How to Get Out of the Bubble and Start Making Changes to Your Community
I spent a day without a woman at a mini-conference for aspiring activists. He clearly solved the problem of what to actually do when you refuse to work or spend money. (Other options: Tweet to get attention? Infiltrate Hidden Figures?) Here’s what I learned.
Before leaving, I sent the children to kindergarten with cookies and sincere thanks to all the female staff. Of course, my husband could have done it, but he was trying to figure out how to wash the sheet, which had the remains of a baby rag all over it, mostly the remains of scrambled eggs. I gave him a pass.
I live in Pittsburgh, where about 25,000 people took to the Women’s March and thousands more took part in an alternative march that day led by women of color. The crowd that attended today’s event, dubbed Cross-Section Women’s Day , drew a maximum of 64 people. There were several empty seats.
The main part of the meeting was a demonstration of local activist groups, explaining what they do, why their work is needed and how people can get involved. They also named specific national, state and local policies that are affecting their cause.
If you don’t live in Pittsburgh, your local band names will be different. Relevant government laws and student council petitions will be different. But just as racism, sexism and injustice are everywhere, make an effort to combat them. I’ll tell you what I’ve learned and how you can join them.
Here are some of the problems …
The following questions are just a sampling. There are many more problems in the world; and there are many other actions for each of them besides what you see here. If something is clearly missing, feel free to leave comments to help all of us know more about what action to take. Anyway, here’s a partial starter kit:
Problem : sexual assault
Why action is needed : Because too many people are raped, too many children are sexually abused, and victims have astronomical rates of PTSD . (For example, 94 percent of women are raped.) We heard from a spokesman for the Pittsburgh Anti-Rape Movement who explained their huge range of services. These include educational programs for younger students through to adults; crisis hotline; people who provide emotional and legal support to victims of rape; and counseling to deal with your feelings after the fact. They served people from two years old (a sigh can be heard in the room) to the elderly.
What you can do : Join a national rape, abuse and incest network , or look for similar groups in your area. PAAR trains volunteers to provide assistance to victims through their hotline, emergency rooms and in court. And educational programs always need teachers. RAINN has a page that has a variety of ways to get involved , from telling your story as a survivor to lobbying your congressmen to fund support services and DNA testing.
Issue : the right to education
Why action is necessary : When students are suspended from school, they miss out on an opportunity to study and are more likely to face the law later in life. Black students are three times more likely to be expelled or suspended than their white peers, and students with disabilities are twice as likely. Children are ultimately punished for disrespect and disobedience with consequences disproportionate to their actions. For example, in the Pittsburgh public school system, the parents of one student were hooked and received a $ 450 fine after a child kicked a trash can. In another case, six police cars were called due to a disciplinary problem with a fourth-grader who was taken away in handcuffs. Suspensions don’t even work as a disciplinary technique. At the same time, schools do not have other resources to help children in crisis situations: there are not enough nurses, social workers and family services.
What you can do : This is an important area where your school board matters. Pittsburgh School Board elected; not all school boards. Educational Rights Network organizers in one Pittsburgh sent out a petition, told people how to sign up to speak at school board hearings, and urged people to register and vote in the upcoming primary. The Dignity in Schools National Group has a state-to-state information page on the local implications of removing such a large number of students, with newsletters on the laws in force. However, to start making changes, you need to connect with local schools and parent groups.
Problem : Police Violence
Why action is needed : We trust the police and the wider criminal justice system, including the courts, to protect us. But they don’t always do their job, and people can become victims of violence with little or no recourse to justice. This burden falls most on African Americans , which is why #blacklivesmatter. Our local team is the Pittsburgh-based Alliance for Police Accountability , which has a hotline for anyone who interacts with police they believe has been violated, regardless of race. They provide legal support to people in such situations. The group also helps to improve relations between the police and their communities, for example through events where the officer can explain his work and listen to residents’ questions and complaints.
What you can do : The National Police Accountability Project is run by lawyers, law students and legal professionals, so it has a similar focus, but does not provide the exact same services. But their website has a huge list of resources that include community groups across the country, information for victims, and more.
