that fit with my main concerns. These include: Ethics, Environment, Democracy, Civility, Immigration. I also have a folder for the weekly “How they Voted” section of my local paper (published on Mondays) and I read them, observe how my congressman and senators voted. All of this provides me with incentives to send post cards. I also have labels with my congressman and senators addresses on them so it is easy to mail.
That’s great that your local paper publishes a weekly How they Voted section! What if all papers did that?! That would be a step in the right direction for accountability and transparency. Anyone else who likes this idea could write a letter to the editor of their local paper requesting a similar section. Love your label idea too! Thanks Peggy.
Every week I sit down and do all of my postcards – I got a huge package of them off Amazon. To make it fun I got myself a bunch of pens in different colors and I try to turn my postcards into art. Writing to our officials makes me me feel like my voice is being heard – I know that even if it doesn’t make an immediate impact, in the long term it will definitely do something.
I’ve found that morning calling is the best way for me to 1.) fit in my calling (I’m also in CST, so I can call before work, when the DC offices are already open) AND 2.) stave off the hopeless feeling of waking up in the morning to a long list of scary news stories. I usually write postcards on the weekend, so I can take a bit more time with them, and check a number of actions of the Action Checklist before my week even gets started!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? I just set it up so that it can be easy to do on any particular day. In my cell phone I put our national and state reps phone numbers with “AA” first so that they are at the top of my contact list, and I just open my phone and call. And have pre-stamped pre addressed envelopes just waiting so that filling it out and sending it is fast on any busy day.
Do you work alone or in concert with others? We have a group of about 300 people that came together after the election.
Have you done creative direct actions? Still working on the creativity, mostly calls, attending events, postcards.
What helps you stay engaged? listening to podcasts about the state of national affairs after my 6 year old has gone to bed and I’m washing dishes – helps remind me that yes, things really are still bad. And in conjunction with that, taking mini-breaks when I need to but coming back after a week or two so that I don’t totally burn out and stay engaged over the long run.
I help to lead Indivisible NC6. I keep our group up-to-date on Facebook. Each week we put out an e-newsletter reviewing our congressman in the news and share action alerts. We also visit his district office every Tuesday. This week will mark our 16th visit. We use the most unbiased sources for research into current issues and present them to staff. We were instrumental in pushing our congressman to have four recent town halls. We maintain archives of our research that we make available to other groups on request. We make our calls and write our letters. We keep each others’ spirits up with humor and commiseration. It’s North Carolina, so we have much to do, but we are scrappy and we love our state and our country and each other.
It sounds like the work you are doing reviewing and meeting with your congressman is an amazingly robust way to keep him accountable to those he represents. I’m so impressed. Being scrappy gets results… and coming from a place of fierce love for our community and our country is so powerful. Bravo Trina!
Thank you for your ideas and inspiration. I usually make calls and write post cards in the morning. I am a retired teacher so I make time every day to contact a representative or Senator.
I joined a Neighbors for Action group on my town that meets to work together on many issues of concern to us including this administration’s policies on health care, education, climate, human rights, etc.
I attended a fundraiser for Jon Ossoff that had a Georgia peach theme and enjoyed peach pancakes and peach cobbler while discussing future actions to take.
I participated virtually in a postcard writing party as I was out of town. I keep postcards in my nightstand and am informed of the latest issues through a connection to so many politically active friends and colleagues on social media. I just write or call randomly in my schedule as one call or card barely takes any time at all.
Hi Jen,
I have been making many phone calls and writing emails. I want to get into a rhythm of writing postcards as well. I am the leader of an ACLU PeoplePower group that has been very active in the immigration/deportation area. We have had meetings with chiefs of police and our county sheriff to review the 9 points of ACLU recommended “Freedom Cities” policy. In addition, we have been doing supportive things as well. We attended a “Welcome for Syrians” potluck dinner. We attended our first Naturalization Ceremony (about 12 of us) wearing our “All Are Welcome Here” t-shirts and carrying All are Welcome Here signs. It was appreciated. Our aim is to attend one/month, next one is this Wed. We attended an Iftar Open House at a local mosque-it was delightful. Many of these are going on in our area co-sponsored by the MN Council of Churches and the Muslim community. I have also participated in Lobby Days at the state legislature around the topics of gun safety (with the Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense), reproductive choice, and Habitat for Humanity. It has been busy! Thanks for all that you do.
What a powerful action to bring All Are Welcome Here t-shirts and signs to the Naturalization Ceremony, and to attend the open house at your local mosque and get to know members of the Muslim community. Actively building a positive community will serve us all well when difficult moments arise in our local areas. Thanks for these thoughts/ideas Kathy.
I have always been politically active, but NOW I spend about 6-10 hours a week doing activism things. I phone call, visit, email, fax (resistbot), stance, co-organize the twin city holler (southern town hall), AND I postcard to Jen’s list and others weekly. 🙂
My post cards are a photo of a site in my NC town with “Greetings from NC!” on the flip side. HOPE to win YOUR pack.
While I have yet to send a postcard, I do email and tweet at representatives, call on occasion, sign petitions, and donate small sums of money to different organizations, as well as read tons of articles during the week and share the ones I feel are most informative and least biased. I have also joined our local PFLAG board to try to build my local community. Our first event is next weekend.
After 45’s inauguration, I was calling my members of Congress every day – the staffers on the phone knew me after a while. A couple of like-minded friends and I have visited our Rep’s office. I’ve attended several local marches (Women’s March and March for Science) and was inspired to see so many passionate people and so much good will. But lately, my activism has dropped off. I know I need to keep on calling and writing: psyching myself up for Monday! I finally bought postcard stamps so I can write and send postcards. I try to call first thing in the morning to get the task done.
I have been hosting monthly postcard parties at our local wine bar. People are more likely to come when there is wine involved! I have posted invitations to local activism groups, and we have formed a little community. Anywhere from 20-40 people have come, each month growing. So far we have written over 1,200 postcards. I arrive with a lot of postcards and a spreadsheet of addresses and issues, so that people can write about specific legislation. I also hosted a children’s postcard party, where the kids made art on blank postcards and wrote simple messages to elected officials, both local and national.
Having someone prepare a simplified list of issues and addresses before a postcard party definitely makes it more do-able to get some coherent writing done in a social atmosphere. I love the idea of a children’s postcard party too. Very powerful.
I’m on summer break from school (librarian at an all boys Catholic high school) and will have much more time during business hours to make phone calls!
I hold public postcard-writing sessions twice a week at my senior community residence, providing 12 different postcards, stamps, mailing labels for both Republican, Democratic and Independent Senators and Congressmen – as well as lists from you, Rogan’s List, 5-a-Day, etc. i make phone calls, text, and forward prompts to a e-mailing list.
I have a grandson in the Air Force Special Forces. It “makes me queasy” to think about his current erratic, tweeting Commander-in-Chief. Activism has become a part of my life – as much as an 86-year-old wheelchair-bound can do.
I would be happy to share my 12 postcard designs with you.
Joan, you are an inspiration! Truly. Thank you for everything you’re doing.
I am so lucky to have every single thing done for me except writing the actual words on the postcard. Twice a month my dear friend and her husband make wonderful treats for us, a small group of teachers, (retired and otherwise). She has postcards ready, address labels already made up for our government officials, iPads at the ready, stamps, pens, and of course, the action checklist.The fun of getting together, hearing each other’s ideas, and the knowledge that we are doing our part keeps us going. It’s energizing! Thank you! -Cindy
These postcard packs are a great idea. Nearing the end of my first stack of 100 sent out. I tend to send mine out on Mondays and Tuesdays working from Jens list, but often a tweet will inspire a postcard too!
I’ve always been interested in politics and haven’t missed voting since I was eligible, but activism has become a way of life for me since November 8. Nearly every day, I research an issue and post a “Call to Action” on my Facebook page. I’ve covered Trumpcare, the Russia investigation, bills before Congress, the walk-back on Obama-era regulations, nominees for Cabinet and other positions, and just about any other issue you can think of. I provide as much background material as I can, for people who may not have time to research the issue themselves; tell them who to call, email, or write (and provide contact information); and provide a suggested script. Of course I take these actions myself, and many of my Facebook friends tell me that they follow my Calls to Action and that they particularly like the suggested scripts because otherwise they wouldn’t know what to say.
I make calls in the morning before I go to work, when Congressional voicemail boxes are less likely to be full.
Another way to get around the full voicemail box at the DC office, is to look up and use the phone number at the District Office of your Member of Congress. The local staffers in most cases use the same constituent management software that the DC staffers use so your call will be logged and counted similarly.
I have a ritual on Sunday afternoons of writing out all my gratitude (and other) postcards from Jen’s list. I have lovely postcards I bought on Etsy that make it fun. I then take a photo of my postcards thrown on the floor, and post it on facebook, calling it PostCard Monday! Because that’s when the postcards are mailed. Then, starting on Monday, I work my way through Jen’s list and make my calls. I’m one person doing this alone in my household, but I feel like I’m doing my part! Thank you Jen for all you do!
I love Postcard Monday! I think I will start posting like that too. Thanks for the idea Saskia. 🙂
It’s not easy to stay motivated, but Jen’s checklist is the best way for me to “check off” some items. I love getting informed about some of the good things that are happening and having that positive energy helps me stay motivated. My favorite thing is to write postcards and send faxes through the “resist” app on my phone.
Much of what I do is alone, but I have a “political allies” distribution email list so I often send Jen’s list to that group, post things on Facebook, attend Indivisible meetings and go to marches and town halls.
Thanks for this great way to help us help the world.
Every Sunday I post Jen (Hofmann’s) digest to my FB with a brief introduction highlighting what for me the “absolute essential” actions/resources are for the week. I do a mix of phone calls/on-line-letter-writing/petition-signing/snail mail postcard writing/notes for hand-delivery to elected officials via “ambassadors” of causes/and grassroots ORGANIZING with hopes of increasing “Conscientization” and thereby building community with authentic interest in exploring means for creating a more just world and – mostly under the guise of an Environmental Action Alliance we founded following the Drumpf inauguration. So we bring people together through “actions” with protecting Planet/Mother Earth, and hope the actions will open doors for people to consider what else they can do, what else is needed, if one wishes to be a earth/wildlife/water protector. Of course this carries over into realizing that in allowing the planet to be ravaged for profit margins, marginalized people are usually those most sacrificed, and there’s the need to protect them as well, and that brings us into conversations of economic injustices that have become so pervasive. I’m still trying to learn which tools to use for which things. and some times I’m busy with the actions, and forget to tweet them out, which of course is an important action as well, and one that I need to pay more attention to doing! aargh… thanks for all you do, should you be reading this.
