Get Informed! Find an issue or problem that you care about and see what is being done in your community to address it. If there isn’t anything going on yet, start something! The Internet is a great tool for organizing. Use it to inform your friends and family of what you’re up to. A major issue that we feel strongly about is ensuring that all people can enjoy equal rights, especially people from communities that have been historically denied certain rights (women, LGBT community, immigrants, etc.). Another issue we think is very important is preserving our environment, so that future generations can enjoy clean air, clean water and thriving ecosystems.

VOTE! Democracy can’t work unless you make it work. Women and African Americans had to fight for their rights to vote in this country and, at one time, even poor white men were disenfranchised. Don’t waste your vote, or all of their efforts will have been in vain. Local elections are one way to make a big impact, especially since voter turnout in local elections tends to be abysmal. Find out who is on your local ballot and do some research on the candidates or any initiatives, referendums or proposed amendments to your state’s constitution that may be on the ballot. All it takes is a simple Google search.

Donate! When we can’t lend our time and energy to organizations we support, the next best thing is giving them money! Our country is going through some really tough economic times, and non-profit organizations are suffering just as much as every other sector. We feel the pinch in our own pocketbooks but with making little sacrifices, like eating out less and cutting down on unnecessary consumption, we are still able to give back financially to our community. It doesn’t take much, and a little goes a long way. Plus, it makes you feel really good to know that your money is funding the progression of something you think is really important, and necessary to a healthy society. Do you love animals? Then donate to your local SPCA, or go to their website: http://www.spca.com/

Network! Get to know the people in your community who are working on social justice projects. Social justice is a concept many activists strive to realize which would allow for every person and/or living thing in every aspect of society to be treated justly. Any sort of human rights, animal rights or even environmental protection projects can be seen as efforts of social justice. Become familiar with people in your community who are engaged in this sort of work and contact them. There truly is strength in numbers, so the more people you know working towards social justice, the more effective you will be. Networking is very important amongst non-profit organizations for the purposes of coalition building. Certainly, five organizations working toward a common goal would be more effective than just one, right?

Join the Revolution! You may not know this, but by becoming an activist for social justice, you become a living, breathing revolutionary. These sorts of nonviolent approaches to addressing serious societal problems are truly a revolution in the making. Forget how you imagined the revolution; a fiery, violent overthrow of the dominant paradigm, because, as fun as that sounds, we are better than that and we will not make the same mistakes from the past. Work with your neighbors to destroy racism, classism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and all the other ‘isms that impede human progress. Fight for the protection of those who have no voice, like the polar bears for crying out loud! They’re drowning and we aren’t doing anything about it! Let your local officials know that you don’t support illegal wars fought for profit. Make smart consumer choices, try to think about where your money is really going and what sort of business practices it’s supporting. Let’s really work together to make this revolution successful!

Links! will be added here soon!