Issue : disability and the rights to neurodiversity
Why action is needed : People with disabilities are often unable to live independently, work, and access the care and services they need. One of the attorneys at the meeting explained that she wants to work but needs to live in poverty in order to get coverage for her ventilator and 24/7 patient care. People with disabilities and other medical conditions such as autism are also at risk of abuse and even murder by their caregivers . Health policy has a huge impact on their lives, and they also need legal protection in order to be able to work, get an education and even live independently.
What you can do : If you are disabled or autistic, or if you have a lot in common with people, you have a lot in common, join a self-advocacy group. If you do not fit into this category, continue to connect with these groups, but realize that the people in them are fighting for the right to speak for themselves and set their own agenda, not forcing others to do it for them. At the meeting, we heard from the Pittsburgh Center for Advocacy for Autism , which advocates for policy changes (thus encouraging you to call your representatives about relevant laws) and organizes events such as watching films that are accessible and enjoyable for people with autism. Nationally, the Autism Self-Defense Network works towards similar goals, and you can find a list of disability rights organizations here .
Issue : reproductive rights
Why action is needed : Reproductive health should not be controversial, but politics always seems to keep women from gaining access to birth control, sexual health services and, yes, abortion. Planned Parenthood shares its efforts by running medical clinics along with advocacy programs to try to influence legislation. Another group at the meeting, New Voices for Reproductive Justice , expands on what they call reproductive justice to include almost every aspect of the lives of women and girls (with a special focus on women of color). For example, in addition to simply choosing whether to raise children, their spokesperson pointed out that people should also be able to raise their children in a place where they are protected from violence.
What you can do : Planned Parenthood is a national organization, although each district has its own branch. Contact one of the people in your area to find out what kind of volunteer help they need. Several PP volunteers told me that people most often want to help as escorts in the clinic, protecting clients from protesters as they enter the building. But the organization needs other types of volunteer assistance, including things like telephone banking. New Voices is an organization based in Pittsburgh, and I don’t know anything like it in the whole country; but keep an eye out in your community for groups that are making a difference in women’s lives.
The problem : LGBTQ rights
Why action is needed : People who do not fit narrow views of gender and sexuality can be vulnerable to discrimination, violence, and more. Speakers about this were not able to attend the meeting, but the organizers pointed us to SisTers Pittsburgh , which helps homeless transgender people; Trans Youniting , which tries to create a safe space for trans people; PERSAD , which provides and protects healthcare services; and Garden of Peace , which operates a pantry of food and clothing, and provides health and social services for LGBTQ people.
What you can do : Look for organizations that are doing well in your community. At the national level, start with a human rights campaign or one of these organizations . It’s also important to call your representatives here about legislation: many states and municipalities have tried to pass laws to allow anti-LGBT discrimination or restrict people from using the toilet where they feel safer.
What every business needs
Every group needs money to exist and do their job. If you want to help a cause and have money to spare, donate. If you don’t have the money to spare, join or lead a fundraiser.
Every group needs volunteers. If you have special skills, suggest them: for example, lawyers can offer legal assistance. Tech-savvy people can help a group update their website or find great deals for them on computers or web hosts. And many groups need warm bodies for covert work: data entry, telephone banking, posting leaflets around the city.
Politics also influences these reasons. Federal, state, and local laws can protect victims of injustice or exacerbate a serious problem. For example, Pennsylvania recently considered a bill to hide the names of police officers under investigation. By reaching out to local groups, you can help make the right policies by calling your representatives and putting pressure on them.
And all of these groups need help spreading their ideas. Follow them on social media. Amplify your messages. Help get their hashtags trending. But also don’t see community participation as a thing that only happens when you talk to your activist friends. Help your friends sort out the problems. For example, make sure your friends know that “abandoning planned parenting” is about Medicaid reimbursement, not, as a spokesperson said at the meeting, “Paul Ryan is giving me a pot of money.”
Before diving in, remember one thing: self-education. Don’t jump into a group without understanding how they are fighting and where they are from. This means do your homework, and don’t wait for new friends to explain everything to you. And if you say something stupid and get called names, apologize and learn from this moment, instead of doubling down and defending yourself. You’re new here! You study. And if you stay focused, you can help change your community for the better.