It’s amazing to hear how many of us are extending the reach of the Checklist by sharing all or part of it with non-subscribers through social media, emailing allies and taking the action items to groups and postcard parties. Also I want to give a shoutout to folks who do creative actions. Seeing the creative signs and messaging can reach people who would otherwise not hear that message. Those doing the action may never know the impact they are making in the hearts and minds of some viewers but I believe it is an important way to contribute to the changes we are looking for. Thanks Andrea.
I do nearly every thing on jens checklist weekly. I speak almost continuously to others including in the workplace ( discreetly ) and with friends who are not politically active to encourage them in that direction. I call my representatives or email them almost daily as well as other government figures that seem to need direction. I have not gone to any marches/gatherings mostly due to my work schedule. donate as much money as I possibly can ( single mom, son in college limits me ) esp to Emily’s list and others who support voter turnout.
Thank you so much for your activism checklist. It has helped me stay focused with my ‘new’ activism
life style! I have printed out the pocket sized action guide and have it mounted close to my desk. When
I see something on your list I feel passionate about, I turn to it for phone #s and addresses to write a
postcard or call congress directly.
Prior to and since the election I decided one of my top priorities is to work on the issue of dark money in politics.
I live in California so got involved gathering signatures for an Assembly Bill 14 (The CA Disclose Act) that is a ‘run’ around Citizen’s United. I will also be attending a Citizen’s Lobbying day this Weds in Sacramento
to lobby Assembly members about this bill. This has been one of the single best ways for me to feel better
about what is happening in D.C., getting involved in a way that I feel is making a difference in the long run!
Thanks again for your dedication. I hope your shoulder is OK – I’m a Pilates teacher and know how challenging
that can be. You will be fine!
The week after ‘The March’,I inaugurated my weekly newsletter “Persist and Resist”. It includes local, state and national action items and a calendar of (mostly) local events, political, environmental and social. We are 90 miles north of Phoenix, and I’m including statewide info also. Have gone from a list of 40 to over 600! Not bad for an area known for its conservativtism.
A member of Prescott Indivisible, I’m on the steering committee and Communication and Events Committee. Does any other Indivisible group have difficulty getting meetings posted in local newspapers? I’ve also joined the Democratic Women of the Prescott Area and our county Dem group.
I was ‘too busy’ to work on the 2016 election–and will never respond that way again.
Recent experience has shown that if I show up at marches and protests with promises of extra signs (12-15), more people show up. So, now I’m a signmaker and smallish (14″) flag buyer. If we march by a group that waves and smiles, I ask if they would like one (or more).
I’m in my mid-70s and never thought I’d be on this path. I was involved in the arts community for a number of years, and my Resist activities has expanded my ‘network’ and I’ve made new friends. I fit in what’s important to me.
I felt the same way. I needed to have something to turn to that felt positive and productive. I was/am angry and depressed that Trump was elected. I’m a graphic designer and printed my own postcards although mine are not as positive as yours! They say: Revolt, Resist, Stay Outraged, Dump Trump and Evict Trump. I’m impressed how you took your postcard idea and ran with it. I also have cards that say Thank You. I follow Jen’s action list weekly and feel good about dropping a bunch of postcards into the mailbox.
Thanks Kathe. I’ve heard from a lot of postcarders who make their own cards. Some people even take a cereal box or similar things and cut out a 4×6 postcard from that, not worrying about what is on the picture side as long as they can write on one side and mail it!
I must admit I started off strong committing to at least one phone call per day. I now only do one or two a week and correspond via email, twitter, FB. I attend all local marches. I feel strongly we must keep up the pressure to stop this administration from hurting the American people.
Thanks for all you do; sometimes I work alone, sometimes with others…
I am the Action Projects co-chair for the Space Coast Progressive Alliance. We put on monthly programs that include action items. We protest and educate. I’ve sent post cards, emails and have written letters.
Your checklist and actions were first thing I signed up for shortly after the Inauguration. At same time I went to a Meetup someone posted to get together and write out postcards to Trump. I then called my reps D.C. Offices for the first time ever – now, 5 months later, I administer a Resist Facebook group and Meetup where I share news, Resist events and actions to others who are not as “tapped in” as I.
I deal with anxiety and still have managed to attend two marches and two protests this year. I open Jen’s List each Sunday, not with trepidation but with hope as she includes the changes that have been made and which are inspiring with a list of steps broken down for fast, direct, nitty-gritty work. I especially, love writing out the gratitude postcards. I sit, with my favorite caffeinated beverage of the moment (actually ALL caffeinated beverages are my favorite of the moment and frequently sit with more than one kind in reach), a fast flowing Bic Atlantis Pen, a cat or two in my way, and determination. Each Sunday, I can have five or six cards ready to mail Monday morning. What keeps me involved? The feeling of satisfaction that comes when having been a part of the solution.
The feeling of satisfaction that comes from having been part of the solution! Yes! Well said Creel. Thanks for sharing.
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? Admittedly, I’ve fallen of my civic engagement efforts and having these postcards would be of great help to get me back into the flow!
Do you work alone or in concert with others? Both. I work by myself and with friends.
Have you done creative direct actions? I have indeed! I’ve used Facebook to engage all of my ‘friends’ in dialog about our political system.
What helps you stay engaged? A few ways: producing a radio show on KBOO Community Radio (in Portland!) called The Politics of Living (http://kboo.fm/program/politics-living) – the show brings women’s voices to the forefront of a variety of conversations and information sharing, using radio. I am working with my friend, Lisa, on her project called Crossing Party Lines (https://www.meetup.com/Crossing-Party-Lines/) – a project that brings people of different political persuasions to the table to learn and understand one another.
I’m in what I like to call my “deep-in-the-weeds” years – full-time working mother of a 2 yr-old and a 4 yr-old. So my activism comes in fits and starts. Because it’s kind of logistically difficult to make it to marches, and because I’ve always had a dislike of the phone (though I have made some calls!!!!) – postcards have become my main resistance jam.
Typically, I carve out a few moments at the beginning of each workday and pen a couple of cards while I eat my breakfast at my desk. I primarily rely on Jen’s checklist and Rogan’s List. Because I have the good fortune to live in the very blue Bay Area (my rep and my senators are all basically rock stars, though Feinstein occasionally needs reminding), I’ve been focusing primarily on positive “thank you” actions, and ones that focus on trying to encourage entities outside the government (primarily corporations) to take positive steps independent on the government. I’ve also joined Twitter, which I never thought I’d do! (Turned out I had signed up in 2008, but never used it, hence my handle is @kitalynn, after the name of one of my old video game avatars.)
In addition to my individual actions, I’ve been participating in a local “REsisters” group. We grew from a Facebook group that a couple of friends set up post-election to have a space to mourn and process. Eventually we started taking action. For awhile we were meeting every other week, but that was unsustainable, as we mostly all have young kids. We meet about once every six weeks now. The emotional support is invaluable!
We’re still finding our way, but one thing we’ve decided to focus on is local politics. There is a strong NIMBY element in our town that has had an out-sized influence on the city council, and we’re starting to fight against it. Our first victory was getting the final funding for a half-built train station approved! (long story – but a couple of our members stuck in out through FIVE HOURS of nonsense at a council meeting on a school night!)
We use the Facebook group as a clearing house for information and a safe place to vent about politics and share silly memes that you don’t necessary want to put up on your main feed. We’re up to ~120 online members (all from the same local area), probably 20-30 of whom have been active at in-person get-togethers. This Trump presidency has been terrible, but it’s helping me find a community!
I too am from a state where my reps are pretty much on the same page as I am, so I also have begun to pay more attention to my state legislature and my county commissioners. I see on the Postcards for America Facebook Group that there are now some folks who have started state-specific Postcards for America subgroups on Facebook where they post action items relevant to their state government. If any of you reading this know of someone doing that for state issues in Oregon in particular, I’d love to sign up and contribute an occasional action item.
Yes! I’ve definitely been trying to focus on California state politics as well. “Postcards for America – California” has been a great resource. Hope you find something similar for Oregon!
I take the Checklist every week and work through it little by little each day, mostly emailing and faxing my members of congress, but sometimes by calling as well. (I have sent a few letters too.) I do this alone, although I know a few other people who are resisting, including my sister. You asked what keeps me engaged? Answer: Rage. Fury. Doing these actions is one way to help me retain my sanity during these terrible, crazy times. I go crazy with anxiety otherwise.
I highly recommend the 50409 texting method as well–it lets you send a very nice and professional-looking fax to your members of congress, and the more you use it, the more options you get for customizing your messages. It’s neat! To use it, text RESIST to the number 50409. It walks you through the steps from there.
Thanks, Jen, for all your work on the checklist and otherwise. This is a tremendous help to the rest of us in the trenches!
Friday is my activism day. I use the 5 Calls app on my phone and call my Senators and Representatives, fortunately mine are all supportive of the resistance, but I call anyway just so my opinion is recorded. One of my favorite parts of the weekly checklist is completing the acts of gratitude. I feel really empowered sending postcards to thank those politicians who stand up for what is right. I do most of my resistance activism alone. I am a Democratic precinct committee person and spent every weekend in April and early May canvassing for two local school board candidates. Each was targeted by members of the local GOP, both won there races. However one of the two candidates won by only 200 or so votes. This was a reminder to me of how important it is to canvass. It is a great reminder that electoral politics matter.
There is an organization called Knock Every Door that is creating online trainings for people who want to organize a canvas in their local area on whatever issue or candidate is important to them. And they’ve also been having thousands of volunteers do a “deep canvas” where they knock on doors and ask general questions and just listen to where people are at instead of trying to convince them of something. I am quite impressed with their professionalism and the platform they are creating that others can access. Thanks for reminding us that sometimes the margin of victory or defeat can be only a very small number of votes and one on one talking is one of the best ways to get out the vote. Lots of ways to be civic-ly involved these days!
