Better than Cyber Monday.
By Alisha Giampola (writer/performer)
My husband Daniel and I had a delightfully anti-Black-Friday this year. Instead of shopping, we spent the day eating leftovers and calling early voters for Foster Campbell's campaign for a Democratic Senate seat in Louisiana. It felt great to be doing something active and also aligned with protesting this weeks' collection of terrible things the president-elect is up to. If you're interested in helping to create a split in the Senate that would provide better checks and balances in our increasingly unbalanced government, you can learn more or donate time/money here.
So many people I've talked to in the past couple weeks have echoed my desire to feel more involved in both politics and humanitarian outreach in the wake of, well, realizing how fucking scary things can get when we merely discuss our political beliefs instead of working beyond just election season to make sure they don't fall apart. Last year for Christmas, my family had the wonderful idea of giving to charity instead of giving gifts to each other. We each came up with a list of organizations and causes that we cared about and created a sort of an ungift-wish-list. Everyone chose something off that list to donate to in the name of everyone else, handmade some really lovely cards, and exchanged them on Christmas morning over coffee and baklawa. It was really nice, and all of our hearts grew three sizes that day. I'm not telling you how to do your holiday gift-giving season this year, but I'm also not NOT telling you that this is a great idea and feels so incredibly relevant right now.
I'm going to let you have look at some of my wish list for this year. Maybe it will inspire you to compile one of your own! And while I do encourage you to donate your holiday gift money towards causes that need your assistance, it also feels really great to give of your time. Participate in the democracy of our nation by volunteering to be a poll worker at local elections, help at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen in your community, invest in real journalism and support the free press by subscribing or gifting a subscription to a trusted paper or media source, donate used coats and clothing, call your local and state representatives and let your voice be heard. Get involved in an organization in your town that will help you find local ways to volunteer and causes you connect with (a great one here in NYC that I have written about before is The Uprising.)
KIND - in their own words: "“KIND staff and our pro bono attorney partners at law firms, corporations, and law schools nationwide represent unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children in their deportation proceedings. Together, we ensure that no child stands in court alone.”
The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) - in their own words: "People across the country are coming together to stand up for what they believe is right. Take your stand. Help us as we: defend free speech and the right to protest, fight relentless attacks on reproductive freedom, reform our racially-biased criminal justice system."
The Trevor Project - in their own words: "The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24."
Border Angels - in their own words: "Border Angels is an all volunteer, non profit organization that advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice with a special focus on issues related to issues related to the US-Mexican border."
Flint Water Fund - in their own words: "The United Way of Genesee County has set up this fund for the purchase of filters, bottled water, emergency support services and prevention efforts. 100% of the fund is used for these projects and no Administrative Fee is assessed."
Habitat For Humanity - in their own words: "A decent and affordable place to live helps families by freeing them from such physical and mental hardships and placing them on a path of new opportunity and increased confidence and self-reliance. A family’s partnership with Habitat means they have a stable place to live and to spend time together."
The Southern Poverty Law Center - in their own words: "The SPLC fights hate groups and bigotry using education, litigation, and advocacy."
Running Start - in their own words: "By educating young women and girls about the importance of politics, and imbuing them with the skills they need to be leaders, we give women the running start they need to achieve greater political power. With an earlier start in politics, women will climb higher on the leadership ladder, allowing more women to share in the decision making power of this country."
Planned Parenthood - in their own words: "Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world delivering vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide."
PEN America - in their own words: "PEN American Center is the U.S. branch of the world’s leading international literary and human rights organization. PEN International was founded in 1921 in direct response to the ethnic and national divisions that contributed to the First World War. PEN American Center works to protect free and open expression in the United States and across the world."
Hand In Hand For Syria - in their own words: "We’ve been at the forefront of humanitarian aid in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011. Many aid agencies and charities (even the biggest names) can’t work within Syria because of government restrictions or the risk to their workers. That means that most of what you hear about Syrians, or aid agencies supporting them, comes from refugee camps in neighboring countries. We have a network of people on the ground who take in life-giving support, or purchase it locally, to help sustain the most vulnerable people in the crisis: the ones still in Syria."
Prison Book Program - in their own words: "Prison Book Program mails books to people in prison to support their educational, vocational and personal development and to help them avoid returning to prison after their release. We also aim to provide a quality volunteer experience that introduces citizens to issues surrounding the American prison system and the role of education in reforming it."
ALISHA GIAMPOLA is an NYC based actor/teacher/writer who has plenty of stuff.
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