A close friend of mine messaged me this week and said, “Kim, what should we be doing right now? I’m not sure what we can do!”
My friend is not the only one asking this question – and if you’re feeling the same way, you’re not alone, either.
I think the heart of her question is not whether there’s anything to do – it’s that there’s too much that we need to do. The problems we need to solve are so big, bigger than any single one of us, and none of us can do it all.
I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve been thinking hard about how I can show up, keep fighting, and sustain myself in a fight that (real talk) is pretty heavy right now. So, I thought I’d share how I’m thinking about my part of this, and Power the Vote’s part of this, in case it helps someone who’s been asking the same questions.
- Staying in our lane, and staying the course: Speaking for myself and Power the Vote, we are resisting the temptation to give in to mission creep and to react to Republicans’ weaponized chaos. We’re focusing on the areas where we fill a gap – knowing that we’re just one part of the larger fabric of people and organizations rising to meet this moment. And we’re striving to live up to the promise of an inclusive democracy – ensuring that our work is serving the vulnerable communities most impacted by Republicans’ attacks on voting rights.
- Giving back in a way that also gives me joy: In deciding where to put my energy, I’m choosing the work that sustains me and gives me a deep sense of purpose. Helping voters, and supporting the voter protection community, gives me life and keeps me going!
- Choosing hope over despair: I do this work because (in spite of it all) I believe in the possibility of transformational change – and because fighting for democracy is the right thing to do. And the harder the road ahead, the greater my moral obligation to do my part to fight back.
- Prioritizing care, for myself and others: This is a marathon, not a sprint. It might seem counter-intuitive, but these last few weeks, I’ve been making the intentional choice to get more sleep and exercise and to find more time to disconnect from social media and the news cycle. I’ve heard from friends and allies who say they are tired, and they aren’t ready to rejoin the fight – I’m encouraging them to step back, knowing that when the time comes, they’ll support me when I need to do the same.
If this message finds you looking for connection, community, and a way to do something right now, I have a few ideas to share:
- Sign up for a virtual phone bank to recruit poll watchers to monitor the Wisconsin Supreme Court election coming up in April! (One of the most important elections this year!) Or, sign up for a Voter Protection 101 training from the Wisconsin Dems’ voter protection team.
- Read more about the SAVE Act, and tell your friends. The Act would require that all voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship and register to vote in person. Millions of eligible voters don’t have the required documents or would find it difficult to appear in person to register to vote.
- Looking for a hub for community and activism? Consider joining the VoPro Pros, a group of volunteers who take on projects aimed at protecting the right to vote!
With you for the long haul,
Kim Allen, Co-Founder, Power the Vote