Although disturbed with the new administration, I was encouraged by marching in Washington and seeing so many young women taking up the charge to protect our rights as American citizens. It can be exhausting continually contacting my representatives, especially being in a state governed by Republicans, but reading a list of actions for the week gives me a goal that can be reached.
I just randomly make time for some so tx for the weekly session + tea idea! & great postcards!
I have become active in ways I never expected. At 70 I attended my first March – the Women’s March in DC. This is what democracy looks like. I have emailed, visited and written postcards to my Republican representative. And sent thank yous and encouragement to my Democratic Senators ( Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.) I’ve called the 202 area code more in the last 6 months, than I did in the 25 years that I lived in nearby Northern VA – area code 703. I had a conversation on an airplane with a State Department employee who said, “So you’re the Resistance?” And I answered, “YES! I AM!!” Keep up the good work.
I spend one to two hours daily scouring newspapers (print and online), social media, and local politicians’ news releases to put out calls to the social media groups I co-admin or where I’m a strong digital presence (I’m co-admin of Together We Will – Athens, which is affiliated with Indivisible, and another volunteer group, and highly active online and IRL in Indivisible Georgia District 10). Unfortunately I take those two hours out of what used to be my before-breakfast writing time. I guess I am still writing — just calls instead of essays! I try to call my “congresscritters” (as we say in the South) twice a day: once as I walk from my parking deck to my office, and again at lunchtime as I walk for exercise.
Every Sunday, inspired originally by Jen’s list, to which I still subscribe and which I still share with others, I take several hours to compile the “Weekly Wake-Up,” a list of daily action items on three levels, local, state, and national. I adapt calls from Indivisible National, Sierra Club Georgia, Together We Will -USA, Showing Up for Racial Justice – Atlanta, SumofUs, Georgia Coalition for Social Justice, MoveOn.org, and many other movements to offer my group members a timely daily task list. I email this list to about thirty subscribers and share with over 2000 followers on Facebook (in the two most active groups, Together We Will -Athens, and Indivisible Georgia District 10).
I’ve also started visiting my local congressmen in their offices, since none of them will hold town-halls, both by appointment with my Indivisible group and “dropping in” with letters from constituents. I hope to start doing this once a month.
I can’t deny that my family life has undergone some strain. We are all adapting, however, and working actively towards change helps keep me sane. My goal is to motivate more progressive women into leadership activities and positions. Conservative women are used to such roles from their churches or from the Republican party. Progressives have some catching-up to do. Civics needs to be our secular church. And Jen is our high priestess!
Before I tell you what draws me to activism, I want to tell you this.
My parents separated on my sixth birthday. I can still see the bright colors of the presents going into the trunk and I can still feel the warmth of my mom’s breath on my cheek as she secured my seat belt in the backseat of my dad’s car.
We went to live with his parents. My dad was one of the few Black police officers in my hometown at the time, so he worked extra shifts and long hours to be promoted alongside his White peers. My grandparents played a large role in raising me. It’s my grandmother’s hands that guide mine in the kitchen, and it’s in my grandfather’s voice that I recite the Lord’s Prayer.
When my grandmother died from cancer, my grandfather lost his best friend of over 46 years, and I gave up a full ride college scholarship to take care of him as he slipped into dementia.
After he passed, I joined the Army to pay for college, and fell in love with being a part of something bigger than myself. I loved being an integral part of a team dedicated to a common mission.
You know this feeling now don’t you? Being among friends and trusted colleagues, creating something together that’s bigger than the individual efforts. That’s what organizing embodies for me.
I say all of this to say that now is the time to come together through direct action to oppose divisive and destructive policies of our current authoritarian administration. It’s anathema to progressive American values, and I desire to stand with my Oceana brothers and sisters to participate in organizing for activism.
Before I tell you what draws me to activism, I want to tell you this.
My parents separated on my sixth birthday. I can still see the bright colors of the presents going into the trunk and I can still feel the warmth of my mom’s breath on my cheek as she secured my seat belt in the backseat of my dad’s car.
We went to live with his parents. My dad was one of the few Black police officers in my hometown at the time, so he worked extra shifts and long hours to be promoted alongside his White peers. My grandparents played a large role in raising me. It’s my grandmother’s hands that guide mine in the kitchen, and it’s in my grandfather’s voice that I recite the Lord’s Prayer.
When my grandmother died from cancer, my grandfather lost his best friend of over 46 years, and I gave up a full ride college scholarship to take care of him as he slipped into dementia.
After he passed, I joined the Army to pay for college, and fell in love with being a part of something bigger than myself. I loved being an integral part of a team dedicated to a common mission.
You know this feeling now don’t you? Being among friends and trusted colleagues, creating something together that’s bigger than the individual efforts. That’s what organizing embodies for me.
I say all of this to say that now is the time to come together through direct action to oppose divisive and destructive policies of our current authoritarian administration. It’s anathema to progressive American values, and I desire to stand with my Collective Action brothers and sisters to participate in organizing for activism.
As an activist from the 60s, I relate to the sign that says “After 60 years I can’t believe I’m still fighting this shit!” But I am “called” to do so. I attend all the marches and rallies, I call, email, and postcard as needed, and give money when I can. My husband and I now have Resistance Dates: Go to a march or rally and then go get lunch. As a change from dealing with “issues” and helping actual humans immediately effected, I volunteer at Know Your Rights and family preparedness sessions with local Latino immigrant families.
we have a group that meets Friday after work to write postcards. Someone comes with a specific action each week. I sign online petitions as they come through my inbox, but sending out postcards feels more satisfying. My Senators and Representative tend to agree with me, so I only contact them to thank them. I send thank yous to Republicans who stand up.
I have held postcard parties with a group we formed out of the Pantsuit Nation. It’s more fun and has been a way to share and learn ways to foster The Resistance.
1.) How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? – I set aside time (1-2 hours) every Sunday evening after the checklist comes out to read through it and the important links included in it, and then I choose which actions are more important to me for the week if I don’t think I’ll be able to do every single one. I usually just put on some music I enjoy and make my own postcards, write public comments, and/or record Stance calls to my representatives all in a row so I get a bunch done in a short amount of time. I’m also part of my local 350 chapter, so we have monthly meetings and meet up as workgroups a few times a month.
2.) Do you work alone or in concert with others? – I generally do the checklist items alone, but I usually share the link to the checklist on my Facebook page each week and list a few of the actions I care about in my post. Despite the fact that I post nearly every week, new friends are always commenting or messaging me and saying ‘thanks for posting’ or telling me about an action they did that week.
3.) Have you done creative direct actions? – Pre-45, but spring quarter of last year, I was a part of a team of students that facilitated and planned a “wedding” between the University of Oregon administration and the Fossil Fuel Industry to protest their unwillingness to divest from fossil fuels (link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR00X1cJkbs). I’ve been hoping to get more plugged in to creative actions like this one because it generated a lot of attention to our cause and increased student activism for our campaign.
4.) What helps you stay engaged? – While we all know (and maybe have to keep reminding ourselves) that this presidency is NOT NORMAL, I think it is important to be civically engaged regardless of which administration is in place. I guess I view completing action items on this check list part of my civic duty as an American who values democracy, but then it also takes on a heightened importance because of how bad things are with this administration in place. I think it makes me feel patriotic, which honestly isn’t something I’ve really identified with before now.
I didn’t really consider how I would become active until the first of the year. The first six weeks after the election I wondered and planned and cried over how I would keep my family safe. After those self-serving weeks I could look up and see all the other things I needed to do. I moved on from plans of raising chickens and installing solar to a to-do list of “pay for journalism”, “write giant check to ‘SCIENCE'” and “talk to my representatives”.
When POTUS tweeted the Obama had left the white house for the last time I cried. But. Here we are.
I have a calendar, like your grandma put in her purse, where I keep track with colored stars the days that I do *something* political (and the days I work out) because I have a set goal of 4 political actions a week. I also write what I did. At the beginning trying to wade through The Economist counted and other things to dust off my brain after 8 years of believing we headed in the direction I wanted to be. Postcards and phone calls got stars, sometimes when all I have time for was angry retweeting I would count that too. I easily see when I start to fall behind and then helps keep me on track.
Along with that I have my 2 senators and my representative (all Republicans, my representative also embarrassingly ignorant of … the world). I prefer calling after hours, I know that it is not the most “effective” method (and gosh I have hated the self-righteous policing of the “BEST” way to contact folks) but it is the balance I can strike. I have occasionally called while someone was still there and it was always a reasonable conversation but this is what works for me. It puts my voice where it wasn’t before.
I live in GA where a state law garnered 14,000 contacts to the governors office against it, and 150 in favor and he signed it. He did that in light of the overwhelmingly clear and negative feedback of everyone with skin in the game. I admit, that has me down about the effort — I don’t understand but can clearly see the ability to be deaf to the roaring crowds begging / demanding to be heard. I won’t stop through. Not today.
I buy cardstock from a nearby office supply store (110-lb weight, I think). Each sheet makes four postcards. Then I brainstorm ideas, sketch them out on a notepad, then draw them onto the postcards. They’re my own mini political cartoons.
I keep my postcards in a box that came with greeting cards in it, stands tall with a flip lid, and looks like a birdhouse–I am an avid birdwatcher! Having them right on my desk by my computer is easy and a good reminder. I keep a word file on my desktop, visible, and edit it each week to remind me of the activism I want to complete. I joined Postcard Avalanche, which gives me a weekly feed, including “Be-better-alanche” cards for those who (really) need them, and “Love-alanche” cards for those who (really) deserve them 🙂 I also send cards from Jen Hoffman’s Activism List, and occasional other cards just on my own–my governor, for example, gets thank-you cards from me, because thank goodness, she has the right ideas in mind, and works toward progressive and caring goals. My mother lives with us, doesn’t write cards anymore, but willingly buys me books of stamps to help out!
I take a certain amount of time each day, usually while my kids are in school (although summer vacation just started) for activism. Heck, if something strikes me as pressing, I’ll drop everything (almost) at any time of day to write my representatives, such as when I hear internet freedoms are about to be attacked. I have contacted my representatives more in the last year than I’ve ever contacted them before. I sometimes work in concert with others, to make sure everyone has certain information, or when we were all contacting super delegates on behalf of Bernie. I have also done actions alone, such as letter writing to newspapers, or to elected officials. What helps me stay engaged is the knowledge that if we stop, as the saying goes, we’ve already lost. Bernie, also, is an inspiration to keep going.
