This past weekend, I organized a get together in my neighborhood. The effort was inspired by the 10 ACTIONS / 100 DAYS from the Women’s March on D.C.

Given that most people were focused (and attending) the SEATAC protest and/or preparing for the protest at Westlake Center, our mighty effort was very well attended, enjoyed, and most of all–appreciated.

People ordered their drinks and got to work.

Several folks wrote me on the side that they wanted to know how to do one in their neighborhood, so I thought I would share my materials so you can do one in your neighborhood before the next action comes out.

1. Make it easy for people to write a letter by giving them a template they can sign, or use to inspire their own story. These were taken from form letters I found online and the unity principles of the march. Use this or make your own! Make a label sheet for your senators.
2. Be inclusive. Have crayons for the kids.
3. Make it easy on yourself. Go to Kinko’s and use their paper cutter. Much easier.
4. Highlight a great place to meet and make sure you call ahead to work in conjunction with their down periods. We brought business and traffic to a local beer hall and exposed several people to a new place in town.
5. Get the word out through meetup, nextdoor.com, facebook groups, organizations in your community that care about what is happening and aren’t intimidated by appearing partisan.
6. Make it cheap.
   • Use 4×6 index cards as postcards.
   • Let people pick their issue and the representative they want to contact.
   • Tape everything down.
   • Materials all in cost me about $40 (tape, crayons, cards, copies, and postage for a few groups). I collected donations for about this much so broke even.

It should look something like one of these cards:

 

Postcards cost $.40!

People should send on their own, or you can collect donations. I did both. Most people wrote between 25-50 cards a person.

 

Folks enjoyed meeting one another. Genuine connections were made that would not have been otherwise. The reasons people shared for coming were:

• Every day I wake up and don’t know what to expect
• I don’t recognize my country anymore
• What’s happening isn’t what America is about
• I want to do my part
• I’m a therapist, and my latino/latina clients are feeling anxious and suicidal. I am here to represent them.
• Because I want to help but feel overwhelmed with all the lists I’m being sent my so many organizations. Having this helped me focus and feel like I’m doing something, with others, that matters.
• Because every call and letter count.

And…because….

“Bullies are mean and bullies are not allowed.”