Where Can I Join?
Find organizations that share your values and need your help
(Note from Rick: The protest scheduled in Livingston, MT, on September 27, that I promoted last week has been cancelled.)
As I’ve experienced and many others have shared with me, the never-ending onslaught of bad news from the Trump administration can leave us feeling drained, disheartened, and dismayed. But joining with others who share our values—whether you’re marching with hundreds or writing postcards with a few—can help us recover and recharge. It’s medicinal to feel you’re not alone. There’s power in joining together.
One way to connect with others who have similar values is to join an organization. So, today, I offer again a list of national groups for your consideration. I hope you find a couple that you want to check out or join.
As you visit a group’s website, here are some questions to ask yourself.
Does the group’s mission resonate with me?
Do the group’s values fit with my values?
Does the group organize activities I want to participate in?
How does the group bring its members together?
To create this list, I sought a variety of organizations with different missions and members. You’ll find groups looking for folks to protest in the streets and groups who want folks to write postcards from home. You’ll find groups looking for diverse membership, as well as groups looking for women or seniors only. If you’re thinking of running for office, there’s even a group that will help you do that.
Please take a few moments to check out the list. If you’re interested in a group, click on the name.
All wording in quotes is from the group’s website. The groups are listed in no particular order.
The only one of these groups I have first-hand experience with is Indivisible, and I highly recommend that organization. It’s growing rapidly and has local chapters all across the U.S.
I have visited each of the other groups’ websites and read how they promote themselves. I would be interested in reading your comments about any of the groups on this list, especially if you have been a member of a listed group or you decided to join one after checking them out.
I would also appreciate hearing from you about any groups you know of that aren’t listed. I can then check them out for inclusion in a future “Where Can I Join.”
Our need to join together to fight this authoritarian takeover of our democracy grows stronger every day.
Encouraging you to find organizations that need your help,
Rick
“Red Wine and Blue is a national community of over half a million diverse suburban women working together to defeat extremism, one friend at a time. We train and connect women from across the country of all political backgrounds – including many who have never been political before – to get sh*t done and have fun along the way.”
“We know our country is divided and the best way to bring everyone together is one conversation at a time. We teach women how to strike up those conversations with friends, family, and neighbors, focusing on common sense and shared values.”
“We want everyone in our community to feel empowered to have hard conversations. We help with that by making sure everyone has access to factual information. Need an easy-to-understand explainer, fact sheet, or guide about an important issue? No problem. We’ve got you.”
“Today, Markers For Democracy is a community of over 1,500 grassroots activists from at least 15 states dedicated to electing Democrats up and down the ballot all over the country, protecting democracy, and educating our members and the public about voting and democracy.”
“We accomplish this by: writing postcards with Postcards To Voters and other organizations to boost Democratic voter turnout, participating in voter registration drives, phonebanking and textbanking on behalf of Democratic candidates and allied organizations, amplifying Democrats and allied organizations on social media, hosting candidates and speakers, reading books, and screening films to educate and inspire our activism, and raising money through our giving circle and for individual candidates and organizations.”
“We must win key elections in ‘25. Then in the ‘26 midterms, we need to paint the House blue and prime the Senate. If we succeed? In ‘28, we can win the House, Senate, and White House… and save democracy.”
“The solution is as simple as it is powerful: reaching out to strangers. It’s the proven #1 way to win elections. Did you know that 60% of unregistered voters have never been asked to register?”
“We delivered 2.3 million new Democrats and independent voters by the ‘22 midterms, and we need your help to register 4 million more by the ‘26 midterms!”
“To win in ‘25, ‘26, and ‘28, we will reach out to millions of unregistered likely Democrats using our one-of-a-kind database and every outreach method possible (email, text, postcard, phone, targeted ad, and in-person too), in every single swing state and district where new Democrats will make the most impact.”
“We are a grassroots organization that aims to build enduring progressive power in state legislatures across the country, to improve people’s lives and support Democrats by filling critical gaps at every point in the political life cycle. Proudly founded and led by women, including women of color, Sister District has grown to 90,000+ volunteers nationwide. We have endorsed candidates in 202 races across 18 states, 146 of whom won and have gone on to fight for progressive issues in their state legislatures. We’ve raised $7.3 million in small-dollar donations directly for our candidates, and reached out to more than 6.5 million voters through phones, texts, postcards, and door knocks.”
“Our volunteers canvass, phonebank, write postcards, textbank, and fundraise for candidates. We welcome volunteers and candidates of all genders.”
“At RepresentUs, we value diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) because we value democracy. Whether red, blue, or purple; Republican, Democrat, or Independent; Black, White or Brown — we fight to represent YOU, not billionaires and corporations. We fight for a future where that uniquely American principle of “a government of by and for the people” is made real for all of us.”
“Sign up for the Action Brigade and you’ll join an online community of volunteers from all across the U.S. who work to take on corruption, pass pro-voter laws, and hold politicians accountable to the people.”
“You’ll get alerts, support, and training from RepresentUs staff and take action from home—calling, texting, writing, or spreading the word online alongside like-minded Americans.”
“Run for Something will recruit and support young, diverse progressives to run for down-ballot races in order to build sustainable power for Democrats in all 50 states.”
“The folks we support now could be possible members of the House, Senate, a governor, and maybe even President one day. We aim to lower the barriers to entry for these candidates by helping them with behind-the-scenes mechanics, tactical and strategic support, advice, mentorship, access to training, and everything in between.”
“We promote progressive values.”
“Between 2017 and 2021, we elected 637 candidates to offices ranging from state legislator to county clerk, and everything in between. Our candidates come from all walks of life – teachers, doctors, activists, environmentalists, stay-at-home dads, librarians, college students – and they represent communities that have been historically excluded or discouraged from running for office.”