I make sure to do the checklist as soon as I get it! I want to make sure that I make it a priority, so other life stuff doesn’t get in the way later in the week. I work alone one completing the checklist, but I always share it, whether it be just with friends/family, on Facebook, and/or on Twitter. I have not completed creative direct actions! I love creative stuff, but I feel like I never have enough energy! I really want to change that though! I stay engaged by reading news, following breaking news outlets on social media, and reading articles about the impacts of 45’s hate and negligence.
Arrowhead Indivisible in little Grand Marais, Minnesota – We have sent over 6,000 postcards so far – we meet monthly – we also do a lot of phone calling – and marching. I just ordered some of your cards. Thanks. We can make a difference. We’re stronger together.
Hi Jen!
Welcome back….. missed you last week but your absence inspired me to be a bit more more active on my own… but I’m glad your checklist is back! Thanks!!!
My husband and I work together from your checklist. Monday morning has been dedicated to getting started. I make a few phone calls and then organize myself on your list by a numbering system of priority to me. The thank yous and positives I try to do daily because it lifts my spirit!
Again, thanks,
Ardis Nelson
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? Since I live on the West Coast, I can call Washington early in the morning my time. So, I usually arrive t work at around 7:15am, and then I make phone calls before I do much else. I also try to squeeze in postcard writing time on the weekends. I usually write and mail postcards about one or two weekends a month.
Do you work alone or in concert with others? I do my phone calling and one of my postcard writing parties on my own. The other postcard writing party is as a part of Solidarity Sundays.
Have you done creative direct actions? Not really. I enjoyed the Ides of Trump action as I am a teacher who uses Julius Caesar as a text every year. I loved using Shakespearean quotes on my postcards! Hmm, I might be due for some more Julius Caesar postcards, just for the heck of it!
What helps you stay engaged? The news. I just saw a video where a comedian compared Trump to a horse loose in a hospital (you should watch the video if you haven’t already). I agree. As I mentioned above, I am a teacher, and I am worried about the world we are creating for the children I serve. I feel that part of my job as a cisgendered, privileged white person is to not only teach the kids as best I can, but also to be active and attempt to make the world better. I don’t do much, but hopefully it’s a drop in the bucket.
Every time I go to the bathroom – there is a pad and pen in there – I write about a few things that enrage me, and then a few things I am grateful for. Getting the shit out of both ends, so to speak. Now I will put a stack of post cards in there instead.
I live in the Seattle area and commute to work on one of the Washington State Ferries. At least once a week during my ferry ride, I draw on Jen’s list to make phone calls or send emails via the Democracy.io email generating tool. I would like to include postcards in my activism and have been looking around for a good source. I hope to receive a free pack of Erika’s cards!
I’d love to augment my postcard variety. I did 500 of my initial design and it looks like I’m will be a steady client searching for Vistaprint deals. Would you like some to share for your next give-away project?
This has become a little niche in my life that I never expected. I am buying stamps by the roll and turning out about a dozen cards a week.
This site and blog is a godsend for the movement — it allows people an easy “in” to action instead of the inaction that perhaps put us all in the situation of seeing so much we valued simply being destroyed. It gives a way for angry and frustrated people as well as those not quite that far up the scale of dissatisfaction an easy way into action — what a positive for us all!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?
As a retiree with an active farm life and family obligations, I prioritize and simply take my morning coffee time at my computer to see 1) what easy lift actions I can take on tu, wed, thurs am 2) what I need to share with our struggling Dem group (in RED RED rural congressional district) to help activate old members and keep new ones coming back 3) what meetings and events need to go on my calendar (and which I will ask others to attend with me).
Do you work alone or in concert with others?
Both — but a bit of rabble rousing with the local aging (hey! I’m 69 — don’t whine to me!) Dem group has seen an increase in enthusiasm and with a little encouragement others have begun to say “We need to be active in the community” — Republicans rule this small town — local lawyers, teachers, etc are afraid to be know as Dems. We are working on a strategy.
Have you done creative direct actions?
Not really — getting the local group to target and support projects / causes that EVERYONE (conservative, liberal, progressive, neanderthal) feels compelled to at least pay lip service to has been about as creative as I’ve been
Actually, I am investigating having a T-shirt made using a quote from Kim Olson, Dem woman, ret. USAF Col. candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner — that’s how Rick Perry “slid” into politics!
What helps you stay engaged?
Having one or two dissatisfied compatriots and seeing more members of the local Dem group demand organization and action — and seeing a growing number of folks who are willing to consider forming a group with a non-political name to give liberal, progressive, dems and independents a place to unite without the cursed label “DEMOCRAT” 🙂
Post cards would make a great activity for our next meeting — we handed out the little pocket action plans . . . NOW we need to get people in touch — many do NOT Facebook; some do NOT email. We can’t abandon the older members — who have spent years writing letters and making phone calls. But frustrating to try to keep everyone in communication.
I have created a #Resistance binder which I keep all relevant information. All contact for ALL MoC’s, copies of each weeks Action Checklist, marking when I completed each action. I have postcards next to my comfy chair where I complete most of my tasks. I also have created a postcard template for various issues & can easily print them off. I’ve also created address labels for Congress and have my own Address label with #Resist at the bottom.
I live in Ventura County, CA, where many of my neighbors are farm workers, some undocumented. These folks feed us. The worst consequence of the election, I feel, is that people have been made afraid. This is unconscionable. I feel a responsibility to speak for my neighbors. When I think of the fear and hardship that has been visited upon my neighbors, I pick up the phone, march, rally, whatever it takes. We stand as one.
After trying out several avenues to find a right fit for me to find my voice, I finally sat down and wrote out a simple list of what is important to me. Using this list I am making monetary and time donations to the areas which speak to me. Writing post cards weekly is on that list, so I am excited to learn about CollectiveVision.us
Keep up the good work everyone!!
Hi my name is Susan Twidle . I became politically active because I am a public school teacher in NJ . We have the worst Governor . Our pension system has been devalued b/c our Governors use it to balance their budgets. They turned the public against us.
I work with our Union to fight for our and our students rights. NJEA is very active. I became more involved in the election cycle before the Presidential election and helped get some new blood in my District in the NJ statehouse . I was a staunch Hilary Clinton supporter .
I came across Jen Hofman’s blog and activism list from a teacher colleague in California . I wait for it weekly , reading my local paper and The NY Times to increase my knowledge . Ever week I write some postcards about issues that are important to me – democracy , education , the environment to name a few . I tweet and attend rallies – like the March for Science . I also am part of a Facebook group – the Resistance knitters. I make pussy hats & other knitted symbols for causes . Thank you for all you do ! You inspire me !
Susan Twidle
Ocean Grove NJ
I’m 62 and semi retired so I have time for “this shit” (think … “I can’t believe I still have to protest this fucking shit”) … I have only been doing calls and writing on my own but I let friends know I’m doing it … I’m in a rural area but local energetic women organized our local Women’s March 17 miles east of where I live in Oneonta NY / the most creative thing I did was hugs 😉 … I’ve been practicing the *healing arts* since “the 60’s” so I know how to breathe … take care of myself and others … but I have to admit I am struggling to control my anger these days … being “engaged” helps *~;-}
Hi Jen, Your posts have been most helpfull it is so hard to stay on top of everything we need to do to make our voices heard at this time…who to call, when to call, about what topic…almost each morning I take a look a the list you send and it helps give me an easy way to stay involved…. the idea of postcards is awesome….if i don’t win…i want to know how to buy!
I live in Houston, TX and my two senators are Cornyn and Cruz (the worst). They are not receptive to any contact from their constituents and I realized I am only one vote so- I took a class to become a Volunteer Deputy Voter Registra and work with groups around the city to sign up new voters, In addition, I joined the immigration activists here in Houston and one Saturday a month I volunteer to assist lawful resident aliens to fill out the form for citizenship. I am hoping we can find a way to sing them up to vote once they take the oath of citizenship. In addition I make phone calls to the despicable senators. My one blessing is my MOC , Al Green- He is the lone voice calling for impeachment and is actively drafting articles of Impeachment as I write this I call his office regularly to thank him.
Thnk you for all you are doing and please take care of yourself- we need you!
I use a bullet journal to log the topic of my postcards and to whom I’ve sent them. My goal is to either mail postcards or make phone calls 3 times a week, and while I don’t pull that off every week, I am doing okay! It feels good to check the ‘civics’ box in my daily tracker.
I make a to do list 3x a week that has 2 postcard ideas, 2 phone calls, 2 emails and 2 petitions. Making the list (drawing from this one, Rogan’s list, and some others) keeps me up to date with what’s going on. Some days I’m in the mood for all of it and I complete the whole to do list. Other weeks I wait until Sunday night and catch up on all the postcards at once to send out Monday morning. It helps me to do a whole bunch of postcards at once – or a whole bunch of emails at once – or a bunch of phone calls at once. It’s meditative and helps me sleep at night to know at least I’ve tried to do something about all the horrifying news I hear and read.
(I post parts of my lists at http://www.riseupnorcal.com)
By going through the list and prioritizing my calls (and committing to follow through) I organize my week. The postcards are a brilliant way to thank folks. It’s satisfying to be positive about things, especially in this political climate.
I am following up on Jen’s activism checklist each week. That is where I heard about your postcards. I am 62 and try to do something each day in support of progressive causes especially since the last presidential election. I work to engage a wider community of family and friends in my efforts. There are many areas in which I make an effort but climate change, women’s rights and combating racism stand out. Thanks for all you do.
Rather than adopt the mindset that I’m too busy, I find ways to be active in 10 minute to an hour’s time. Your emails and website help a lot! So, whether it’s making a few phone calls early in the morning (Hawai`i is 6 hours earlier than Washington D.C.) writing some postcards just before I go to bed or responding to emails/signing online letters, etc. or distributing information to my friends, I do try to do something every day — okay maybe 6 days a week!
Some days I’m able to do a lot, may end up on FB or forwarding emails for a few hours and other days I may sign one or two petitions or send some post cards.
Thank you for your help in accomplishing this.
