Take Action

“You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result.”

—Gandhi

You have the power to speak out, to make your voice heard, to make a difference. The question is – how?

If you’re interested in taking action, be sure to check out our Resources page, where you can find links to dozens of organizations offering resources and action ideas on a wide range of issues, as well as a list of magazines, blogs, and books for teen girls who want to make a difference. And if you’re looking for ways you can take action on the issues that matter to you, try some of these ideas…

Madison community leader Abha Takkar facilitating a workshop on community power at The Young Women's Leadership Forum, October 2007.

Volunteer. Are you interested in working with local organizations on issues like education, civic engagement, women’s health, environmental conservation, the arts, homelessness, and racial justice? Log on to the United Way of Dane County’s database of Madison-area volunteer opportunities, VolunteerYourTime.org, and search for one-time volunteer opportunities, ongoing volunteer opportunities, or internships. The United Way of Dane County also releases an annual listing of local volunteer and internship opportunities especially for youth – click here to see an online copy of their booklet. You can also find it at your local public library, your community center, or your school’s counseling office. And if you’re looking for opportunities to volunteer in other parts of the U.S. or in other countries, try Idealist.org, a database of volunteer and internship opportunities with social justice organizations worldwide.

Intern. Did you know that many local organizations offer internships to high school students? If you’re passionate about an issue and are willing to commit to working for an organization for a summer for for a semester, an internship can be a great way to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make a difference – as well as an opportunity to gain skills in areas like communications, fundraising, research, event-planning, community outreach and organizing, policy advocacy, and electoral politics. Looking for an internship? Try VolunteerYourTime.org or Idealist.org. Most internships are unpaid and require a commitment of at least 8-12 hours per week.

Host a FUNdraiser. Party with a purpose! Raise awareness of an issue that you care about by organizing a party to benefit a local, national, or global organization whose inspires you. (Looking for a worthy cause to support? Head over to our Resources page.) Ask party-goers to bring cash or a check made out to the organization – or non-perishable food, toiletries, clothes, or books to donate to a local food pantry or shelter. Try calling ahead to ask the food pantry or shelter what they most need. (For a list of Madison area food pantries, click here.) You can also try calling or emailing the organization your party is supporting to ask for information you can share with your guests – many will send you brochures or even a quick movie about their work. Other FUNdraising ideas: organize a walk-athon or a run, a bake sale, a dance-a-thon, or a benefit concert for your cause.

Girls Inc. dancers performing at the Madison SOS mural unveiling celebration, September 2008.

Organize a teach-in. Holding teach-ins at school – events with speakers, workshops, movies, performances, or other activities – can be a great way to raise awareness of issues you care about. Some Madison high schools, for example, have hosted teach-ins on violence against women, sexuality and safe sex, war and genocide, and abortion and reproductive rights. If you want to hold a teach-in, ask a teacher to help you organize the event, get permission from school administrators, find a place at school to host your teach-in, and recruit teachers to bring their classes to the teach-in. Try contacting local or national organizations, like those listed on our Resources page, for help organizing workshops and finding speakers.

Tell decision-makers what you think. Your opinion on the local and national issues affecting your life really matters to the people who represent you in Madison government, at the state capitol, and in Washington. Honest. Here’s why: most elected officials like to hear from the people who they represent and the people who their decisions affect, because it helps them make better-informed and more effective decisions. And since they rarely hear from youth, they’re likely to listen to what you say. Click here to learn how to get in touch with your elected officials by phone, email, or snail mail. (Tip: If you’re speaking out about a current issue, it’s usually best to call or email, as snail mail can sometimes take too long.)

Write a letter to the editor. Writing a letter to the editor of a local or national newspaper is a great way to tell the world what’s on your mind – and to convince other people why they should care about an issue that matters to you. Click here for tips on how to write a letter and info on where to send it.

Start a book group. Get a group of friends together to read and discuss books on social justice and social change. For some suggestions, see our list of recommended Books.

Host a movie night. Invite friends over to watch and discuss a movie about an issue affecting women – it’s a great way to combine fun with awareness-raising. Looking for movies? Try Iron-Jawed Angels, the story of women’s fight for the right to vote, starring Hillary Swank; A Powerful Noise, the story of three women in Mali, Vietnam and Bosnia who overcome amazing odds to create lasting change in their communities; or media activist Jean Kilbourne’s Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising’s Image of Women. Or share social change YouTube hits like the Dove Evolution of Beauty, The Girl Effect, or The Story of Stuff.

Organize a girlcott. Also known as a boycott. Encourage friends, classmates, teachers, parents, neighbors, and MySpace or Facebook friends not to buy from companies that violate worker’s rights, human rights, or environmental regulations. Make your action even more powerful by calling, writing, or emailing the company. Read about a famous recent girlcott, organized by 23 Pennsylvania girls activists against Abercrombie and Fitch. The girlcott was organized after A&F released shirts with slogans like “Who Needs Brains When You Have These?”, “All Men Like Tig Old Bitties,” and “Had a Nightmare Last Night I Was a Brunette.” Eventually, the girlcott organizers met with A&F executives, who agreed to stop selling two of the most offensive t-shirts.

Log on. On Facebook, you can join or start a Cause, a tool that allows you to raise awareness and money for everything from education to animal welfare to global poverty. Loads of websites offer online action networks, where you can find ideas for action projects and take action online by emailing important decision-makers to ask them for your support of an issue that matters to you. Some examples include CNN Impact, the World Wildlife Fun Conservation Action Network, the CARE Action Network, Equality Now’s Women’s Action Network, and the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin e-Action Network.

Young Women's Leadership Forum participants in a workshop on grassroots activism strategies, October 2007.

Take the lead. Joining a school or community group dedicated to social change is great, but making a commitment to the group by taking on a leadership role is even better – whether that means leading a project, organizing a fundraiser, running for president of the group, or helping the group identify and recruit other members and leaders. Also consider these national leadership opportunities: Mercy Corp’s Global Citizen Corps, DoSomething.org’s Youth Advisory Council, Advocates for Youth’s International Youth Leadership Council and Young Women of Color Leadership Council, Girl Scouts of the USA’s National Board Leadership Lanes, and the Pro-Choice Public Education Project’s Young Women’s Leadership Council.

Run for office. Did you know that in Wisconsin, women hold only about 10% of elected and high-level appointed offices in federal, state, tribal, and local governments? (To learn more, click here.) Wisconsin needs more women – young and old – at every level of elected office! No matter how old you are, consider running for any elected office, from student council president to mayor (if you’re at least 18). Never let your age discourage you: the current mayors of Union, Oregon; Mount Carbon, Pennsylvania; Roland, Iowa; and Hillsdale, Michigan were all 18 when they were elected! To learn more about running for office and women’s leadership, check out The White House Project, an organization dedicated to advancing women leaders at all levels of American government.

Connect. Sometimes it’s hard to find other girls and young women who share your passion for making change. These organizations offer great opportunities for women and youth to learn about creating social change – and connect with like-minded people: The Eleanor Roosevelt Center [link to: www.ervk.org/html/glw.html] hosts a ten-day Girls’ Leadership Workshop each year for girls around the world interested in social justice and human rights. Take the Lead! at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts is an annual high school leadership summit for action-oriented young women. The Girls Leadership Institute offers camps and workshops across the country for girls to develop their leadership potential. In Chicago, the Midwest Academy trains young leaders in community organizing, and in the Bay Area, the School of Unity and Liberation offers young women, youth of color, and LGBTQ youth training in grassroots leadership. Across the country, Wellstone Action holds weekend-long trainings for student activists on running successful campaigns and movements for social change. And right here in Madison, the Grassroots Leadership College runs workshops and a semester-long program open to people of all ages on community leadership.

Act out! Bring attention to your cause with a rally, walk-out, protest, sit-in, street theater, or another direct action. But before that: Know Your Rights as a protester! Also check out the ACLU of Northern California’s guide to student walk-outs and free speech at school.

Madison SOS teen leaders painting the Madison SOS mural, July 2008.

Make art to make change. Express yourself and your views through visual art, writing, zine-making, slam poetry, dance, theater, or any other art form of your choice!

Organize. If nobody else is doing what you want to do, consider launching your own organization. Click here for a guide from the National Organization for Women on starting a high school club for gender equality (or any other social justice issue).

Activism is fun, exciting – and powerful.

But activism also takes resources, especially time, people, and money. If you’re looking for funding to help you create the change you envision, check out some of these local and national foundations:

Good luck! We can’t wait to see what you do to transform Madison.