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January 10, 2017
It’s been over two months since the floors caved in. Some of us are still in disbelief. Others are angry. The rest are in one of those other stages of grief.
But one feeling has been almost universal: We have to do something. From protests to donations to safety pins, people are beginning to step up.
If you’re not sure what you can do, wonderful articles have been written in Mashable, Mic, and Huffington Post to get you started.
Here’s our take–3 things you can do today to help build the “Trump resistance:”
- Encourage. While the Founding Fathers are undoubtedly spinning in their graves, one had this to say to Americans who were scared about the future:
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” – Thomas Paine
This isn’t over. Not by a long shot. We can still win a better future for our kids. A majority of Americans did not vote for Donald Trump. There are good people all around. We need to band together.
- Donate. No, we don’t all have “extra money” lying around. That’s why budgeting is key. Maybe you can’t afford a $120 donation to your favorite environmental charity, but can you afford $10 a month? Most of us can do more than we’re doing now–we just need to plan it out.
And here’s the kicker: Monthly donations are often most helpful for charities, since they help create a steady cash flow.
You can donate to 350.org here.
- Make a plan. You don’t have to go out in the streets with a bullhorn. You don’t need to chain yourself to the fence in front of the White House. You just need to make a plan–one you can stick to for at least the next four years.
Where can you be most useful? What can you do consistently? How can you be a reliable asset to a local organization? Find a volunteer organization that can use your help, and then volunteer–regularly. Give them one more member they can count on, whether it’s on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Your plan doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Are you an artist? Make art or help others make it. Do you write? Offer to help an organization with their blog, website, or grant application. If you’re good with people, find an organization that recruits members–and help them recruit. If you’re better with numbers, find an organization in need of some order. Don’t try to fit an ideal mold of what a volunteer should look like. No matter what your skill set, there’s a worthy cause out there that can use your help.
To volunteer with Chicago 350, send us a message on our Facebook page.
Sooner or later, we won’t all be mad anymore. The election will be old news. And that will be the moment of truth. Will we go back to how we were before? Or will we keep fighting.
– Adam Smit
