There is a simple and catchy chant haunting my
waking thoughts. I heard it echo down Market Street and into Luther Ely Smith
Square on the voices of thousands the day after Inauguration Day. One female
voice would begin to shout, then women and men alike picked up the call and
response chant over and over: “This is what democracy looks like!”
The Women’s March in Washington D.C., here in St.
Louis, and in every major American city had the remarkable effect of propelling
millions of women out from behind computer screens in their homes and into the
streets to look each other in the eyes with common cause. Marchers, media, and
members of Congress are now all asking the same questions: “What comes next?
What will democracy look like for this group moving forward?”
As Former-President Obama urged in his Farewell Address, “If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing.” In order
for a new women’s movement to gain traction and start changing the world, the
next step participants will have to take is to march back to their computers
armed with newfound inspiration and local networks. Now is the time to do the
next scary thing and learn new skills that lie firmly outside of most personal
comfort zones. Now is the time to learn how to effectively advocate for all the
things worth shouting about.
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| Late night organizing in a Washington D.C. hotel. Super glamorous, yeah? |
Truly effective advocacy work is hard and
unglamorous. It requires making commitments and carving out time from already
busy schedules. It means joining groups with people who probably don’t feel
exactly the way you do about all things in life. Listening to them, learning
from them, and making compromises is necessary to form strong and lasting teams.
Organizing
with respect and persistence is difficult, but ultimately so much more
effective and satisfying than shouting into a cyber abyss alone. New
organizers and advocates will need to remember the exhilaration from the march
to sustain energy in the rigorous work of organizing and taking actions.
My own dream is for us – no matter where we stand
politically – to capture the energy of this moment and transform it into actions
that defend human rights and empower women to break the cycle of poverty for
themselves and for their children. If we can launch an unprecedented movement
of citizen advocacy and hard work to change policies, then it will be a true
success for years to come.
My advice to activists is this: Keep in touch with
your social media connections and commit to working together in real life. Find
people working on the same issues that you are passionate about. Meet face-to-face
with each other and connect with a reputable advocacy group to teach you the
skills you need. Support each other to overcome inhibitions and get up to speed
quickly, so you can train others on how to call Congress and write letters.
Learn how to write letters to the editor. And then, finally, take that leap to
sit down face to face with your members of Congress and their aides. Unlock your power as a citizen and
inspire Congress to work together to change the world. Because this is what democracy looks like.
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| A meeting of constituents with U.S. Representative Jan Schakowksy |
