When you’re ready, an encouragement/call to action:

[underwaterrhymes]

This popped up on my FB feed this morning and I wanted to share:


At Haymarket, we believe that books are crucial tools in struggles against racism, imperialism, and capitalism—and for a better world. That’s why we’ve decided to make TEN key ebooks free to download: join us in reading these indispensable works of analysis, history, and strategy.

www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/517-ten-free-ebooks-for-getting-free

[eport]

Nov 8, 2024 18:35:15 GMT -5 aurora said:

Nov 7, 2024 21:51:16 GMT -5 AJL said:

Please, please, PLEASE get involved at your municipal, county, and state levels. Big national movements are great and all, but the real change starts in your own back yard. 

Attend city council meetings. Participate in local coalitions, task forces, and boards related to issues that are important to you. For example, I have been a public education advocate and activist for over 15 years. I have been involved in lobbying for change at the district and state levels. I also participate on our city's food waste prevention board. These, among other important issues, are what makes change in the long run.

If you live in or near your state's capitol city, start keeping up with your state's legislation and how you can get involved in advocating for change that is important to you. When your state's legislation is in session, find out what bills are being introduced, being brought into committee, what may be accepting public testimony, etc. SPEAK TO YOUR STATE LEVEL LEGISLATORS. Honestly, I'm a PITA to the legislators that are on the education committee. I speak mostly with those legislators who are in opposition to what I believe is best for education in my state. They're the ones to focus on. If being that directly involved isn't your thing, just being knowledgeable about the kinds of laws your state is passing and educating others to call their reps/senators in support or against whatever it is your lobbying on is really powerful.

Tend to the garden you can reach. 

I haven't done this myself (yet) but I want to second that getting involved at local and state levels can absolutely make a difference. My father has been doing so since he retired and when I visited this summer I joined him at an event where the local politicians were absolutely engaging with him in a meaningful way.

Also, please consider running for local office. Many of the local/city/etc offices go uncontested so those who show up and run get to be in charge. I am on the Library Board of Trustees in town (no book banning getting by me). Per people there, there was only 1 contested election in the past 25 years (which so happened to be the first time I ran-go figure). My local Mothers' Club has had members/former members run for Library, Parks Board, City Council, and after this past Tuesday, someone gathering signatures for school board. Women who care are qualified to run so please consider it.

The nonprofit She Should Run has great resources and a supportive community that encourages each other to run and/or to support those who do. www.sheshouldrun.org