“Everything feels so hopeless. I just don’t know what to do,” is a sentiment that seems to have grown increasingly common. The world as it currently stands is exhausting and difficult and coming at all of us very fast. For some people, that’s a newer feeling. For others, it’s the same, tired routine. Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum of awareness when it comes to the state of society, it’s important to not allow those overwhelming feelings of helplessness and despair to keep you from trying to make the world even just a teeny bit more livable. I personally believe very firmly in universal human dignity and our responsibility to uphold it. I also believe that everyone has a duty to those around them, whether they are strangers or loved ones, classmates you see for three hours a week or a best friend you’ve known your whole life. The idea that we “don’t owe anyone anything” is not only nonsensical, but completely counterintuitive to the desire people have for community. Your community, your village, your found family exists in the spaces you carve out when you’re doing things simply for the sake of others, with zero expectations in return. And with luck, this short guide will give you a starting point for how to take actionable steps toward improving the world around you, making those little ripples with the hope that they turn into big waves somewhere down the line. 

The idea of a “social change ecosystem” allows for the establishment of various archetypes, roles that people need to take on in order to implement any real change in a society. It can work on an individual or organization-sized level. It’s flexible and inclusive of the different circumstances people may find themselves in. It insists that change can be brought about by anyone from any angle. I prefer the concept because of its aversion to limits and find that it offers a myriad perspective of what it means to put positive action out into the world. This one in particular was developed by the Building Movement Project, so I encourage consulting their guide for further details. 

Weavers

The role of a Weaver is primarily an organizational one. As defined by the Building Movement Project’s guide, they “see the through-lines of connectivity between people, places, organizations, ideas, and movements.” In essence, a Weaver is someone who can see the parts of a cause that are unifying, and highlight those for the benefit of others, often making them particularly adept at leading. If you feel drawn to helping other people find a place and a fight worth fighting, it would be worth it to begin joining in on social issues you feel particularly drawn to so that you may unite groups together into a coalition or committee. One easy way to start is by looking on UEngage for clubs that promote similar ideals to you. Most of the organizations on campus are relatively small, allowing you access to people who may have connections outside of the student body, linking you to local or even national movements. 

Experimenters

An Experimenter is someone who is interested in innovation, risk-taking, and pioneering new ways to approach social problems. They tend to be flexible, making them especially important when movements hit a standstill. When it comes to small, grassroots organizing, Experimenters can help in keeping the group moving forward and are similar to Disrupters, which we will explore later. The major distinction, however, is that Experimenters work within the group rather than taking actions outside the group. From what it looks like, they’d work well with Weavers to get things organized and keep it all rolling, so if you’re someone who would enjoy providing energy and support to those who are setting out goals, this might be the role for you. One way to approach becoming an Experimenter is to consider the ways that certain objectives can be achieved and then finding the best, most energizing way to get there. 

Frontline Responders

Another, more leader-oriented role, Frontline Responders are best in times of crisis, organizing a network of resources and communications for the community. People who are prepared to work in high-stress situations and are comfortable networking would be best fit for the jobs of a Frontline Responder. It’s also important to consider the necessity of having a team of Frontline Responders, as there is no possible way to face large crises alone. Being a team player will be essential to this role, in addition to the ability to prioritize tasks in order to make the most positive change. I encourage people to read Lifehouse by Adam Greenfield, even if it’s just the preface. He addresses the way that New Yorkers responded to Hurricane Sandy, helping their communities where governmental agencies failed. Frontline Responders would be the lifeblood of a structure like a Lifehouse, a beacon for people during a critical period. Learning about the most pressing catastrophes facing your community, be it homelessness, food insecurity, or natural disasters, and looking at who all is already dedicated to alleviating the pain would be a good place to start. Get involved with local shelters, food pantries, organizations that are working to provide safe spaces for kids. Take a training with the Red Cross or a harm reduction clinic. These groups are good ways to get on-the-job training for potential emergencies. 

