From the Introduction
"I’m scared. Can you help me?"This is one of the jarring questions we’ve fielded again and again, day in and day out, from friends, family, and coworkers since Inauguration Day 2017. After the 2016 election of Donald Trump, we too were afraid of threats to our freedom (and that of our neighbors), but we wanted to move as quickly as possible from states of fear and outrage to those of action.
In rapid response to the anxiety surrounding those Election Day results, we decided to do something about it—by creating a tactical field guide to understanding, using, and defending the rights we have and to fighting for the justice that we still need to achieve. We are writers, creatives, and community builders, and we’ve reached out to activists, journalists, artists, public servants, and business leaders to help create and share this resource for all of you who want to make a difference in whatever way you can.
"I’m angry. How can I channel that into something positive?"The majority of us are affected by discriminatory travel bans, attacks on reproductive freedom and sexual orientation, barriers to education and free expression, and economic anxiety about jobs, health care, and student loans. Still, this road map isn’t just about being against a particular political policy or position. Nope. Instead, we’re on a mission to demonstrate how to be for something, by getting more engaged in our communities, seeing and measuring progress, and protecting our rights and liberties every day (not just every four years). We believe in the power of the people, and that the adage about safety in numbers applies. A group of passionate citizens making their concerns known at a town hall meeting can move lawmakers from apathy to action quickly (if only out of self-preservation).
"I’m overwhelmed. Where do I start?"Whatever time you have to engage is enough to make a difference. We’ll show you how to be an effective advocate and make it count! You may already be an activist (or a slacktivist—no judgment here; doing anything is better than doing nothing at all!). If you can be a changemaker while saving time, you’re an effective revolutionary—and you’re in good company.
So, let’s go!
You want to make positive change, protect your community, and take back your power (starting with your hometown), right? The sky isn’t falling (yet); but if it were, wouldn’t you rather be out there finding a solution instead of hiding under your bed?
We know that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that tactics must be coupled with strategy and community building to form culture-shifting movements. But being proactive rather than reactive to the daily revelations of this truth-is-stranger-than-fiction world is a good position from which to start. Collaboration, consensus, and shared ideals are critical to turning ideas into action. Creating micromovements, tracking results, correcting course, and consistently building on successes that lead to tangible results are game-changing tactics. We aim to help you figure out what you want to do—and how to do it.
Is it possible to make change and still get your kid to school on time (with ten minutes to spare before the board meeting)? It is if you know where to begin. And we have your road map right here.
The Road Map
In the pages ahead, this simple-to-follow, boots-on-the-ground, open-anywhere guidebook delivers practical tactics for navigating, affecting, and protecting your own personal democracy in a gridlocked, heavily surveilled, and politically volatile United States. With infographics, links to resources and communities, and words of wisdom from people already fighting the good fight, this guidebook is meant to be used and abused. It’s designed to move you from idea to action to part-time revolution in a quick, efficient, and effective manner.
What Will You Do? Run for local office? Create a statewide ballot initiative? Legalize cannabis in your state? Change your company’s family leave policies or your college’s sexual assault policies? Institutions in this country may seem impenetrable, but in this field guide we share stories, resources, and tactics from the pros who know what to do at every level.
So let’s get to it: We’ve got a revolution to attend to and we can’t make change without you!
Copyright © 2018 by Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, and Jamia Wilson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
