I just started a volunteer opportunity with a literacy organization near me. I will be paired up with someone new to the country and learning English as another language and we will meet weekly to chat in the hopes that it will help with English fluency. Such an easy and fun volunteer opportunity!
help to get progressive laws passed on a local level! I recently helped a group of 8 people do community outreach and attend town hall meetings, getting a tenants law passed in my small town. It has been incredibly rewarding to be involved in local politics!
Eat local, buy from a farmer at a farmers market or a mother growing / making food. If you do eat meat, source it from a local farmer and cook cook cook at home.
I don't know whether this fits thematically with the list here, but when we sat down with our kids at the end of the year to talk about where we want to commit our energies in the New Year, my son said that he wanted to support organizations that stand for inclusion and offer direct services in states other than the progressive one in which we live. There are people whose own local communities are unlikely to rise up to defend and support them, who need people not to leave them out of the circle of care just because they are not locals.
Write a letter to the editor or a commentary column for your most local paper. Try to speak of “in my experience” or “ what seems to be emerging” instead of “the truth is or “in my opinion.” The first two phrases acknowledge there may be other experiences and insights. The latter two shut down room for other views.
I enthusiastically subscribe to all of these 36 vital actions. I want to express sincere gratitude to Courtney for this thoughtful and urgent message.
As #37, let's consider offering direct civil disobedience against this regime. During the historic resistance to the Vietnam war, those of us who are around my age(86) demonstrated the power of nonviolence (and it must be strictly nonviolent).
Today we can reflect on that decision with pride because it was the right move to champion peace against an immoral war, following the example of MLK.
Please seize this moment as an opportunity that you might someday decades from now recall proudly to your grandkids, or any youth seeking inspiration! DD
Podcast and personal involvement…So much power and life in proximity and authentic togetherness when these kids (and us as parents) learn together. We experience healing and joy and life and challenge at our Title one global majority school daily and it is multiethnic democracy in action
I just started a volunteer opportunity with a literacy organization near me. I will be paired up with someone new to the country and learning English as another language and we will meet weekly to chat in the hopes that it will help with English fluency. Such an easy and fun volunteer opportunity!
Awesome! And there are some amazing organization bolstering literacy with our kids.
Smile, wave, or say hello to your neighbors.
Whenever and wherever possible, walk or ride your bike. Let's take back the streets:-)
YES, good thought. And these always help you with your mood, too.
help to get progressive laws passed on a local level! I recently helped a group of 8 people do community outreach and attend town hall meetings, getting a tenants law passed in my small town. It has been incredibly rewarding to be involved in local politics!
That's amazing. Way to go, Erin! What was the very first step you took to get involved in that work?
Support restaurants that are buying from local farmers.
Subscribe to and read Courtney Cox Richardson on Substack to stay in touch with national news in a sane way.
Do something that feeds your soul (art, dance etc) - it gives you more life blood to tackle overwhelming circumstances.
Thanks Courtney - great ideas! I'm going to incorporate some of them.
I think you mean Heather Cox Richardson? She’s extraordinary. https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/january-20-2025?r=efcy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web.
Eat local, buy from a farmer at a farmers market or a mother growing / making food. If you do eat meat, source it from a local farmer and cook cook cook at home.
Great suggestions. Any ideas for people who find the farmers market to be too pricey?
I don't know whether this fits thematically with the list here, but when we sat down with our kids at the end of the year to talk about where we want to commit our energies in the New Year, my son said that he wanted to support organizations that stand for inclusion and offer direct services in states other than the progressive one in which we live. There are people whose own local communities are unlikely to rise up to defend and support them, who need people not to leave them out of the circle of care just because they are not locals.
Write a letter to the editor or a commentary column for your most local paper. Try to speak of “in my experience” or “ what seems to be emerging” instead of “the truth is or “in my opinion.” The first two phrases acknowledge there may be other experiences and insights. The latter two shut down room for other views.
I enthusiastically subscribe to all of these 36 vital actions. I want to express sincere gratitude to Courtney for this thoughtful and urgent message.
As #37, let's consider offering direct civil disobedience against this regime. During the historic resistance to the Vietnam war, those of us who are around my age(86) demonstrated the power of nonviolence (and it must be strictly nonviolent).
Today we can reflect on that decision with pride because it was the right move to champion peace against an immoral war, following the example of MLK.
Please seize this moment as an opportunity that you might someday decades from now recall proudly to your grandkids, or any youth seeking inspiration! DD
20 million thumbs up for integrated schools. ❤️
Podcast and personal involvement…So much power and life in proximity and authentic togetherness when these kids (and us as parents) learn together. We experience healing and joy and life and challenge at our Title one global majority school daily and it is multiethnic democracy in action
Thanks you so much for this powerful list.