The Antidote to Despair Is Finding our Role in Community Building

As federal overreach erodes a foundational sense of safety across the U.S. that many with proximity to power or privilege took for granted, place-based organizing is a tangible way to bring about real social change—as demonstrated by movements for justice past and present.

In my daily life and organizing, I encounter people of various ages and backgrounds who feel stuck or unsure of what to do in this America. That’s when I recall Mr. Rogers’ wise words: “Look for the helpers”—particularly, the helpers most impacted and closest to the issues. In the quest for basic human rights and justice, I look for the everyday people in my community, across the country, who are carving paths of resistance—often with limited recognition or resources—who hold steady even when comforted with extreme pushback.

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