Much Aloha,
Eileen M. Tweedy
Kalaheo, HI
I’ve sent a few postcards and letters but use a brief moment in my car right before going in to work or right after leaving work to make phone calls. I’m able to use blue tooth so I can follow a script I’ve written or gotten from someone and it’s easy peasy. I have been making a minimum of three calls a week but have certainly made more on many weeks since November.
First, I just want to say I LOVE Jen’s list. In addition to the other action items, the Acts of Gratitude section especially is a psychological balm for me in these volatile times.
My activism began in the 1970s, but has never been so relentless as it is now (even when I was assistant to the director of Women Strike for Peace in the early 80s. I see mention here of Friends FCNL; we got much of our info from Friends pre-Internet). These days I balance my activism with the challenges of being both a cancer patient and a caregiver.
My activities take all forms depending on the day, from phone calls to MoCs and others (like corporate exec offices or federal agencies), phone banking for candidates (both at home and in a group), letter and postcard writing (including letters to the editor), signing petitions, sharing info (like Jen’s list) via social media, sending donations to progressive organizations and candidates, attending local protest and other events, and working with my county Indivisible and Democratic groups. I posted this “how to” blog on our Indivisible website (including a shout-out to Jen’s list) for people new to activism:
http://www.indivisiblecitruscountyfl.com/advocacy/who-ya-gonna-call/
I keep two Notepad files to help me stay organized: a To Do list and a Done list. I write out my own script before I call so that I don’t get tongue-tied. When I’m done with an item I simply move it from To Do to Done. I add notes, such as the day I called (or performed some other action) and the person to whom I spoke. Keeping a Done list not only shows me what I have accomplished, but it also serves as a reference when I make follow-up calls. I try to do at least one resistance action (in addition to all the email petitions) every day; often it’s considerably more than one.
Like Shannon, I keep a journal (and have for most of my life), which has helped and given me valuable perspective not only in these times, but through everything I’ve faced in life. Being able to vent with no holds barred helps me keep my sanity and can also lead to constructive brainstorming. Taking respite when I need to is a skill I learned as a caregiver, which I have been since 2001. Journal writing is a form of meditation for me; other forms of respite include reading, photography, art, being in nature (even if just on my front porch or at a local park; just a few minutes of respite can make a big difference), listening to music, and watching programs I enjoy. Exercising and eating healthy food has also helped me tremendously. I have also created homemade art cards and postcards that I have sent out as part of my Acts of Gratitude.
Erika, thanks for this guest entry and for your site — I have just submitted an image. And thank you, everyone, for all your great work, resistance, and persistence!
I love Jen’s weekly checklist and since I have Monday mornings off, that is my activism time. I sit down with my morning tea, and write postcards, send emails, sign petitions, and post to social media. I feel that the hour I take to do this each week is a sort of ‘activism meditation’ that helps me get through the week.
Every week I print Jen’s activism list & give copies to 2 women I work with. When we started doing this months ago, we each chose 3 topics that are important to us. Some are duplicates and some are different. The morning I give them out we talk (before the boss comes in!) about what actions we’re going to take. We compare notes after we’re done with our actions.
One of my coworkers, another friend and I participated in a small, local unity rally. My coworker brought wide rubber bands that she gave out to participants. She referred to them “banding together” and asked people who wore them to write a message or name on them.
The 3 of us also participated in the Boston Women’s March. We felt so empowered that we meed quarterly to plan what local political meetings we’ll attend.
I work with 4 women so I ordered “Sisterhood” coffee mugs in support of Planned Parenthood. The mugs shows 5 women with their arms around each other & we secretly named a character after each of us. We use them at work and proudly keep them on out desks.
What helps me stay engaged is: blogs & local groups that share ideas and actions; sharing videos i.e.: Bill Maher Show, CSPAN and Facebook feeds among friends; talking about issues with like minded people. I just attended a performance by “Capital Steps” with a European friend I haven’t seen in a while. It felt good to laugh for 90 minutes !!
Every week I print Jen’s activism list & give copies to 2 women I work with. When we started doing this months ago, we each chose 3 topics that are important to us. Some are duplicates and some are different. The morning I give them out we talk (before the boss comes in!) about what actions we’re going to take. We compare notes after we’re done with our actions.
One of my coworkers, another friend and I participated in a small, local unity rally. My coworker brought wide rubber bands that she gave out to participants. She referred to them “banding together” and asked people who wore them to write a message or name on them.
The 3 of us also participated in the Boston Women’s March. We felt so empowered that we meed quarterly to plan what local political meetings we’ll attend.
I work with 4 women so I ordered “Sisterhood” coffee mugs in support of Planned Parenthood. The mugs shows 5 women with their arms around each other & we secretly named a character after each of us. We use them at work and proudly keep them on out desks.
What helps me stay engaged is: blogs & local groups that share ideas and actions; sharing videos i.e.: Bill Maher Show, CSPAN and Facebook feeds among friends; talking about issues with like minded people. I just attended a performance by “Capital Steps” with a European friend I haven’t seen in a while. It felt good to laugh for 90 minutes !!
We have a group of 10 women, all living within a block of one another. We meet monthly to check in with one another and share information about events and resources related to the resistance. I wish every block, in every community, could have such a group.
Portland, Oregon
I order postcards for my Indivisible group and everyone chips in to help fund the order. We give them out at our meetings and focus on the major issues of the day.
Since Inauguration Day, I have committed to performing one act of resistance every day. (#dailyaction) I share these on my Facebook feed, 1) to keep myself accountable, 2) to support others who are taking political risks, and 3) to help inspire/perhaps nudge people into action who might otherwise be on the fence. I refuse to be on the wrong side of history in this very negative time of American politics; my daily actions help to bring me some personal peace, and hopefully will manifest into a more just world, too.
Hi Jen,
I forgot you were going to take some time off last week! I thought I had somehow been dropped from the list which had me panicked! Hope it was healing for you and that you are refreshed and ready to return to your very important work.
I use your checklist every Sunday to prepare postcards for Monday’s mail. I had paper cut to postcard size but it’s just blank. That way I can write more if I feel I need to, though I would LOVE to have “special” postcards that carry another message than the one I write on each. I appreciate the wording you provide as I try to keep my messages short and I have a tendency to go on some… I am grateful, too, for the positive “thank yous” you provide at the end of the check list every week. I am desperately committed to doing what I can to fight Trump and the daily attacks on our country, but I need help knowing what I can do. Thank you for putting it all down in one easy-to-follow format!
Thank you Jen and Erika for this opportunity to share! Just after the election, a friend introduced me to Pantsuit Nation, a secret group on FB. That opened my eyes, and light bulb went off, and I thought, “I can make a secret group here in our little town!” We’re in a very Republican area, but from FB I knew a few who were so sad that Mrs. Clinton lost the election. So . . . I started approaching a few via FB, and we started meeting once a week. There were three of us at our first meeting, and we have had up to 20. I am so proud of our little group!! Some from our group have participated in marches (Washington, D.C., St. Paul, Rochester MN, Chicago), phoned our representatives; written postcards, letters, e-mails, and letters to the editor; held four rallies on various issues at our one stoplight intersection; visited our Republican representative’s office numerous times; attended town hall meetings with or without our representatives; etc. etc. etc. I call myself The Postcard Queen and have produced blank postcards cut from card stock of various colors to share and information for our group with lists of our representatives with mailing addresses and phone numbers, among other information about issues. We are a support group that meets weekly, shares information, and organizes actions. We do what we can as long as we can and are committed to resistance for the long run. We appreciate information such as that which Jen and others provide that guide our activism and connect with other groups.
While I do the calling for most things, my favorite part of this whole thing is writing the thank you notes! I enjoy thanking people for doing things that I believe in, even if I don’t agree with all of their politics.
I am so grateful as well for the work you do, Jen! Your work helps me stay current and participating to resist, show gratitude and support by providing me with the information that I would not have time to dig up for myself!
Best wishes and continued healing!
At age 70 I am finally upset enough to become active in the political process.
I hosted a postcard writing event for my current events group by providing all the postcards, postage, mailing labels, and food. We had a great time.
I get up about 3 every morning since I entered menopause just because that’s when my body decides it’s time to get up. After I have a cup of tea (or glass of iced tea, depending on the season — activism is year round!) is the perfect time to begin the day with some postcard writing. I usually end with sending some birthday cards or other cards to friends, sort of giving a positive end to my occasionally angry or even darker thoughted sessions. It helps me feel productive, feel engaged, and feel positive about what I am doing. Here’s hoping that everyone has found something that works for them!
Sherrill Morris, Denver, CO
I am a teacher in MA and most of my activism (inspired by the election) is dedicated to protecting the environment. Happily, our Senators are FABULOUS, and our reps are OK, so my activist energy goes into creating pressure on the state level. I recently took in a giant pile of postcards to my school to get fellow teachers involved in writing to our governor in opposition to a new fracked gas compressor station in our state which would perpetuate our dependence on natural gas instead of moving our energy economy toward renewables. Several were completed at school, though not the giant pile. Hopefully, though, it’s a step toward raising awareness. I plan to continue this work — along with my own writing at home.
I have two sets of postcards that I normally send out – one with “Michigan” stuff on it, that I send to Republicans, and one with my daughter and I standing behind the Fearless Girl in NYC for more like minded representatives, who I don’t think will see our fearlessness as an assault on their freedom.
What keeps me engaged? My 12 year old daughter! I want a good future for her, and more than anything I want to be a good role model– which is why I involve her in any project I can. She has drawn honeybees and sent birthday cards and decorated gratitude mail, and she loves to hear about the end results of all our efforts. (She has also come to the polls with me every election day since she was 6 months old!)
From a practical standpoint, I keep that totally adorable pocket guide with contact information in my wallet so I can sneak in phone calls wherever I am. I’m a graduate student and a hospice volunteer, so whenever I’m early for a class or a visit, I sit in my car and call my MoC’s or record a “stance” message. Breaking up the calls makes it much easier for me to get them in. Oh! I also have Pat Toomey’s office on speed dial– I think the lovely woman who answers phones in his local office is beginning to expect my calls and we have had some great discussions 🙂
I do the bulk of my calling on Tuesdays and make postcards on Friday nights, because these are the nights I happen to have free. Sometimes I also try to make phone calls during my lunch breaks. I usually post on Facebook after I make some calls or take some action to try and encourage my friends to take action. This also keeps me motivated because they send me “Thank you”s and make encouraging comments when I’m starting to feel discouraged.
