This hit the spot! I believe we are kindred spirits! I have a long history of participating in "acting locally" activism. Not sure where I got it from (my parents didn't model it surely), but I always thought my compulsion to do something for the benefit of others was just because I'm wired as a sensitive person. I can't stand by and watch injustice without meeting it with some action. As a grade-schooler, I was always standing up for the bullied kid, even moreso than standing up for myself sadly. Later in life I was able to find so many local opportunities/causes to join and then as I built up experience, I started leading my own initiatives locally. And then professionally through international development and now through community development finance. Outside of my profession, I'm using Substack to support my activism internationally, supporting young artists and others in climate change and sustainable agriculture in Africa, working tirelessly to impact their communities. Like you, my obligations and life at home (as well as limitation on resources) prevent me from being the globe-trotting activist I always wanted to be. But, I've found a way to make it work. I am still able to muster time, energy, and my limited resources (using words and art and my Substacks) to make support others who know best what their communities need.
This is fantastic, Emily! (And yes, I agree that we're kindred spirits.) I know that territory all too well--tending to others while neglecting some of my own needs for an advocate. But I think that as each of us moves forward through adulthood, those ways that we eventually learn to self-advocate are what allow us to more reliably connect with communities and share our gifts, experiences, and resources in a transformative way. You most definitely are having an impact! I'm so glad we've connected through Substack and can support one another, too.
Your reflection on the essence of activism resonates deeply with me, especially as we navigate different cultural landscapes. The idea that activism can take many forms, from grand gestures to small, consistent actions, aligns with my experience of engaging in social activism across different countries.
In Germany, for example, activism often feels more reserved, rooted in a desire for social order and avoiding confrontation, whereas in the U.S., there seems to be more space for bold and visible expressions of dissent. I have felt more socially accepted in the U.S., where public activism is encouraged and often celebrated, compared to Germany, where I have sometimes felt resistance to embracing activist identities.
Yet, your emphasis on authenticity and personal alignment with one’s values transcends these cultural differences. It reminds me that activism doesn't have to look a certain way—it only needs to reflect who we truly are and what we stand for. I appreciate your invitation to redefine activism in a way that resonates with our unique capacities and contexts.
Thank you for reminding us that every action, big or small, can contribute to a collective shift, and that finding our own way to contribute is what truly matters.
Jay, thank you for joining the conversation! I wrote a longer response on your restack (I meant to do it here, but my Substack skills failed me). I appreciate you sharing your observations and experience! 😊
Lori, I love how you clarified what it means to be an activist and how we can start with micro-steps. Thanks for sharing your personal activist story, too!
This hit the spot! I believe we are kindred spirits! I have a long history of participating in "acting locally" activism. Not sure where I got it from (my parents didn't model it surely), but I always thought my compulsion to do something for the benefit of others was just because I'm wired as a sensitive person. I can't stand by and watch injustice without meeting it with some action. As a grade-schooler, I was always standing up for the bullied kid, even moreso than standing up for myself sadly. Later in life I was able to find so many local opportunities/causes to join and then as I built up experience, I started leading my own initiatives locally. And then professionally through international development and now through community development finance. Outside of my profession, I'm using Substack to support my activism internationally, supporting young artists and others in climate change and sustainable agriculture in Africa, working tirelessly to impact their communities. Like you, my obligations and life at home (as well as limitation on resources) prevent me from being the globe-trotting activist I always wanted to be. But, I've found a way to make it work. I am still able to muster time, energy, and my limited resources (using words and art and my Substacks) to make support others who know best what their communities need.
This is fantastic, Emily! (And yes, I agree that we're kindred spirits.) I know that territory all too well--tending to others while neglecting some of my own needs for an advocate. But I think that as each of us moves forward through adulthood, those ways that we eventually learn to self-advocate are what allow us to more reliably connect with communities and share our gifts, experiences, and resources in a transformative way. You most definitely are having an impact! I'm so glad we've connected through Substack and can support one another, too.
Your reflection on the essence of activism resonates deeply with me, especially as we navigate different cultural landscapes. The idea that activism can take many forms, from grand gestures to small, consistent actions, aligns with my experience of engaging in social activism across different countries.
In Germany, for example, activism often feels more reserved, rooted in a desire for social order and avoiding confrontation, whereas in the U.S., there seems to be more space for bold and visible expressions of dissent. I have felt more socially accepted in the U.S., where public activism is encouraged and often celebrated, compared to Germany, where I have sometimes felt resistance to embracing activist identities.
Yet, your emphasis on authenticity and personal alignment with one’s values transcends these cultural differences. It reminds me that activism doesn't have to look a certain way—it only needs to reflect who we truly are and what we stand for. I appreciate your invitation to redefine activism in a way that resonates with our unique capacities and contexts.
Thank you for reminding us that every action, big or small, can contribute to a collective shift, and that finding our own way to contribute is what truly matters.
Jay, thank you for joining the conversation! I wrote a longer response on your restack (I meant to do it here, but my Substack skills failed me). I appreciate you sharing your observations and experience! 😊
Great article Lori, very well grounded in experience, wisdom and commitment to social values. So helpful to unpack the terms activism and activist.
Thanks, Sally! I’m glad this approach resonated with you.
Lori, I love how you clarified what it means to be an activist and how we can start with micro-steps. Thanks for sharing your personal activist story, too!
Thanks so much, Sandra! ❤️
This piece really spoke to my activist self!! Thank you, Lori <3
Thanks, Mesa! I’ve loved discovering so many other writer-activists like you on Substack. It’s a great community for us! 🩵