Visionaries

As much as we need pragmatic and grounded members of this ecosystem, we also need people who see the world as a blank canvas upon which we can paint our greatest creation. Visionaries are essentially the compass, generating bold ideals for the future and maintaining that direction for all other members. Similar to the Experimenter, they are pioneers, but their goal is to create a sense of encouragement more than anything else. To be a Visionary means possessing a radical imagination, and for that I encourage taking a look at the book Let This Radicalize You by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba. Just in the foreword, Maya Schenwar talks about meeting Kaba in a coffee shop and being confronted with the question, “Well, what do you think we should do?” This was Kaba’s response every time Schenwar asked for Kaba’s opinion on what should be done to address some social ill. Kaba was insisting that Schenwar think for herself, creating a future she’d most want to live in. For the Visionaries, this is a role to be taken on for the good of focusing the group. Synthesize the future you want, the future those around you share, and make it bigger and brighter. Then set yourself to the task of keeping the momentum going toward that target, even when things get difficult. 

Builders

If Frontline Responders are manning the Lifehouse, then Builders are the ones to construct it. As a Builder, you would look at a problem, find a solution, and implement it into existence. The primary job of a Builder is to make tangible the ideas of the Experimenter and the Visionary. Take the blueprint and turn it real. This will require planning and teamwork, direction and drive. It also requires trusting in and believing in the vision of the group as a whole, since the Builder’s role will seem much more obvious to onlookers. If you’re someone who enjoys “doing” instead of just “conceptualizing,” this is probably the path you’d most enjoy taking. If someone says they are lacking access to birth control, a problem the group feels is best solved by finding the resources to provide free birth control, then the Builder can find organizations that supply birth control vending machines. They can work with that org to then install said vending machine, finding a solution to the problem that will make a material impact. 

Caregivers

In every fight, it is important to have people around that are willing to be the support. As  a Caregiver, the bulk of your responsibility would be on the wellbeing of those around you, ensuring that they are properly taken care of so they can carry out their intended tasks. One way this can work is to provide meals to those working on a labor-intensive project. Maybe it’s as simple as making sandwiches for your neighbors as they fix a fellow neighbor’s broken porch steps, or maybe it’s something larger like ordering pizza for union workers on strike. Sometimes it might be opening up your home to coalition members for a film night or being a shoulder to cry on. Big or small, the Caregivers of a social change ecosystem should be ready to bolster others around them to the best of their abilities.

Healers

Similar to Caregivers, Healers are focused on the wellness of those around them. That being said, their focus is more clinical, a careful attention to the traumas created by systems and policies, institutions and the powers that be. They are tasked with trying to dismantle the things that are hurting us in our society, those baked-in, invisible forces that make it harder for people to live, while also finding nuanced ways to navigate the pains that those forces have already caused. It’s incredibly painstaking, taking on systemic racism or transphobia or the patriarchy, but it’s a job for those who are adept at excising the pain so that it doesn’t plague us anymore. Get comfortable addressing people in positions of authority, attend city council meetings to petition for city-wide changes to policy, find the people at your institution who want the atmosphere to be more inclusive and band together to make sure change is carried out. Look at the ways that the environment you exist in can be more comfortable for everyone and chase those possibilities. 

Disrupters

In my mind, Disrupters are pretty much the people willing to get down and dirty in order to achieve their goals. Think direct action members, people shutting down arms factories to prevent weapons shipments that will no doubt be used to slaughter people in Palestine, in Congo, in Sudan, in Kashmir. These are people who are fine with getting yelled at, getting arrested, facing down cops in riot gear. They’re okay with being in dangerous situations, but most importantly, are not taking risks simply for the sake of taking risks. One thing that some people don’t realize is that organizing doesn’t work when people decide to go rouge and endanger others around them. You need trust, and in this case, Disrupters are required to maintain an intense level of trust with their fellow companions. If there are an inordinate amount of cops at a protest, they will feel comfortable standing at the front of the line but should also be the most knowledgeable in how to direct anti-kettle formations and how to perform de-arrests. There is an important balance to be struck when you’re willing to put yourself right in the heat of it all, and a Disrupter should be able to do just that. 

Storytellers

In the process of tearing down oppressive systems, there needs to be people who are dedicated to preserving the history of the movement. If there are groups suffering under a regime, there should be others taking notes and keeping the stories of the community alive. This is the task of Storytellers, individuals who are good with recording experiences, cultures, and narratives in ways that not only keep them safe and true, but also allow them to be distributed. Art, music, movement, and other forms of media are the main tools in a Storyteller’s toolkit. Writing for your local student magazine, filming a documentary on a topic that matters to you, going into the National Archives and preserving the legacies of people that the government would rather forget are just a few of the ways you can lend your energy to a movement. Team up with others who are looking to make sure every voice is heard, then keep people from forgetting the good and bad things that happen in the world. 