“Experienced Americans” are the fastest-growing part of the population: 10,000 people a day pass the 60-year mark. That means that there’s no way to make the changes that must be made to protect our planet and society unless we bring our power into play.”
“Washington and Wall Street have to listen when we speak, because we vote and because we have a large—maybe an overlarge—share of the country’s assets. And many of us have kids and grandkids and great grandkids: we have, in other words, very real reasons to worry and to work.”
“It’s disappointing—beyond disappointing, frustrating, and terrifying, actually— that Congressional action to protect voting rights has not passed. Yet. So, we need to work at the state and local levels, as well as at the federal level.”
“Women’s March Network transforms everyday women into feminists.”
“Women’s March is building a base of feminists to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression. By 2050, we will be a feminist-led movement that ensures anyone and everyone has the freedom to lead empowered lives in safety and security in their bodies, in their communities, and throughout the country.”
“We seek an economic system that values the rights and contributions of all, and that supports safety and dignity for everyone. These feminist values prioritize stewardship and caregiving, and the just distribution of collective resources.”
“We need a democracy that works for all, in which everyone can participate fully.”
“To build a multi-racial feminist future rooted in values of justice, we must reduce the death grip that white supremacy has on hundreds of millions of people, including many white women.”
“Swing Left launched in January of 2017 as an informational resource where people could find their nearest congressional swing district. Whether you join a Swing Left group, donate to a strategic fund, sign up for a volunteer shift, or just help spread the word, we’re so grateful for your role in this powerful community.”
“We believe that action towards a goal is the antidote to anger and despair. Our entire community is brought together by a focus on what we can all do to effect positive change in the near and long term.”
“We value collaboration and effective teamwork. We work toward fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and a greater sense of belonging. We help people make better decisions about how to spend limited time, effort, and resources to help Democrats win.”
BigTentUSA calls itself “a moderate, inclusive, and collaborative community empowering citizens to take action.”
“At BigTentUSA we put democracy above partisanship. And we’re building a women-led voter coalition that does just that. We care about protecting the guardrails of democracy, ensuring government accountability and transparency, and increasing civic participation.”
“We offer fact-based, non-partisan programming to women (and men!) with all levels of civic engagement experience.”
Important issues listed include preserving democracy, defending women’s rights, and protecting our children.
Under the heading What We Do, the group lists Speaker Events, Letter and Post Card Writing, Phone and Text Banking, Poll Working, and Advocacy Training.
We envision a world in which tackling the climate crisis, confronting environmental injustice, and strengthening our democracy lead to cleaner and healthier communities, good, well-paying jobs, and a just, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
The League of Conservation Voters builds political power to protect people and the planet – because our Earth is worth fighting for.
Members are the foundation of LCV’s work. Whether you are contacting your representatives to act on climate change or supporting us financially, becoming an LCV member connects you with millions of others across the country and shows your commitment to climate action every day. We are stronger when we work together.
The League of Women Voters is a political grassroots network and membership organization that believes the freedom to vote is a nonpartisan issue. “For more than a century, we’ve worked to empower voters and defend democracy. As a women-led organization, we encourage everyone to take part in our democracy. Joining the League of Women Voters is a great way to get involved in your community and play an active role in our democracy.” Find a League near you at the link above.
In November 1919 and January 1920, Attorney General Mitchell Palmer began rounding up and deporting so-called radicals. “Thousands of people were arrested without warrants and without regard to constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure. Those arrested were brutally treated and held in horrible conditions.”
“In the face of these egregious civil liberties abuses, a small group of people decided to take a stand, and thus was born the American Civil Liberties Union.”
“The ACLU has evolved in the years since from this small group of idealists into the nation’s premier defender of the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. With more than 1.1 million members, 500 staff attorneys, thousands of volunteer attorneys, and offices throughout the nation, the ACLU of today continues to fight government abuse and to vigorously defend individual freedoms including speech and religion, a woman’s right to choose, the right to due process, citizens’ rights to privacy and much more.”
(For transparency’s sake, Mary and I are two of the four co-founders of a local chapter of Indivisible.)
“Indivisible is a movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOP's agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies.”
“We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump.”
“We have to build a democracy that reflects a broad, multiracial 'we the people,' one that works for all of us and is sustained by all of us. Only then will we be able to achieve a progressive vision for our future.”
“Whether it’s supporting a candidate, passing legislation, or changing our culture, MoveOn members are committed to an inclusive and progressive future. We envision a world marked by equality, sustainability, justice, and love. And we mobilize together to achieve it.”
“MoveOn members are a force for social justice and political progress. We come from all 50 states and all walks of life. Together, we are at once large and nimble, targeting our resources purposefully, yet pivoting quickly as we identify new opportunities for change and mobilize to seize them. Our rapid-response organizing and campaigning, communications interventions, digital innovation, rigorous data science and testing, and culture of grassroots participation have repeatedly combined to produce real-world impact, changing outcomes and making our country better.”
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Who is Rick Lamplugh?
I’m a writer of award-winning nonfiction books. I combine research with storytelling. Two of my last three books covered wolves and Yellowstone National Park. I actively advocated for wildlife and wild lands for a decade. I’m now advocating—with so many others—for our democracy.
I’m also currently researching and writing on a new topic—my journey into the wilds of cancer.
To read preview chapters from my forthcoming book, The Wilds of Cancer: A Life-Changing and Life-Affirming Journey
Wonderful info! Thank you so much!!
Thank you!
I am a member of Move On and I will send you some other information on other like minded groups.
Be well.