The Softer Side of Activism

Perhaps you're a little unsure about suddenly becoming more involved in the political sphere. Never fear! You do not have to have a political goal or message to become an activist. Political activism is just one side of the coin. Social and community activism is just as equally important.


Being an active part of your community can come in a varity of forms. Everything from picking up trash at the beach to serving food to the homeless at your local soup kitchen qualifies as a form of activism. Remember, activism is simply a set of actions and attitudes that seek to promote change based on an ideology or goal. Therefore, your desire to have cleaner and less poluted beaches qualifies as an activist goal.


Why get involved? The answer is simple, really. Could you imagine a place where members of the community did not help one another or where the members didn't care about the success of their society? Whether your desire is to initiate positive change in the lives of those that reside in your community or whether your goal is to improve the actual physical community you reside in, it would be hard to argue that some level of change isn't needed.


So, find the change you believe needs some attention and make your efforts to go and change it.
Here are some ideas:


1. Become involved in a local homeless shelter
2. Volunteer as a candy striper at a local hospital
3. Work in a mentorship program for troubled teens
4. Become an afterschool tutor for high school students
5. Pick up trash on local beaches and parks
6. Paint over graffitied walls and bridges
7. Help organize a community walk for a cause (cancer, aids, ect)
8. Visit a retirement home and spend an afternoon with an elderly person
9. Donate part of your paycheck to an organization like the ASPCA or UnitedWay
10. Volunteer at your local Salvation Army or Red Cross


Click here for more opportunities.