Guides

While many of the other roles in this ecosystem are ones that can be joined at any stage in your organizing journey, Guides tend to have inherited the position based on prior experience. Teaching, counseling, and advising are the main jobs Guides are tasked with, making them the main resource for people who are just entering into an organizing space. They should be patient and discerning, ready to answer questions while also gradually pushing new members into deeper waters, where they will learn how to find a place for themselves. It’s a role for personable people who are focused most on the ways to help people feel at home, like they have a purpose, like they will figure it all out. They are the gateway, but never the gatekeeper. Some ways to get started in being a Guide would be anything as simple as writing a “How-To Manual” on a topic you are familiar with, sharing your knowledge with others, or you can take people under your wing when they join a cause you’ve already been an active part of. The main goal is simply to grow your movement to the best of your abilities, in a way that is sustainable and grounding for everyone involved. 

And while I think that personal responsibility can only go so far in a society that is largely damaged at the hands of corporations and the rich, there are some personal actions you can take. They’re not going to make huge impacts globally on their own, but they will certainly improve your sense of control and, when combined with the efforts of others worldwide, have the potential to make massive amounts of change. See what you’re able to implement.

1. Pick every non-plastic option you can

2. Cut down on your consumerism wherever possible

3. Go to the library, go to the library, go to the library (if you can’t go, at least use the apps, Libby and Hoopla)

4. Learn how to administer Narcan and carry a bottle on you just in case 

5. Compost your food scraps if you have the space

6. Learn basic first aid

7. Join organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine, the Intersectional Feminist Alliance, the Intersectional Pro-Choice Assembly, any of the student unions, or other service based groups

8. Figure out what resources your town has for new immigrants

9. Bear witness to the genocides being committed around the world

10. Don’t cross the picket line!! (learn what union workers are striking and then do what you can to support them)

11. Boycott goods that come from or have close ties to Israel and the UAE

12. Learn why you should be boycotting products from Israel and the UAE

13. Attend a teach-in on a topic that resonates with you (there are so many online!)

14. Join a coalition or a club or an organization or a book club!! Find your people!!

The last thing I’ll leave you with is a list of some resources and people to follow. These are the places I go to learn, connect, and grow, so maybe they’re not all to your taste. But I do hope they serve as a solid jumping off point in some way.

Instagram:

1. @frontlinemedics: Mainly made up of medical workers, the Frontline Medics Collective is a great place to get information regarding healthcare. They’re also Indigenously-focused, meaning that their work examines alternatives outside of a Western framework. 

2. @ismatu.gwendolyn: Ismatu Gwendolyn is a mental health practitioner who made the radical decision to stop charging clients and essentially live off of mutual aid. They have amazing insights into the role of the artist, the importance of community, and what it means to look out for others. 

3. @slowearthfactory: A liberatory collective that also puts out their own “textbooks,” Slow Earth Factory offers online courses and seminars, some of them completely free of charge. Others require payment, but their resources are vast, so they have plenty to learn from at no cost to yourself. 

TikTok

1. @crutches_and_spice: Imani Barbarin has an Instagram and a blog as well, but Tiktok is the place I found her first. She’s my personal go-to for information on combatting ableism and learning more about disability rights.  

2. @HillmanTokUniversity: A collection of Black educators and professionals, HillmanTok is a digital phenomenon to keep up with. There are hundreds of courses up for free, all conveniently available on TikTok. 

Book Presses

1. Verso: I might actually have a slight spending problem when it comes to Verso, but they are really nice to provide ebooks with every purchase of a physical book, or you can just get the ebook. They also publish a blog on their site in case you don’t want to spend money. Most of what Verso publishes is nonfiction, but they also have some fiction. 

2. Pluto Press: I’m mostly including this one because Pluto Press published a book called Pirate Care, and I need to wheedle my TBR down enough to justify buying it. They publish similar content to Verso.

3. Haymarket Press: While Verso and Pluto Press often have sales, Haymarket Press is far more likely to have free ebooks from time to time. I got my copy of This Will Radicalize You from them during a free ebook deal, which I will be forever happy about. 

Independent News

1. Democracy Now: Completely viewer funded, Democracy Now provides some of the best news coverage if you’re looking for a global perspective. Also, Amy Goodman is just the GOAT, so, that’s a plus.