letters to sustainable activism
a list of things that can make us less powerless and more communal in a time when we might feel hopeless.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
there are times when shrugging our shoulders and saying “there’s nothing i can do” is healthy, and there are times during the next four years when that will be the appropriate response. however, in general, there are things we can do. we may not be able to change leadership, horrific laws passed, or people who support these things, but we can be mindful of what we do and don’t do. it may not feel like much, but if everyone does what they can, then our actions can go a long way.
share your recommendations if we missed any and we will do a follow-up post with your suggestions! <3
i (sam) was having a conversation with a therapist recently, and she was talking about feeling torn between feeling like she wasn't doing enough outside of work hours and also needing time to unplug. many of her clients understandably need a lot of space to process these horrific and rapid changes, and she shared that it was challenging for her to have the capacity also to organize community care or participate in other actions after those hours of holding space. there is a notion that we need to be ALL IN, doing all of the things. however, her talent lies in holding intentional and nurturing space for one person at a time, and that is enough. perhaps the restoration that client gets from that session will sustain their efforts, as well as prevent their burnout. community care and resistance doesn't look like spreading yourself thin or running yourself ragged. it looks like sustainable and steady efforts, with everyone focusing on their skill set and their capacities.
that is what a community is for, and that's its power.
recently, i was watching a youtube video by olisunvia who was discussing what we owe one another. she said that Emmanuel Levinas challenged what it means to exist and be and focused instead on what right we have to exist.
she started by describing phenomenology, which describes a first-person experience without any presumptions or biases. Levinas also mused that there is something unique about the human face that makes us aware of their humanity, before judgment - something that doesn't happen when we see people virtually (obviously, the virtual part of that is a modern addition). according to him, we see them as vulnerable, and he theorized that this makes us scared for them.
Levinas also stated that withholding or abstaining from active violence does not make us innocent, because being responsible for someone isn't only applicable in a situation where we owe someone something. we are responsible for others because we exist alongside others.
this theory says that we are not fundamentally free, we are fundamentally responsible. if you see someone suffering, even if they're a stranger, you have a responsibility to help.
"responsibility for my neighbour dates from before my freedom in an immemorial past, that was never present and is more ancient than consciousness." - Levinas.
olisunvia makes the point that when we think of the groups impacted by recent policy changes, it is perhaps hard for some to conjure empathy for a group we only know by a descriptive word. but all those people have a face we could look into. they all have a heart that beats the same blood as we do. they are fundamentally human, just as we are.
for this article, i partnered with shyanne from for the marigolds to come up with a variety of ways we can take action for ourselves and others - which Levinas reminds us are not so different.
shyanne is a twenty-five-year-old writer, who has written approximately 30 books over the course of the last 15 years. she is a Christian Afro-Latina who happens to be the eldest daughter, content creator/social media manager, and avid lover of Taylor Swift. she has a deep passion for advocacy whether that’s with children or social justice. she likes to to self-identify as a raging liberal, partially because it’s true, and partially because she thinks it’s fun to say. she works in social media management/content creation and project management.
here are some ideas for how to take action. choose what’s reasonable or feasible for you/your family, and commit. you don’t need to do all of these, but there is something on here for everyone.
note: these things, even the easier ones, take effort and sacrifice. again, do what you can, but don’t only do what’s easy, because then you’ll end up doing nothing. also, generations of your ancestors have survived without starbucks, you’ll be okay if you need to switch to a local coffee shop.
“Justice grows out of recognition of ourselves in each other — that my liberty depends on you being free too.”
— Barack Obama
to support*
local bookstores > amazon
local coffee shops > starbucks (they’re better anyway)
smiths / krogers, trader joe’s.
costco
delta airlines
just engage with and follow creators who are minorities to amplify their voices
attend your local drag shows! join and celebrate queer joy. also, despite the narrative that drag queens are scary predators, i (sam) have never felt safer than i have in these spaces.
local businesses!!! especially queer, minority, or women-owned businesses.
small businesses that have partnerships with target/amazon/walmart via their websites alternatively
*as far as i’m aware - i’m sure these companies aren’t perfect, and there might be information on them that i didn’t see. these are companies that haven’t publicly endorsed the current administration and (as of now) haven’t done any rollbacks on their dei programs. if you have other information, please comment below or send me an email!
to boycott*
not all of these are reasonable for every person, these are a list of ideas. this list is also not limited to these items. do what you can, because even if it’s just one thing or even reducing the amount spent at a location does add up.
target (rolling back dei)
walmart (rolling back dei)
mcdonald’s (dei)
ig and fb**
twitter / x (bluesky is a great alt)
paypal
amazon***, audible, goodreads (try libby for audiobooks and storygraph for goodreads)
whole foods
chatgpt
shein / temu
*to be clear, this list applies to those who can afford it. if you have to shop at walmart because it’s your only grocery store in your area or because it’s all that is accessible and affordable, by all means do! i grew up in a town where walmart was the only grocery store for 60 miles, at least. this list is for people who have the means to make other decisions.
