How to be an everyday activist
What is everyday activism?
Everyday activism is for everyone. Everyone has something important to offer. We present a range of actions that empower you to help in ways that are right for you. Activism isn’t always about protest and civil disobedience. It can also be more than tweets and hashtags. There are little things each of us can do to make the world a more just and equitable place. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can make a difference.
Read more about How It Works.
Everyday activism is a lifestyle choice.
When you commit to consistently taking action on the issues you care about, your activism becomes a daily practice rather than a crisis response.
A step-by-step guide to everyday activism.
Decide where you want to dedicate your efforts
Define your values. Identify what is important to you and why.
Identify your assets. Think about the time, talent, and resources you have to offer.
Align your values and interests with your time, talent, and ability. Then choose actions that match.
Choose actions that give you joy and hope
Find what feels good. Taking action should be a pleasurable experience, not an obligation. But that doesn’t mean it should be easy. Everyday activism can take you out of your comfort zone and push you to examine more meaningful ways to contribute.
Leverage privilege and power. We all hold privilege and power based on race, ethnicity, social status, income level, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, age, etc. It’s necessary to be aware of the privileges and power you hold to address power imbalances. It’s also important to learn to recognize areas where you might be able to use your privilege or relative position of power to amplify your impact.
Vet the actions you decide to take
Always do your research to make sure it’s an action you agree with when identifying actions independently. Everyday Activism Network vets all the actions and organizations that we recommend to ensure they align with progressive values.
Read the fine print. For example, suppose you are asked to sign a petition to end child trafficking. Of course, everyone is against child trafficking. This seems like a no-brainer, but upon reading the full text, you might discover that the petition is advocating for a solution that denies sex workers rights and/or could endanger them. We would recommend against signing this petition.
Maximize your impact. For example, sometimes no matter how many calls or letters a senator receives, they will not change their vote. What could you do differently to make your voice heard? Everyday Activism Network does our best to help you identify and carry out actions that have the highest probability of positive impact.
Turn your everyday activism into a practice
Start small. Our guides call out fast actions that you can do in under five minutes. Pick one action that resonates with you, and just do it!
Make it part of your routine. Choose specific times that you can dedicate to taking action so that it becomes a natural part of your routine. When you do something often enough, it turns into a habit.
Expand your practice. Once your everyday activism is part of your routine, you can explore more time-intensive actions in order to deepen and sustain your activism.
Find like-minded people
Get involved in local efforts. Many of our guides offer ideas on how to get connected to local groups or become an everyday activist in your community.
Join our community of everyday activists by following us on Instagram and Facebook. Engage with like-minded people taking action on the issues you care about.
Check out our How To Be An Everyday Activist guide to learn more about overcoming hurdles to everyday activism.