If you have a lot of feelings about the election results and don’t know where to channel them, you are not alone. With one candidate winning the popular vote and the other winning the Electoral College, the election may be over, but the debate on who really won is just getting started.
If you are a woman, minority, immigrant or generally decent human being, you are probably feeling confused, with bouts of sadness and sprinkles of helplessness. But instead of being fearful and rolling over to endure a new regime, there are steps you can take to make sure your voice is heard and you and your needs are represented by your local officials. The first step? Getting involved.
Emily Ellsworth, former Congressional staffer of six years, took to Twitter to give her advice on how to get your Congressperson’s attention and help shape your local government. We’ve assembled her tweets and tips below, so check them out and get going!
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1. Get off the computer and throw it back with good old phone calls and snail mail
Remember, you deal directly with the staff when emailing or calling, so be kind to them — they are the ones who pass along your message!
First, tweeting or writing on Facebook is largely ineffective. I never looked at those comments except to remove the harassing ones.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
Second, writing a letter to the district office (state) is better than sending an email or writing a letter to DC.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
We repped half a million people, it was impossible to read and respond personally to all letters. Impossible.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
So, we batched them with computer algorithms and sent out form letters based on topic and position. Regardless of method received.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
But, phone calls! That was a thing that shook up our office from time. One time, a radio host gave out our district office phone # on air.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
It was exhausting and you can bet my bosses heard about it. We had discussions because of that call to action.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
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2. If you want to speak to your rep, get your butt to town hall meetings
If you want to talk to your rep, show up at town hall meetings. Get a huge group that they can't ignore. Pack that place and ask questions.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
As always, please be kind but firm with those staffers. They will listen and talk to you. I always, always did.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
Are you noticing a pattern here? The staff are the ones who run the ground game for Congress. Work on helping them understand and learn.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
Because, if the staff knows you, when they have a question about a piece of legislation or amendment, they will be the one you call.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 12, 2016
3. Focus on your own district — start with where you are and what you have
Lots are asking if it's useful to call a rep. outside your state/district.
NO. They will ignore you. Use your energy elsewhere.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 14, 2016
4. Figure out the issues you care about
Research, organize and recruit backup if you can.
Pick 2-3 issues you care deeply about, find good orgs to support and get on their lists. Help do their groundwork. Strength in numbers.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 14, 2016
5. Research the officials and their departments — who represents what in your state?
Learn more about how legislation moves through congress and committees and all those issues that back up your opinion with facts.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 14, 2016
You can find their numbers/website/everything here: https://t.co/tM1jyVSP8C. That will link to their official website.
— Emily Ellsworth Coleman (@editoremilye) November 14, 2016
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Now that you have an outline of how to go about getting involved, what are the issues you care about? Below is a list of organizations that need your help now. Donate, volunteer, call on their behalf and get informed.
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Anti-Defamation League
- Black Lives Matter
- Border Angels
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Campaign Zero
- Center for Reproductive Rights
- Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
- Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
- Earthjustice
- EMILY’s List
- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
- The Human Rights Campaign
- Lambda Legal
- League of Conservative Voters
- Mazzoni Center
- NARAL Pro-Choice America
- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
- National Immigration Law Center
- National Immigration Forum
- National Organization for Women (NOW)
- National Women’s Law Center
- Native American Rights Fund
- New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
- NextGen Climate
- PEN America
- Planned Parenthood
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
- Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Reproductive Health Access Project
- Running Start
- She Should Run
- Showing Up for Racial Justice
- Sierra Club
- Southern Poverty Law Center
- Southerners on New Ground
- Sylvia Rivera Law Project
- The Trevor Project
- Union of Concerned Scientists
- Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights
Let us know what issues you care about and how you plan on getting involved in the comments below!
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