Some Actions That Are Not Protesting or Voting
A list adapted from Frontline Medics. I’ve added some things and edited other things.
Redistribute your wealth to individuals in need
Donate to Mutual Aid Groups
Organize fundraisers for local groups
Donate to food programs [for example this one and donate to them here]
Cook and bake for community group meetings
Start or join Food Not Bombs
Knit or crochet items for your houseless neighbors
Participate in #Warm Holidays 2024
Organize or participate in political education. Here’s a helpful guide.
Establish ongoing study and book groups - sign up a training on how to facilitate reading groups.
Organize a monthly community film screening & discussion
Offer skill-sharing and trainings
Participate in skill-sharing and trainings
Volunteer your art, technology, design, legal skills to local efforts, organizations, groups
Learn about and practice community self-defense
Learn about Community Defense Zones
Learn about creating rapid response networks
Learn about deportation defense through this new resource by Make The Road and this one by Mijente
Organize response and support for survivors of violence. Sign up to be trained as a volunteer with domestic violence and sexual assault organizations/groups
A suggestion offered: “harm reduction education/building harm reduction kits (Narcan, fentanyl/xylazine testing strips, sterile supplies, etc.), and pop-up overdose prevention centers (high risk, but organizers in Denver successfully did one). Link here to a story about this.
Donate and/or volunteer with abortion funds and practical support organizations
Escort people to abortion clinics when needed. Also you can reach out to your local PP/indie clinic to ask if they have an escort program use this link to find them: ineedana.com
Train to become a practical support volunteer and support people traveling to access abortion care.
For youth who want to fight for abortion rights
What does it look like to start or join a trans youth emergency project in your community?
A suggestion offered: “Provide caregiving help for disabled folks, help us with daily tasks so we can have more energy to organize, & if u have more cognitive & physical capacity u can volunteer to help us plan direct actions (this one’s personal, I really need someone who has done projections onto buildings)”
Organize a childcare collective. Another example here
Establish community pop-up clinics
Organize community freedom schools (the Children’s Defense Fund offers one model but there are many others too: here and here. )
If you’re a young person interested in unions, get involved with Gen Union.
Provide tenant support and help with rent strike organizing
Help with disaster relief
Monitor court cases [courtwatching and participatory defense hubs]
Financially and emotionally support detained and incarcerated people
Start or join a jail support project and here’s a jail support zine.
Consider jury nullification
Signal-boost & support prison strikes and abolition efforts
Organize or attend neighborhood assemblies and people’s movement assemblies
Get involved in Citizen University
Attend community board and other local meetings
Run for or seek appointment to your local library board
How to Fuck Up an Asshole School Board
Organize or participate in community clean-ups
Start or join a local community garden. Benefits of gardening are here.
Start a Meal-Based Residency Program
Start a healing justice lending library
Organize or join a local mask bloc to distribute free masks to community groups to use for their gatherings. Search mask blocs around the world here.
Organize or join a Clean Air Club
Create a COVID Mitigation Tools Library
Organize local free stores to distribute needed items and supplies to community members. Can’t do a whole store, how about a free table?
Set up a Free Fridge in your community
Watch this and write letters to the elderly also here.
Make zines and pamphlets on various topics and distribute them in your communities [laundromats, cafes, public libraries, schools, etc…]
Start a community newsletter or bulletin to share information about local mutual aid
Create or redistribute art and media to counter mainstream propaganda
Amplify the calls for support from people of color, disabled people and others
Uplift queer and trans voices
Share vital info online and in person
Support friends who are attending/planning actions/protests
I created a “steps to action: reproductive justice” guide to share with my Goddaughter and her friends. It is intended to help them as they’ve been extremely worried about how to actually take some action around an issue that they care a lot about. Perhaps it might be helpful for others too. Link is here. Make your own focused “steps to action” guide and share with your loved ones and community members.
MAKE YOUR OWN LIST FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES…