#whyimarch

My heart is warmed to see people in my community attending protests and contacting their representatives. These are great things to do. These are powerful things to do. I also think we can do more. Every one of you has something special about you to lend to the damage reduction under the new regime. You have unique skills. You have access to materials, tools or organisations. You have influence. I urge each and every one of you to think creatively about how you specifically can make a difference for a cause you believe in.

Here are some ideas inspired by others:

Do you work at a business that supports an issue you support? Suggest an event to raise funds. Recently a local bar (Hopleaf) offered 10% of it’s Friday night sales to @plannedparenthood . The line was out the door.

Do you have a skill that could be helpful in trying times ahead? Offer to teach a class or workshop. See if you can partner with a local space to host the event. My friend Kyle is offering free self defense classes. Lots of skills could be useful, coding, essay-writing, second language, basic first-aid, etc..

Do you own a small business? I know that most of you price your work for stores, where 40-50% of the price goes to the store itself. Can you afford to run a sale in your online store where a percentage of proceeds for a set period of time are donated? I’ve seen lots of small single woman owned businesses do this including @vichcraft-design-studio,@catcovenshop, @Nyxturna, and myself.

Are you an artist? Do you want to donate, but funds are tight? That’s ok. Use your work as an incentive to encourage others to donate. I am seeing multiple cartoonists ( @racheldukes , Luke Howard, Sacha lusk, @livertaker, @kevin-budnik , Pranas) offering free original drawings or sketches if you forward them your ACLU donation receipt. I know ya’ll have lots of drawings laying around. They aren’t doing much good in forgotten sketchbooks.

Are you a writer? WRITE. Many @hellyeahscarleteenScarleteen contributors donated their valuable time writing Rebel Well, survival guide for teens and emerging adults in a Trumped America. Write somewhere other than social media feeds.

Do you get free printing through work? Find a resource that you think is valuable and print the hell out of it (check the copyright, don’t steal anyone’s work). Distribute it at free libraries, protests, your local communities. @perfectlyacceptablepress just risograph printed 250 copies of Rebel Well out of the kindness of Matt Davis’ heart.

Do you have a car? People always need rides, especially in cities. There’s a million things you can do with your car. Drive people to protests (don’t park too close by), lend your vehicle to help distribute materials, offer rides to the airport. Look into car pool programs with local volunteer opportunities.

Do you have access to a space and a network of friends? Host a letter writing party like my friend Kate to pool your knowledge and postcards. More info in 1st step call to action at www.womensmarch.com

Do you speak a second language? If an article or publication has meant a lot to you in this time contact the author and offer to translate it.

Do you have medical experience and/or training? PLEASE attend protests with a few supplies. I hope we won’t need to but in a bad situation your presence could be incredibly useful.

Still can’t think of ideas? That’s ok. It will come to you. In the meantime, you have a body and a mind and hands to be put to good use. Keep going to protests and writing your representatives. Research volunteer opportunities in your community. Look around at your friends to see what they are doing. Ask how you can help. I’m sure your friends are overwhelmed. I bet they would welcome the assistance.

I can’t tell you what to do. The first step is believing that you have something powerful to offer. The next step is taking the agency to do so.