Has putting election season behind you left you unsure what you can do going forward? Give these steps a try to restore your sense of being grounded in the things you care about here and now.
Get Involved In Local Politics
It can seem like our entire lives are dictated by a few hundred congress people up in Washington, but local politics actually have much more of an impact than we might think -- so instead of feeling powerless and doom scrolling about the fate of our nation, attend a city council meeting.
At the most recent Charlottesville city council meeting, the council discussed and voted on funding for social services, opioid recovery courts, and amending the Police Civilian Oversight Board composition. City council meetings also have public comment sections, where concerned citizens can advocate for changes that are important to them and the community writ large.
Though changes to federal and state funding can impact the ability of local government employees to adequately support schools, libraries, parks, busses, roads, and public housing initiatives, local governments have a significant amount of control over how the funds they are allocated are spent. Whether you're getting involved in Charlottesville or in your hometown, don’t underestimate the power held at the local level. Get out there and contact your councilors, volunteer with local campaigns, sign petitions, and vote!
Find out more about your local government here: https://www.usa.gov/local-governments
Support Local Mutual Aid Efforts
Mutual aid, in the most basic terms, is neighbors helping each other out and standing in solidarity to work towards collective liberation. Whether this means contributing your funds, time, voice, or skill set, you can help sustain systems that enable you and your neighbors to survive and thrive in times of crisis.
Many cities/counties have existing mutual aid initiatives that you can join! Though mutual aid initiatives often vary wildly based on the specific needs of local communities, common projects include no-strings attached grants, grocery distribution, ride shares, bail funds and community fridges.
There are many mutual aid initiatives in Charlottesville alone. UVA Mutual Aid provides no strings attached grants to students and has distributed over $107,000 in the past 4 years. These grants can help students cover educational expenses and cover necessary expenses like rent and utilities. UVA Mutual Aid is also collecting donations to create a free store, where all students would have access to clothes, healthcare products, and other necessities.
Try Your Hand At Political Organizing
Is there an issue that you’re particularly passionate about? Well, I have some good news for you: there are probably other people who care about that same thing. Find those people, meet up, and discuss local actions you can take to work towards progress on shared goals.
If you care about labor rights, join a union (or, if you live in a state that restricts unionization, join organizations advocating for pro-union legislation). If you care about LGBTQ+ rights, find organizations working to support the equality act, oppose anti-trans ballot measures, and expand access to gender affirming care. If you care about reducing emissions, join an organization advocating for the expansion of public transit in your area or a nation-wide initiative supporting expanded clean energy jobs and opposing the creation of new gas pipelines.
There are already individuals in your community who are writing petitions, planning protests, and launching campaigns to achieve the political goals that you would like to see realized. Being involved in political organization doesn’t need to be a full time job. Find an organization or group that’s doing work you believe in, become a member, volunteer to support initiatives you’re passionate about, and set aside an hour or so every week to contact your representatives, circulate petitions, and share information about your chosen cause(s) with the people in your life.
I know from personal experience that signing petitions and emailing your reps can feel like shouting into the void, but change doesn’t come from a single signature – it comes from a whole community of signatures. Instead of losing hope while toiling away on your own, find community with people that care about the same issues, so you can work together and energize each other in the fight towards progress.
Study, Study, Study
It can feel overwhelming to stay aware, especially in a world where we are so beholden to social media algorithms, mis- and dis- information, and increasing bias in traditional news sources. I’m gen-z, so I’m not here to tell you that social media is evil and the only reliable news source is CNN. What I am trying to say is that, whether you get the headlines from your favorite Tiktoker or from the New York Times, it is essential to treat these sources as a starting point. Though our generation is tech savvy and increasingly media literate, it is impossible to get the whole picture from one article or video.
And, look, I get it. We are inundated with so much information all of the time. Politics is different than it used to be. Everytime you open social media, you are inundated with stories about political issues all over the world. It can be difficult to keep up with everything, which can lead to disengaging completely or getting stuck in scrolling cycles, where we never dive deeper than surface level, lest we lose track of the fifty other issues we’re keeping track of.
Here’s my suggestion. Calculate how much time you spend scrolling each day. It’s okay if the number is a little embarrassing (don’t worry, mine is too). Now, split that time in half. Keep half of it for scrolling, so you can keep track of what’s going on in the world in whichever way you prefer. For the other half of the time, pick one political issue that deeply interests you and begin to do some deeper research.
Crack open a book or listen to an audiobook. Cross compare news articles on a variety of platforms. Read academic essays on the topics from a wide variety of authors and institutions. Spend time analyzing artwork related to the topic. Turn to social media for first hand accounts and perspectives that might be excluded from mainstream narratives. Try to challenge your beliefs about this topic and seek to understand why you believe the things you believe. What’s the history of the issue? What political and sociological theories underpin it? How does it affect different groups? How does it affect you? It’s hard to know what actions to take if you don’t know what it is that you think. Devote some time to studying, so you can build your own personal politic to inform your political action. Though it might seem overwhelming at first, in my experience working towards this deeper understanding one chapter at a time can actually leave you feeling much more productive, empowered, and ready to act!
Disconnect From Social Media, So You Can Connect With Yourself
With all the love in my heart, please go outside and touch some grass. The entire world does not exist within the 15 square inches of your cell phone screen. I know that it can be hard to disconnect, especially when doom scrolling feels like the only course of action we have, but there comes a time when scrolling becomes an act of dissociation and pessimism. This isn’t me telling you not to scroll. I know it can be a great way to keep up to date with the news and learn about different perspectives, but I am telling you that you should be aware of why you’re scrolling and not let it become your only coping mechanism. When it stops feeling productive, check in with yourself. It is okay to feel your emotions. It is okay to feel angry and sad. We cannot move towards hope and optimism if we do not allow ourselves to sit with the negative emotions as well.
Go on a walk, meditate, enjoy the beauty of nature, talk to people you care about, and let those people care about you. Spend some quality time learning how to cook a new dish, play pickleball, or finish that knitting project you’ve been putting off. I promise that making yourself miserable and/or numb will not improve anyone else’s material conditions. It is okay to take care of yourself. It’s actually imperative that you do, so that you can continue to exist, fight, and thrive no matter what comes next.
