We’re in a time in which national and international politics shift quickly. On this page, I’ll collect some strategies for helping communities which may be experiencing attempts at disruption or disenfranchisement.

Focus on the Immediate

Is someone you already know experiencing hardships induced by this event? Share your motives, and offer specific help.

For example, “Hey, I noticed you mentioned you’ve been stopped on your way to work twice in the last week. It’s frustrating to me to hear that kind of thing is happening in our neighborhood, and I feel helpless when I hear about it happening to friends. Wanna carpool together next week? I don’t know if it’ll help, but if something happens, at least we can try handling it together.”

Never offer more help than you can afford to give freely, without anything in return. Part of the value here is solidarity, and actions of charity (even well-intended) can split up your relationship and remove your friend’s agency.

I like to focus on folks I know first, and then folks in my neighborhood, and then folks in my city. The way your list is arranged might be different than mine.

On Finances, Charity, and Solidarity

The first priority here is to foster a community that’s more tightly-connected, where your own routine and experiences are impacted by the quality of their life, just a bit. This is especially important if you’re coming from a position with more privilege.

Even if you give money somewhere, simply living your life alongside someone more directly-impacted can be a helpful thing. It makes it much harder for your actions to feel like simple charity, and much more like cohesive community or solidarity. One solidarity method I’ve seen in the past is ‘buddy families’– where families with children of similar ages ‘pair’ up together for playdates and errands, to help each other get through difficult times.

If there’s a financial need, I prefer to give anonymously. Sometimes folks think about money differently, and I find navigating that can sometimes be tiring or stressful. By giving anonymously, I’m removing my relationship to the money and preventing my advocacy on its behalf. I’m fully trusting recipient with it. That extension of trust is the most meaningful part of the action to me, even though it’s invisible to them. In this way, I’m giving a gift that’s both financial and a gift of trust in my community member, in a way that impacts each of us.

Give the Toughest-To-Get Thing Folks Need

Do you have a special resource or skill? Share it.

It can be easy to get stuck in the trap of offering time or skills that feel humbling and direct. This kind of work is fantastic and important, and a great place to start. However, often there are other needs that are harder for a group to meet. If you have a special skill, like first aid, grant-writing, building maintenance, or web design, there’s a good chance that folks have been looking for help, but might not have advertised it.

If you get to know an org through something like helping pack meals or tabling at an event, ask some of the folks who’ve been there longer if there are additional needs or skills they’ve struggled to find, while you’re there. You might be able to save them time and money, preventing them having to hire another specialist.

On Specificity and Pacing

Sometimes, a group isn’t in a position to use more-specific help, and that’s okay too. It’s also okay if you aren’t able to donate a skill you use to financially support yourself– it can be easy to get overworked.

I find it useful to be direct about what I can offer, and to be mindful of coordination overhead. One way I’ve done this in the past is offering a time-box (Saturdays, for the next 2 months, from 11 am to 4 pm), and a specific offer (I will run a training on a topic of your choice from this list), whenever a coordinating volunteer books a venue and announces the event. This way, I’m not keeping all of my time open for something that may not happen, but the event coordinator knows I’m available when they need me.

Depending on the needs in your community, the time that feels appropriate to give may vary. It’s okay to do less when needs feel less intense– it’s a great way to recover and to keep some capacity available if needs escalate again. I do encourage keeping in contact, though. Keeping an occasional check-in can help you stay connected with your community.

Above the Median

Although it’s kind of no-fun, if you work a higher-earning job, the best use of your time or resources might actually be providing financial backing. Ask around– small grants (between $1,000 and $10,000) can sometimes enable an enormous amount of change, with the right plan and an attentive volunteer.

You can also use your network at your place of employment (very carefully!) to tap into other high-earners’ donations. A minimally-disruptive thing, like an event flyer in the lunchroom or mentioning a volunteer opportunity at the coffee pot, can be really helpful in getting aid networks connected to communities with resources to share. Focus on your personal connection to the organization or cause, and don’t apply any pressure– just inform. This can help avoid uncomfortable discussions with HR.

Same Budget, More Impact

Money can be tough to get, and often can address needs that can’t be met in other ways. Here are some ideas for adjustments you can make to help your resources do more good.

Solidarity as a Lifestyle

Some organizations can offer direct food assistance in addition to your donated money. This can mean that you donate an amount monthly to help fund food aid, and receive the same produce and ingredients that your neighbors would. This can be a nice way to make the money in your existing budget work a little harder.

Support Community Spaces

Is there a grocery store that an at-risk community usually uses? A transit line? A library or community center? Adapt your routine to make use of it instead of a space that isn’t in as much risk.

Spaces and businesses close when people stop going to them. When businesses and gathering spaces close, they make rebuilding community after an event harder. Adding a few minutes to your trip can help prevent a business or community space from closing permanently.

You can even help your neighbors in making the same switch by offering to pick up their grocery list there, or carpooling together. One strategy that’s worked well for me in the past is offering a weekly grocery delivery for a fixed cost ($25-$30) from a smaller neighborhood grocer, and curating a meal or two, and a few snacks in it. This can make coordination easier, and can help neighbors find new foods and recipes.

Lean Into Art

Heading to a museum? Jonesing for some live music? Keep an open mind when looking for art and events in your area. Often-times, art from non-Western areas is dramatically under-valued… which often means that you can afford tickets to a world-class musician or visual arts exhibit that might have otherwise been out of your budget.

Go see what folks in your area are making, curating, or listening to, even if you might not be the the first audience for your work. Great art is probably universal– go see some and try to prove me wrong. 😉

Listen to Impacted Folks

The goal of many of these disruptions is often simple disenfranchisement. Listening to, and believing, your targeted neighbors can help keep your community cohesive throughout an event like this. Don’t expect someone to speak for their entire community, or to want to engage really deeply outta nowhere. But staying connected and keeping a vested interest in your neighbors well-being can keep communities vibrant and resilient.