Good morning! Thanks so much to Jennifer for the weekly Calls to Action! And thanks to all of the other commenters for ideas about how to fit our action into our lives. As a parent of two young children who also works full time, it can be hard to find the time to do as much as I would like. But I try to make a few phone calls to senators/representative from work when I can. I keep a list of my congresspeople in my work planner. I also keep a running list of the phone calls that I have made, and looking at the list feels satisfying, while also encouraging me to do more. I believe that the discussions that I have with my kids about political topics and the importance of standing up for what they believe in will also make a longer-term difference.
I travel every week for work, and have established a routine of going through Jen’s worklist every Monday evening from my hotel room. I really appreciate her doing so much of the legwork- I would never have the time. It makes me feel so much better to be doing something concrete to bring about change.
I spend time each morning reading on line newsletters relating to issues that I am concerned about, following links, trying to be as well informed as possible. I have attended local coffee hours with my representatives. (Except for Mike Bishop, who only allows invited guests at his events!!!!!) I am part of an Indivisible group in my village. I sign petitions on line, call my reps, send letters through e-mail and one morning each week I send postcards!!!!! And, yes, I am retired, which is one of the reasons that I am dedicated to this work. So many are working toooo much just to scratch by and need all of us older folks to stand up for them and activate, activate, activate!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?
I take time every week to make my calls, write my notes or emails. I usually set aside about 30 minutes on Mondays so make sure it doesn’t get missed on my long to do lists.
Do you work alone or in concert with others?
Both. I forward the checklist to my family and I call independently. I am attending and working with a local action group here in GA, Central Georgians for progress. I have a wee one so it makes it a little more difficult to get as hands on as I’d like to be, so phone calls are central to my resistance.
Have you done creative direct actions?
I marched in Atlanta. I attended a peace rally locally as well.
What helps you stay engaged?
Jen’s checklists!!! Seriously, having this comprehensive list makes it so easy. I also use the 5 calls a day app and resistbot. These are key to making quick impact.
At 62, I have become an activist along with my full time job. I am part of a small Indivisible group “WING Davis”, women’s indivisible neighborhood group. I work alone and with this group. Part of what keeps me going is an article I read a while back that basically said “the most dangerous thing would be for the resistance to slow down or stop” and that is what I feel is at risk. So many horrible things are becoming “normal” and the bar keeps getting lower. We cannot stop. I do have to limit what I can do, but it only takes a few minutes to make a call, send a fax or a text and/or write a postcard. We all can fit in a few minutes a day.
I formed a group at work to meet at lunchtime to write postcards once a week. I also started a google sites page to collect all the info about postcarding I could find, and added a facebook/twitter account to it. Through all that I discovered all the other awesome postcarding groups out there that are way more organized!–so I love to signal-boost for them!
I’ve been trying to remember to write and thank my Representative when he does something I agree with! It helps me remember we are not always on opposing sides.
But I love the idea of sending more postcards, and sending out multiple each week to different people.
I have a habit of reading thru the Checklist, and Wall of Us on Mondays during the mid morning. I like to start the week with an idea of priorities and I make a call to my senator’s then. I usually also send them each a fax using ResistBot.
During the week I continue to make calls when I get an email that prompts me and I check the app 5 Calls from time to time for ideas.
On the weekend I take out my markers and decorate a few blank postcards, fill them out and get them ready to mail on Monday.
I occasionally take days or even a week off. If I notice that something in me feels like it’s too much right then, I know I need a break. I wait until I again feel a strong urge to make some action and I’m back.
Thank you for making activism easier!
Hi. I am inspired by your postcard routine. I have gotten some friends together and started to hold bake sales for various national groups like Planned Parenthood, ACLU, and IRC. So far, the response has been great and we’ve been able to raise over $1,000 for each of those groups.
I like to make phone calls to my senators and assemblymembers. But I am not regular about it. There are so many reasons to call them! I would like to hold a postcard writing party, too. Not only does it feel good to write and send, but we are supporting our postal service, which has an important function of our society and is under threat.
I believe that we not only need to resist, but need to advocate for what we want and not only what we don’t want. There is so much happening that we don’t want, it can be hard to forge ahead.
Thanks to the List, I have begun my first active engagement in the political process besides voting (and yelling at the TV). I feel empowered as I write letters of concern, thank you notes to politicians doing good work, and have made time in my schedule weekly to write to my reps. It feels great to participate! Thanks for all of your work, Jen!
HI,
What a wonderful idea!
I make weekly calls to my MOCs, daily petition signing, protest march, support my local womens action network, etc. Postcard-ing would be a super way to help fill in the gaps, as well as encourage others to get involved, and be cathartic as well!
Keep the pressure on, keep the thoughts positive!
sherry
I have to do some physical therapy in the morning which means I am not able to get up and about for about an hour. I sometimes turn on the news, pull out my notebook to write down current issues, grab my phone, and start calling my senators and representatives.
I read the newspaper every day and write a letter to the editor when so moved. I just had a letter published in the AZ Republic. I work alone, but am involved with our local Indivisible group. We live in a very small town in the mountains of AZ, so did our own ski/snowshoe march through 18 inches of snow the day of the Women’s March in DC. We carried rainbow flags and skied around a neighborhood golf course. I stay engaged for the future of our 4 children. I want to leave the world a better place.
I just turned 70, and I’m still working (it’s not easy, despite what they will tell you!). Nevertheless! I will persist! I check in once a day and try to make a phone call or post on fb, or send a letter once a day. the app STANCE helps – you can record a message to your congress and the app will keep dialing until it’s delivered.
I also work in a group that formed after the election – my personal committee is the environment. Even with California standing up to the administration, our national monuments and parks are threatened. With our beautiful coast to protect from offshore drilling, there is motivation. The BayAreaAirQuality Board just passed a clean air standard that took a lot of activism.
When I get depressed or worried or overwhelmed I think about all the others who have been motivated. As an elder, I want the young to have the country I had – access to college, the possibility of owning a home, and having a decent future so they can have children.
I need to start sending more postcards again! For a while I had friends come over and write them with me. I’m part of a large activist group that printed 2,500 cards at a time on vistaprint for less than 5 cents each and then split them up. I also had my toddler draw on blank postcards and then used those to send.
Thank you Jen! Thank you Erika!
I appreciate the compilation of information so that it is easier to take action.
It can be so overwhelming to me, so having the concise checklist helps me get focused and get to work.
~How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?
I have taken time on my day off to make the calls and to write and mail the post cards. Making my own post cards is also a way to keep it inexpensive and simple. I use card stock, cut them to size and mail them out. I do not do much decorating as I get bogged down in “making it right” instead of “making it so my voice is heard”. I use bright Sharpie markers and write in bold, clear lettering to be as legible as possible.
~Do you work alone or in concert with others?
Most of the time I work alone but I did get together with a friend for a marathon mailing for the “Ides of Trump” post card campaign. Between the two of us we sent out over 40 cards. A lot for us. One thing we discovered is that it was more important to just jump in and free associate on the cards what we were concerned with. Once we got going, the ideas just started flowing. There are people in my church that would also like to get together and work on activism. This is a delicate process as not everyone in the church is in agreement politically…
~Have you done creative direct actions?
… not yet, not sure what to do. But I appreciate the inspiration of others!
~What helps you stay engaged?
Sometimes I am very overwhelmed and I am grateful that Jen lists GOOD NEWS, ACTS OF GRATITUDE, KEEP BREATHING and TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. All of these things help tremendously. I also appreciate that it is okay to step back when there are times that I am unwell, or out straight with no time. I do not feel guilty about taking the time I need. I know it is important so that I can come back and continue the work. But without the encouragement and permission, I may have felt guilty. Thank you for that permission, Jen.
After the inauguration I made my goal 1 anti-administrative action per weekday. I want to be informed, but THAT’s what takes the most time – so basically I had to find the lists of ideas I trusted the most, and that helps a lot – if it’s something that’s a no-brainer and they have a good script the whole thing takes less than 10 minutes. Petitions, for me, don’t “count”, but I can alternatively go find the proper federal register page if applicable and put in something myself…I try and shake it up so that I don’t call anyone more than once a week, and I like to make some about gratitude as well as exhortation. So far, so good!
Dear Jen and Erika, thank you for what you are doing! It’s so nice amidst the sensationalism to find folks “going high”. I use Jen’s weekly activism list as a sanity check to the more severe stances of many activist groups. One of my favorite activities is writing thank you postcards, especially to Republican congressfolks from other districts who are supporting science, healthcare, and human rights.
Keep it up. Please. 🙂
I have my members’ of congress local and DC numbers in my phone and spend half an hour or so every night after dinner checking off tasks on Jen’s list. I’ve yet to send a post card but intend to start, especially if I happen to win the giveaway! Thank you all for your hard work. It’s comforting to know that so many people are dissatisfied (to put it mildly) with the current administration and are taking time out of their days to fight back.
When I purchased 100 postcards from the local post office, the postal official said, ” I don’t know why we have had a run on these lately.” I know the reason. Thousands of us have ceased to be complacent citizens, thanks partly to you, and we’re now letting our senators and representatives know how we feel. I print your weekly checklist each Monday and call and write and send postcards based on the issues in the checklist during the week. I mail post cards several times a week. I also follow CNN and NPR and the Washington Post to add my own letters and emails when an issue is important to me, as so many are. I don’t know if I am making a difference, but I’m trying. Thanks for caring, Emily
I have been a postcard activist for year. I was so disappointed when the Postal Service stopped making pre-stamped postcards.
For awhile, I switched to online comments, directly through official websites. This was when I could no longer buy plain postcards.
Since Trump took office, and since I joined this newsletter, I have been sending American flag postcards that I order online. They feel a patriotic alternative. I usually write online to my elected officials – Feinstein, Harris, and Lu – are reliable supporters of causes I care about. I use the flag postcards for other officials, thank you notes, etc.
I received a thank you note from the German news reporter to whom I had sent a thank you note! That made me feel great, and I realized how great she must have felt to receive our notes.
I work alone, fitting in a bit of activism here and there. Postcards make the effort less daunting than writing a heartfelt, thought-iut message. The activism list inspires me to do more because half the work is done for me, and I can check off an item or two or three each day – or all at once, if I’m so inclined.
