LIVING BETTER
The chaos of today’s world can feel overwhelming. It seems nearly every day, we wake up to unprecedented news.
We struggle between the desire to stay informed while maintaining our sanity. On the global and even national scale, the problems of today seem undefeatable. But if we approach these challenges one step at a time — being realistic about what we can change, and how — we might just find that hope is possible, and it can start in our own backyard.
Social media posts urge us to “get involved” and to “build community.” But what does that mean? What does that actually look like? The answer to that question might be different for everyone.
Here are some real, tangible ways you can get involved as a changemaker in your own community.
Join Local Groups
Everyone has a passion or a cause they care deeply about. For some, that might be environmental protection. For others, it might be mental health. Maybe your passion is animal welfare. Whatever you’re into, there are almost certainly groups in your area that exist to discuss exactly that. And if there aren’t? Maybe now is a good time to create a local club or organization of your own.
Volunteer Your Time
The act of volunteering can take many shapes. Maybe you want to pack lunches for Meals for the Elderly. Or maybe you’d rather walk dogs at the local shelter. If you look hard enough (or reach out to those groups we mentioned before) there’s bound to be something you’d like to do to help. You don’t have to be perfect at the job – no one is. You just need to show up, try, and care. That’s really all anyone’s expecting.
Donate to the Cause
If time or ability is a barrier to volunteering, consider donating to someone who needs it. This might look like chipping in a few dollars when you see a donation box at a cash register. It might mean offering $20.00 to someone looking for food for dinner. Or, it might look like setting aside a small donation each month for a local organization already doing the work that’s important to you. When it comes to nonprofit donations, it is true what they say – every little bit counts. Even small change can add up to make a real difference.
Host Events
When times are tough, community is everything. And what better way to build community than to bring people together over a shared interest? If you’re not able to start a group, maybe hosting a one-time event is more your speed. Consider planning a creative get-together that encourages participation. It could be a potluck, or maybe a skill-swap party where each guest brings something to teach everyone else. At the end of the day, everyone could walk away having gained something. You could also plan a community service project, such as a river clean-up or a family walk in the park to get people outside.
Show Up For Your Neighbors
There’s a popular phrase floating around social media these days: if you want to live in a village, you must be willing to be a villager. Being an active participant in your community means showing up for others – and asking for help when you need it yourself. Your neighbor needs a ride to work? Offer them a ride. You have useful household items lying around, unused? Post them to your local Buy-Nothing Group. Community doesn’t always mean something big – sometimes it’s built in the little, everyday ways that we show up for one another.
No one’s expecting you to change the world all by yourself. And it’s important to be realistic about what you can and cannot do. But everyone starts somewhere, and it’s always better to start small than to do nothing at all.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Chrysanthemum Crenshaw Cohen
Chrysanthemum is guided by her lived experiences of survivorship. She works to help others and inspire change as a journalist, public speaker, and poet. Her work has been featured in multiple literary magazines, and her creative life also includes floral art blended with environmental advocacy. In the community, she volunteers, supports survivors of sexual violence, serves on local boards, and acts as a bridge between animal welfare and human social services. On the quiet days, you might find her singing karaoke or binge-watching “Doctor Who” with her husband and two dogs.
