everyone says join your local mutual aid groups and build community, but uh, what do you do if a lot of them seem to have dissolved and the other ones don't have consistent recurring meetings.
this is real, and it's a thing that a lot of people are going to run into in the face of calls to "get involved," especially if they're people who haven't been deeply involved in their communities before. so here's what I can share:
You can't expect it to be built for you already. Community organizing has fallen apart in a lot of places. That means you may need to be the one to start it. Someone has to.
Your presence will matter. Local community networks are SMALL. That means that every single person has an outsized presence and an outsized absence. One person dropping off the map can feel catastrophic, but that also means that one person stepping up can make all the difference.
Find a center. Any community group needs a steady base. That can be a physical location - that's why coffeehouses were historically such effective grounds for building political and creative movements. It can also be a person or people who are consistent and reliable. If one person shows up to make space for work on a regular basis, they'll be there when the second person shows up. They'll be there for the third. That's how it starts.
Play secretary. A lot of activist groups are starving for some basic admin support. Maybe you're not up for being the leader, but maybe you can organize the Google drive. Maybe you can be the one that keeps phone numbers. There's a lot of unsexy shit work out there that needs to be done.
Count your eggs before you start baking. There is an economics of labor to why activism circles have shrunk. Be mindful of the time and hands you have available when deciding what work you're able to take on.
Build tolerance, build coalitions. Small organizing means you can't afford to fracture over every little disagreement. Decide your mission and your values from the start, the things that are non-negotiable, and don't get hung up on the rest. Be prepared to work with people you don't like. Focus on the task at hand.
Network! Know what other related or like-minded projects are out there, whether they are groups like yours in other areas or groups in your community who are doing work that intersects with yours.
Be there for people. Step up. Offer to help. Even outside an organizing structure, if you become the kind of person who shows up and helps, people will remember you and they will reach out to you when need arises.