Also, I sometimes give pre-stamped postcards to people to encourage them to act, and see how simple it can be, and how rewarding it feels to be a drop in a bucket. Those buckets fill one drop at a time.
Hi,
My neighbor and I get together every Monday night and write post cards, using Jen Hoffman’s activism checklist. I make the dinner, we drink wine, and then we write. It is a tradition that we have stuck to since the election, and it helps us feel a little better about the current situation. We have run through all the postcards of all of our trips, and of all of my mother’s trips, and we have made postcards out of the clean half of Christmas cards. We are in need of more!
Every week if I do nothing else I use your “Action Checklist for Americans of Conscience” and send out postcards to every one in the “Acts of Gratitude” section! Thank you Jen for a small but bright glimmer of optimism in these difficult times. I’ve heard back from some of the recipients so I’m certain it works! The opportunity to make a graceful difference has kept me involved.
I need to come clean and why not do it here. My heart and soul yearn to take up the action of activism, but as of this writing, it’s been scant. There’s a million reasons why and none of them really matter. More important, is what has caught my attention here in this moment. The answer – you two women. With basic material resources, you have stood up, spoke out and demonstrated the possibility. I am inspired.
My pledge: Read over Jen’s Action Checklist TODAY and choose five actions to complete this week. Do that for two weeks and build from there.
Thank you, Jen and Erika, for what you, how you show up and for lighting the fire.
Through the Postcards for America group on Facebook, I’ve been sending cards on behalf of Archie Parnell, the Democrat running for Congress in a special election in South Carolina. The hope is that a handwritten note on a card that reads “Greetings from Minnesota!” is more likely to be read than a generic campaign card. I
Thank you for a wonderful post, Erika. I work from home, and my Activism Checklist is always open on my computer. When things at work are getting particularly frustrating, or if things slow down a bit, I pull out my phone and call my Members of Congress. It gives me an extra boost knowing that I’m contributing –
even in some small way – to fight the injustices present in our country.
I split my Checklist into sections: calls I can make at any time (i.e. the ones that don’t require MOC/staff response) and calls that require I talk to someone at the office I’m calling. This helps me to prioritize the calls I should make during working hours, and lets me tackle two calls per MOC each night (one message left at the DC office, one locally in Portland). Postcards, of course, can be written at any time – and often I just Tweet my gratitude. It is not as personal, perhaps, but my thanks are seen by a greater number of people, which might encourage them to evaluate their MOCs in a new light.
My sisters and mom are fellow activists and follow the Checklist every week. Since we’re spread across the country (Portland, OR; Buffalo, NY; New York, NY; Charlotte, NC), we’ll send each other emails based on the interesting topics in the Checklist, and *especially* based on the good news. (Thank you for including that section – it makes my heart well up with pride to see the positive changes that activism is helping to instill!) I also share the good news with my fiancee. Although he does not take part in the Checklist, he is active in his awareness and in protest.
Having a weekly email that tells me what to do has been the nudge I needed to get – and *stay* – active in fighting this regime. The positivity and self-care aspects of the Checklist keep me going and remind me to take care of myself. I’m so grateful for this resource, and to Jennifer for the time and effort she continues to pour into this. We are all making a difference, and it is in very large part thanks to this one woman. Thank you, Jennifer!
I’ve been recovering from brain surgery, so I’ve incorporated daily resistance efforts into my therapies! I’ve designed and created postcards, handwritten my messages, and mailed to my US Congressmen, Governor, Lt Governor, and state Senator and Representative. I have all their phone numbers saved as Contacts so I can quickly and easily drop them a line via email or fax. I also call my elected officials on a regular basis, although most often I am only able to leave voice mail. I am so proud, and it has been so healing for me, to have attended the Austin Women’s March, albeit as a watcher – it renewed my hope and spirit and reassured me that I’m not alone! I’m not going to give up or go away!
One way I’ve stayed in action is to send postcards; when I’m down, I send the good ones, the “Thank you!” notes, because this work isn’t easy and everyone needs positive reinforcement from time to time.
I’ve saved all my representatives phone numbers in my phone under Favorites so it’s so easy to leave a message with their staff when I need to reach out.
I’ve also been becoming much more active in my local legislative district (a new precinct coordinator and attending our monthly meetings), and more active in my union as well. We love sharing ideas and communicating with others to see what we can do to make our world better.
I love Jennifer’s blog. I make it a point to forward it each week to a handful of close friends that are like minded activists. Even if they have signed on to receive the weekly email, it can spur them to action just seeing my email in their inbox as well.
I am invited to postcard writing get togethers every month with a group in my county that I only know through this activity. The leader is inspiring and provides postcards and we provide stamps. I’m sometimes a little slow in collecting my thoughts on what to write plus I have horrible penmanship. I do it though and it matters!
I make phone calls here and there but am not a phone person (a bit phobic) and prefer Resistbot which allows me to write a note and they fax to my representatives. It’s very satisfying!
I have also written letters with personal examples of how this administration affects my life in a scary negative way (re: repeal of ACA). I have handed these letters to activists that deliver them at the infrequent town hall meetings.
I marched in the Women’s March in Atlanta in January. I’m not done protesting!!
Mary Lou Ramsey
Born 1954 and living in 30083
After the election, in a panic, I desperately emailed and called people and organizations I could think of and find online. begging to take part in resistance. Soon I was flooded with offers to volunteer and take actions. At first I tried to organize this by designating one day a week to resist–Resistance Tuesdays! Perfect! I went to Sen. Schumer’s and Gillibrand’s office each week to join protests. But every day, I got drawn into making calls, reading emails, signing petitions, going to meetings and demonstrations. Now I try to fold these actions into my days, just as I do other activities like writing, doing laundry, spending time with friends and family. I write actions–phonebanking for Democratic candidates, demonstrations, organizing calls to join–into my calendar–usually having to choose from more than one many days. I receive three or four daily action phone texts, Jen’s list, and Five Calls each week. I try to make at least one call a day, while I’m walking to the subway, or making my coffee. I forward the texts to a set of friends who’ve expressed a desire to receive them. I watch Democracy Now and Rachel Maddow every day, and I read as many articles as I can, in the New Yorker, New York Review of Books, on websites, and listen to podcasts like “This is Hell,” “Intercepted,”to try to keep informed of what is happening, so I can try to make my actions as targeted as possible at what is most crucial at any given moment on any given day. Whenever I go out in public I wear a “Not My President” and a “Black Lives Matter” button, and I have stamped Draft Bernie postcards with me to give to people who express agreement. I made talk bubble stickers that said “Resist Trump: moveon.org” and put them up on ads in the subways, as if people in the ads were saying that. I phonebank with others or alone; demonstrate with others, often going with friends, sometimes alone. I have hosted some events in my small NY apartment, and have attended many, and am in touch with some of the people I’ve met there. These are ways resisting is becoming a part of who i am, part of my daily life. Doing this helps me keep from being overwhelmed with helplessness and getting sickened by the evil destructiveness of these people who have taken over our government. Being part of institutions and organizations that have a vision for a sustainable, joyful future, witnessing them having effects–while accepting that many terrible things are going to happen that we cannot stop–continuing to enjoy people I love and the beauty of the world, this helps me keep some equanimity and find strength to continue.
I use the Resist-bot to send faxes when I don’t have time for calls.
I typically work alone.
I have not done creative direct actions but would like to try.
I love this weekly action list to stay engaged. I also listen to political podcasts.
I usually call/email/write Monday evenings after the kids are in bed. I have to leave messages instead of talking to a staffer, but better than not calling at all! Most of my activism is by myself, but several friends are making calls too, so I feel solidarity in that. Staying engaged keeps me sane and from falling into despair. Jen’s list is indispensable, and thank you for your work as well!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? I delve in right away with a few initial actions – usually the “love letters” to politicians doing well – and pace myself throughout the week. I love reading “good news” early on to keep me energized and positive.
Do you work alone or in concert with others? Usually alone, though I enjoy having company! My neighborhood has a resistance group that meets once a month to write postcards and discuss the latest issues. I’m also a part of a feisty “Lady Tribe” of feminist friends and take part in a number of different activism clubs.
Have you done creative direct actions? My household is kicking off a monthly “Social Justice Karaoke Club” in which we turn on the disco lights in our karaoke basement, invite friends to sing their favorite tunes and ask for donations to different causes or organizations each month. We’re starting with Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette. We also have a household costume room. I’d love to find ways to incorporate dress-up into direct action, perhaps dressing up as a suffragette or super hero!
What helps you stay engaged? Making activism fun! Seeking out hyper local ways to make a difference, sipping wine while taking part in actions, making sure to connect and find community, seeking out art and visual ways to represent what I believe in, trying to do something small but meaningful each day.
I have an antique cookie tin that I fill with postcards, stamps and lists of addresses and issues. I pull it out when I can and write 5-6 postcards. I also love to buy used funky, eye catching postcards whenever I see them so my collection stays interesting to me and to the recipients. Vintage patriotic postcards have been the best addition. It’s so hard to stay on top of the issues and I so appreciate the opportunity to express gratitude to those who are stepping up and speaking out. I had a seed swap in early spring and I pulled out the tin and everybody got in on it. Can’t stop, won’t stop! Thanks for your efforts.
I’ve done more calling than mailing: some on my own, some with friends via a private Facebook group, some with local friends who’ve started a text alert group, and others with a new local group designed to help parents of young(er) children engage in activism and include young people whenever possible. I’ve found that I have to take breaks every so often — the relay metaphor (vs marathon) seems to fit quite well.
I also enjoy sending postcards to share my opinions with government officials and my congressional team. I find I’m not comfortable making phone calls (unless I’m REALLY riled up on the issue), so writing is a great way to stay active and heard. I also helped organize a neighborhood action team with a friend shortly after the election. We get together monthly (or so) to organize our participation in local marches, attending town hall meetings, lobbying our local legislators, and providing healthy support for each other. Every little bit helps!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions?
–I make calls on my way to work every morning — no more wasted commute time!
Do you work alone or in concert with others?
–I work alone but have shared messages/emails to get more info from others!
Have you done creative direct actions?
–I attended the Climate March in DC (as well as the women’s march and pride march) but on this visit, made an appointment to see my House Rep’s climate advisor! Felt very empowering
What helps you stay engaged?
–Seeing others engaged, through checklists/sites like this and/or with friends through emails/text messages.
