If We Can Make a Difference, You Can Too

In the past few weeks our Facebook feeds have been a nonstop list of empowering posts about how we need to do our part to fight back against the new administration’s policies that go against our beliefs. But the day in and day out reality is that you often don’t know what to do next or how to make a difference in the bigger scheme of things. That’s why we asked the LD ladies to share what they’ve been doing and donating. What we discovered is that within a small group we’ve individually donated $485 for the ACLU, NRDC, Planned Parenthood, and Sierra Club of Florida and have (and or will) participate in the Women’s March on Washington, the Black Lives Matter in Florida, the Stand with Immigrants Emergency Rally in Seattle, and the March for Science in DC.

But what else are we doing? Here’s what else are writers are doing on a daily basis to make a difference.

“I’m calling my representatives at least once a week to thank them for actions they’ve already done or to encourage them to vote/act in certain ways in the future. I’m encouraging others to contact their representatives and regularly post and share contact information to make it as easy as possible for others. I’m also trying to stay as informed as possible through Facebook, Twitter, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and All Sides. I’m trying to encourage as many people as possible to be politically active without trying to be antagonizing by telling them how to vote. I also have plans to read some books to better understand how Trump got elected as well as to learn about the lived experiences and issues faced by minorities.”

“I attended the Women’s March in Washington DC, will be attending a Black Lives Matter demonstration this coming weekend, and plan on attending more rallies and protests. I have liked several progressive local representatives on Facebook and several grassroot movements. By liking these people and organizations, I now receive timely notifications of any calls (protests, rallies, etc.) of action and updates on local issues. I have also been keeping up with the news via New York Times, NPR, Washington Post, and BBC, and sharing important articles on social media. In addition, I have shown my support for the several alt movements that have emerged. I am also calling elected officials – senators, congresspeople, and local representatives – multiple times a week. I’ve been calling them to either encourage them on how to act, or to thank them on actions they have taken. I have also begun attending local environmental groups to be part of the local movement and to take action. On the side, I’ve also just begun a secret community art project in support of the resistance.”

“I emailed my representatives about Betsy Devos and other cabinet picks. I plan to call regularly as well to make sure my voice is heard and encourage them to act in the best interests of all Americans, not just white males. I’m reading as much as I can handle to keep myself informed while not getting bogged down in how disheartening so many things have been lately. And I’m doing what I can to make my community a better place – volunteering as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, donating clothes and personal care items to local shelters, volunteering with other local organizations, and just generally spreading kindness wherever I can.”

“I’m emailing, tweeting, and calling my representatives, though I know I could be better about calling. I’ve switched from a large, DAPL-funding corporate bank to a local credit union. I’m boycotting amazon, uber, and the rest of these companies, though I hardly patronized most of them anyway. I read everything I see and share information that I think matters as widely as I can. I’ve attended protests that I’m not scheduled to work during, and poured beers and coffee for protesters in those that I am scheduled to work during. I donated all of my tips from election night—drunk and depressed democrats’ misery money—to the ACLU, and continued to donate half my tips from November’s remaining Tuesdays to other organizations like the Northwest Immigrants Rights Project and the Standing Rock Legal Defense Fund. I’ve also been following and doing most of the actions asked by Shaun King’s Injustice Boycott, which will only get bigger.”