** sam’s note: i’m struggling with this one. there is helpful information and resources on instagram, and also, do i want all the loving and open minded people to leave the platform so that it’s just an echo chamber for hatred? but, isn’t that kind of what it already is anyway?? perhaps this looks like deleting the app from a phone and checking it on a browser. perhaps this looks like making sure you don’t have any ig subscriptions (you probably don’t need that blue check mark you’re paying for)
***sam’s note: delivery services like amazon and walmart are helpful for people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or just people in rural areas with few options. again, it’s about doing what you can. and if you are able-bodied with financial security and ample resources, then boycott these things so that folks who can’t can use it.
funds
if you don’t have spare room in your budget, consider cancelling a subscription and using that money to donate, instead:
delete your amazon prime and donate $14.99 per month or $139 per year instead
audible: $14.95 per month or $179.40 per year
chatgpt: $20 per month or $240 per year
disney: $9.99 per month or $159.99 per year
stop having a starbucks drink once a week and donate $7 per week / $28 per month or $336 per year
Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid (MSMA) is made up of community organizations and hundreds of individual volunteers who are committed to supporting migrants arriving in DC
prepare
there is a line between doom-prepping and being prepared... a line we can’t know for everyone, but here are some community-sourced ideas.
setting up an appointment for birth control or using online platforms
costco sells plan b (generic) for less than $6
from the shorthorn: "Learn your rights as a citizen or immigrant and tell others in your network about their rights, from sources like the American Civil Liberties Union or United We Dream."
from NBC news: "Patiño said he is advising undocumented immigrants, especially young ones, to get legal screenings to find out if they are eligible for any kind of relief that may put them on a path to get legal immigration status. For those who are already in that process, Hidalgo recommends they always have their immigration paperwork up to date and carry the documents with them in case of an encounter with an immigration enforcement officer."
from them: "Remember — there is no case on marriage equality currently headed to the Supreme Court and, if there ever is a case, you will have time to prepare for the ruling. However, this is a time to stay alert, plan appropriately, and get your documents in order... The exact documents you may need depend on your situation, but Stoll recommends you consider a will to ensure your estate is handled properly, as well as medical directives that can guide your medical treatment and give loved ones decision-making power. For parents, Taylor recommends securing co-custody agreements and second-parent adoptions when possible."
“I learned that hope is not something that you have. Hope is something that you create, with your actions. Hope is something you have to manifest into the world, and once one person has hope, it can be contagious. Other people start acting in a way that has more hope.”
― Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
self-care & boundaries
there is a balance between staying informed and protecting your mental health. being plugged into the never-ending news cycle, commentary on news, and clips of news isn’t healthy. also, deciding to tune it out completely because it’s upsetting is ignorance and bypassing. so, how do we create this balance?
having a set time to access news. the frequency of staying informed is up to you.
make sure you’re consuming thoughtful and informed news outlets. stay away from rage bait or sensationalist news. take the time to fully read or watch information surrounding the news you are consuming. for example, read or watch about what an executive order is and what it means. understand what headlines mean and how they practically show up.
create a list of what you can and can’t control. this list will be different for everyone.
have boundaries set with loved ones about conversations regarding politics, regardless of their affiliation. if your relative is a trump supporter, perhaps the boundary is you never talk about politics, ever. maybe if it’s a friend or family member, the boundary is asking for consent before sharing politics.
act local: community matters even more at a time like this. connect with your loved ones, bake something for your neighbor, donate to a shelter, make an effort to help those experiencing homelessness that you see, volunteer for organizations in your area, etc. being around this love is also healthy for us because it can remind our weary hearts that goodness still thrives.
consume positive news, too. not in a toxic positive way, and not to replace the scary news, either. but in addition to the scary news, consume content that reminds you that people ARE good and resistance IS happening.
block accounts you don’t want to hear from, like potus, donald trump, jd vance, and all the fox news reporters
books to read
"If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?"— Alender Hamilton in Lin-Manuel Miranda's play, Hamilton
podcast
news/information outlets
PBS news
not a news outlet, but i (sam) love airplane mode by liz plank on substack
i (sam) enjoy the NYT, but there is a paywall. however, they do have a very cheap 3-month window, and you could also split the cost between a group (you can also read the NYT for free with a library card and Libby)
Associated Press
Devex
Lambda Legal’s Help desk is a resource for the community in providing general legal information and resources relating to discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, and HIV status.
“One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, and compassion.” ―Simone de Beauvoir
donation links
World Central Kitchen (a nonprofit that provides fresh meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises)
National Immigrant Justice Center (page includes donations and how to help in other ways, including funding lawyers)
Impact Ninja: 9 best charities for diversity and inclusion in 2025
other
instead of taking clothes etc to savers, selling at buffalo exchange, or selling on poshmark, consider finding a place to donate them locally that goes to survivors, those experiencing homelessness, etc
if attending protests is outside your availability for whatever reason, consider donating water bottles and snacks to protestors
host a donation party, where everyone brings a set amount of one kind of item to help make donation bags
whenever you go to the grocery store, get an extra water bottle and pre-made sandwich, etc, and find someone to give it to on the way home
Mobilize: helps people start and join organizations/committees for change
find your representatives and contact them. here are some templates:
ICE raids - PS please let us know if you find a better script online!
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