I cut up old Manila folders (to USPS specifications) and use my colored markers to create my message. I ran off 30-count address labels and have local and DC addresses for both of my senators and my representative on the labels. I sit down and stamp the cards all at one time–so they are in a stack ready to go. I use Jen’s list, current news, 5 calls, and Daily Resistance for my content. I also use Congress.gov to find out more about the specific legislation–who has introduced a bill; who the cosponsors are; where it is in committee; what was the last action on it; and, what is its House or Senate number (staffers can easily record my stand on that bill–I feel as if my voice is more likely to be heard and counted this way). I take a photo of my three daily postcards (one to each of my MOCs) and post them on my Facebook page so that others can copy them if they wish to.
For me, it helps to condense and copy out the list by hand, scheduling the days on which I’ll do each action; otherwise, it all feels like “too much” and I get irrational about how much time it will take. I tend to do these things alone and, because I’m still giving myself permission to take my own activist efforts seriously, I have yet to apply many creative interpretations (yet). I think this relates to my engagement as well: permission to take my impact seriously. And reading every day! So much reading!
How you make time to work through the Checklist or other actions? I wake up early and set aside each Wednesday morning for action.
Do you work alone or in concert with others? I mostly work alone but send emails to a group of people about action activities.
Have you done creative direct actions? I don’t know..
What helps you stay engaged? I get hopeless but it helps to talk to others about it and to be on listservs to share these feelings.
My husband and I start most days with our blue postcards and our computers. We use Jen’s newsletter as our guide.
We reserve our thumbs up stamp for people who did good things. And we use little American flag stamps everywhere.
We do not want the Trump people to claim our flag as their own.
Jen helps us stay engaged!
– I entered the name and DC/district office phone numbers for my Senators and Reps in my contact list. This makes it easier for me to make calls.
– I usually work alone, phone calls 2-3x week.
– I have gone to the district office of my Senior Senator twice to leave messages or be part of a demonstration, but that was shortly after the inauguration, and I haven’t heard of/gone to a meeting there again.
– Haven’t met a protest march I didn’t like so I’ve been to the Woman’s, tax, and climate marches. All inspiring and wonderful to attend, even in the rain.
– I am a member and contributor of Emily’s list. Since my state is bright blue I want to help candidates in other, more troubling, states.
– I share encouraging messages from others who are engaged in positive resistance. It also helps to step back and take a break every now and then.
– Thank you everyone for all your efforts!
As a political action newbie, I find postcarding to be a comfortable way to make my opinions known. I have a small bag with my tools: postcards pre-addressed to my MOCs, pens, and stamps. I have it nearby when I open Jen’s Activism Checklist, so I can take action right away. I also carry it with me to places like my church choir, where I let friends know they can come to practice early and write a postcard about something that is troubling them (there are so many things these days!). Sharing this time with like-minded friends helps me stay engaged, as does Jen’s weekly email. Thanks!
Donnie Littlefingers has made an activist out of me. I am 72 years old and having a corrupt, sexual predator in the White House has prompted me to take a stand with my representatives, both Federal and State. I am commenting bigly on the Washington Post, NYT, ect to get my message that we deserve a fair and just, with no Russian interference, election. 2016 was Putin’s election. This is a first for the US but it demands a new, fair and just election since we do not know who really won the Trump/Clinton election due to Russian hacking. We need two new candidates, unencumbered by scandal, three debates and we revote. I have called for coordinated blizzards, meaning nationwide, we send postcards and letters on the same day to people like Ryan and McConnell who are just ignoring the needs of 60% of the electorate. We cannot simply repeal Trump and replace with Pence. Pence was the head of Trump’s transition team so he knew, pursuant to a letter sent to him from the justice dept about Flynn, yet he went on the Sunday shows and lied to us. WE DEMAND A NEW ELECTION!!!
I look through your checklist and other sites like The Hill, Politico, some non-profit groups, and the legistlative calendars on Wednesdays for updates about talking points. I then post them in categories (budget, finance, foreign policy, LGBTQ, etc.) on the walls of a conference room adjacent to my yoga studio where I teach. I set up tables regularly so that we can gather on Thursdays to write postcards. There are more than 50 people on our list and usually around ten people come each week. We are having a Meet and Greet at a local restaurant later in June for people to get acquainted with our local ACLU and League of Women Voters leaders and the work they do. I started our group right after the Women’s March. We stay engaged because we are still so very concerned about so many issues. I have come to the realization the hard way that one must do more than just vote to be a good citizen. Several of our postcard writers are active in many ways – they take weekly trips to senate state offices, are members of the Democratic party, have joined non-profits they feel benefit the community, are active locally, etc.
I use Jen’s activism list to contact people. I use postcards as she recommends. I love your postcard designs.
My activism — via postcards, phone calls, emails, or marching!! — is done on my own, but with the knowledge that I’m not alone. That’s one way Jen’s list helps me to stay motivated — I feel connected to everyone who receives her list and it is very motivating. Also the daily news (primarily heard on NPR) keeps me inspired and motivated, but mostly because it’s urgent, sad, or makes me angry. Jen and her list and other folks who join in such as Erika and her postcards (very cool!) also give me support, company, good cheer, helpful reminders, and plenty of inspiration and motivation. It is hard to stay on top of it all. Everyone’s lives are busy. Mine is busy and complicated and pretty darn challenging. But it is so important to do a few positive important reach-out type activities each week. It truly helps to make my life meaningful beyond my small world. I really do care.
My activism is irregular. I always bookmark the checklists and keep the email in my inbox so I see it throughout the week. Whenever I’m feeling uninspired and see the bookmark or email, I often decide to pick up the phone and work my way through the list. I always feel motivated once I’m finished, so that makes me go to the list more often.
I am a big newspaper reader (both in print and online although I prefer the former because you get the total journalistic experience) but when I read the news, I find my anxiety level goes way up (don’t we all?). This anxiety has a lot of adrenaline mixed up in it and that’s when I pull out the weekly checklist and dive in, awash in adrenaline. I start writing and calling right away and the results to my mental and physical health are immediate and uplifting. The drug of taking action is a powerful one. I work alone and I work fast. I stay engaged because the anxiety comes again (with every news cycle) and with that the adrenaline and then … the antidote — action!
>I make time usually when Jen’s email arrives. I take the time to read it and I get out my postcards to write the next day with a cup of tea. The next day I write positive postcards of thanks an apologies. I feel really good when I mail these cards to people sometimes in another party than mine and to embassies.
>I work alone, physically that is. Electronically I’m working with others. I live in a low population area.
>Not lately. I participated in several anti-Vietnam direct actions in Berkeley. I’m older now and need the younger ones to do lots of that. My grandchildren are very motivated. Thankyou young people of integrity and honor!
>I have to stay engaged. I have to learn as much as I can about the issues, the politics, the US Constitution and laws. I care about people of all colors and creeds, or none. I feel much more equipped to face the future fully armed with integrity, knowledge and LOVE! LOVE WILL WIN!
Thank you Jen for loving us and helping us! You are doing a great thing here. Blessings!
Even though I am a “child of the 60s”, I was never politically active aside from voting every four years. How I now hate admitting that. Nonetheless I am trying to be engaged and stay engaged, draining though this awful administration may be – nay – IS. Writing postcards is one way I can do that. Resisbot is another. I am unable to phone as the rage and disgust I hold against everything that has happened since Nov. 8 just comes pouring out and that is not helpful in the least. So, writing allows me to be (somewhat) temperate and make my point. And, we all ARE making change or least keeping *45 and his cronies in line and aware that we are paying close attention. However, what is really needed is VOTES in every single election. Get off your duff and VOTE! Yes, even for the county dog catcher! All politics is LOCAL.
Thank you, thank you, Jen. You keep me going!
Activism has come to me rather later in my 66 yr. life. But I realize if I don’t do it, who will do it for me? I send post cards to Rep Ryan at his home address, referring to him as Rep. Bootstraps, to ask him ‘what did we ever do to you to make you hate us so much?’ I write to thank my senators, Cantwell and Murray for their continual fight on our behalf, have phoned my rep. DelBene to leave my thoughts and thanks for her work, and have attended her town halls. I marched in the Women’s Day parade here in our city, north of Seattle, and am a precinct officer in my county Democratic party and a member of Indivisible. All because I don’t want to lose my right to bitch, and I want to help leave the world a better place than I found it.
Like others I attend rallys and marches. I sign petitions and have a rotating UnLawn sign program in my front yard. I rotate them every 7 to 10 days.
The most fun is attending rallys and marches with the Freedom Strummers- a group of Uke and banjo players signing songs of freedom and protesting The Trump administration, policies and actions hurting us all.
The most rewarding is engaging protesters in song and political conviction.
First and foremost I stay active by being kind to self and others… as much as possible. Next, I stay connected to reliable and thorough news sources – the ones that do more than simply give a sound bite (like Charlie Rose). I sign petitions, donate and sometimes pass along info to others, tho most people I know already know the info.
And then I make sure to take time to enjoy, be grateful and give love and hugs to hubby and dogie and birdie… and friends!
My husband prints off the list and puts it with all other important info on the fridge. I start with trying to do one action on each page as my week’s goal, and then when I finish, I can add more if I have time. I have enlisted some items for some church members to do in a list I have connected with my faith!
Thanks so much for all you do! I feel overwhelmed quite easily, but I am grateful for the chance to make an impact by letting my voice be heard.
I have the 10 winners’ names, but first–what an amazing list of ideas for staying engaged! I loved reading them!
A note on the drawing process: To get a truly random result, 1. I didn’t count Erika’s replies in the comments, 2. I removed accidental duplicate comments, and ended up with 206. Then I put this number through the Random Number Generator to get ten numbers from 1-206.
The winners of Erika’s colorful, inspiring Democracy Postcards are:
Kris Keup
Trina Harrison
Meryl Shatzman
Betsy A. Adams
Marilyn Perry
Katie
Kimberly Meigh
Tamara Moan
Diana Scheel
Amy Shorner-Johnson
We’ll be in touch by email with details!
Thanks so much for the great ideas and participation! Be well and take good care of you.
i often work solo in my spare time, but occasionally I’m able to make it to letter-writing potlucks. I generally sign petitions, attend rallies, call my member of congress and senators (even though one is very discouraging) and send postcards like these.