Local Politics: To bring about national change, start by thinking locally

Almost immediately after President Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday, people began to post online in local Columbus forums asking how they could help. Most people wanted suggestions on which groups they could join. Some mentioned that they were new to the area and had not yet built a community here. Recommendations offered in response varied from volunteering for local nonprofits to joining Democratic Socialists of America or Young Democrats. 

There have been quite a few pieces written lately about the importance of mutual aid organizations and the need to build community to survive the next four years. But I haven’t seen much practical advice on where to start, so I hope that these steps can help people who are feeling lost.

Without digressing into comparing the misdeeds of each of our political parties, I will simply say that these recommendations hold true in times when Democrats hold the presidency, as well.

My first and best advice to every single person living anywhere is to meet your neighbors. It sounds simple. And it is! Yet many, many people today do not speak to their neighbors. Data from a 2018 Pew Research Survey indicated that the younger you are, the less likely you are to know your neighbors. Building connections with our immediate neighbors is an important first step in community resilience. 

Talking to our neighbors is also a great way to find out which organizations are doing work in our area. For some people, volunteering for a nonprofit that operates citywide or nationally can be rewarding. But if we are looking to build the capacity of our own communities to resist state violence and oppression, I believe we should work on as small of a scale as possible.

This leads directly to the second step, which is to organize locally. There are a few questions you can ask yourself to figure out where to focus: 1. What am I passionate about? 2. What skills do I have that other people don’t? 3. What are my realistic limitations?

Your passions might be completely different from your areas of knowledge or experience, and that’s okay. Maybe you have been particularly angered by the way the rights of trans people are being stripped away, and you want to help fight that – even if you aren’t trans or don’t personally know anyone who is. With some education and commitment, you can still be an effective advocate. Follow your passions, because that will make the work much easier.

Your unique skills make you an asset to your community. If you are an artist, you can educate and inspire in ways that no one else can. If you are an accountant, you can give financial advice and manage funds for groups that require that help but can’t afford to hire someone. If you know everyone in town, you can be the bridge connecting organizers to each other. 

Just as importantly, no matter how much passion and skill you have, be realistic about your capacity. It is unfair to your partners in the work if you overcommit and then cannot deliver. It is unfair to yourself to do too much, suffer from stress, and then burn out. As they say, “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” If all you can commit to is writing a few emails to the City Council, then write your emails and know that you are doing your best. We each have a role to play, and not all the roles are speaking parts.

Once you find your place, the next step is to act. Work with your community to develop strategies and tactics to achieve your goals. Use your privileges, whatever they are. If you’re wealthy, use your money to fund the work. If you’re white, use your assumed respectability to draw attention to the problems. Put your body in the way to protect at-risk communities from violence. Remember that members of targeted groups often cannot take public action, owing to the sometimes-dangerous consequences. For instance, it is the responsibility of those of us who have citizenship to protect those who don’t. 

Finally, educate yourself and others. Sometimes this is done within your organizations. But if it isn’t, do it on your own. Educate yourself by learning about history, politics, revolutions and other social movements. Learn operational security so that you reduce your risk of surveillance and prosecution. Learn practical skills that serve your community, especially in times of crisis. There are local and free programs teaching first aid and radio communications. We live in Ohio, the land of few natural disasters, but these skills can protect us during human-created crises, as well. 

Once you have this knowledge, educate others whenever you can. It can be as simple as correcting a coworker who is spreading misinformation. Invite your uninvolved friends and family members to join you in your activities. Reach out to younger people especially, so that your organizations can pass their knowledge on to the next generation. Some of the most profound knowledge I have gained has been from listening to older radicals talk about their life experiences.

When we think of the new litany of horrors emanating from the White House, it can be overwhelming and terrifying. And witnessing the inaction of our state and local governments, it becomes clear they are not coming to save us. One natural response to express these frustrations is to take immediate action, such as marching in a protest. Protesting can be a useful tactic, sure, but on its own it does not build power or provide protection. 

Harness the power of your local community first. Care for your neighbors. Then join together and use your unique skills to bring about change.