Happy Graduation!

Now Go Out and Save the World

Throw those caps in the air! Brandish your diploma! You’ve graduated from college, or high school, or grad school. It’s the springtime of your life, the dawn of something new. The last thing on your mind is fall elections.

Most of us who are watching the new grads celebrate will cough up some sort of gift, usually an envelope with a nice check in it. But consider giving a gift that will really change their lives: a membership in an organization that is working to improve the world they are inheriting.

Sierra Club

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

League of Women Voters

…are some possibilities. Or if they have a pet interest, you could give a membership that would cater to their particular taste (Do they like penguins?)

You could also make a donation in their name to Indivisible, Activate America, or some other organization that doesn’t charge a fee for membership but is actively working to get out the progressive vote.

What happens when they become a member or a donor to one of these organizations? Nothing earthshaking. They get newsletters. They get e-mails and texts (some annoying fundraising ones, of course). Most importantly, they get exposure to the idea of activism. My gift of choice is the Sierra Club because not only do they do the cool calendars, they do political advocacy for environmental causes. Not just at the national level, lobbying Congress, but at the local grassroots level, too. So every month or so there’s a newsletter with opportunities to get involved in local causes. You get action alerts via text. You’re offered the opportunity to step up.

Realistically, a recent grad has so much on their mind, that environmental and political activism is not on the front burner. They’re too busy looking for a job, coping with leases, roommates, lovers, cars, possibly more academia. But a membership is a gateway, a small first steppingstone, to the possibilities of getting involved in the work of saving the world.

For all the proud parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, all of us watching young people march down the aisle and receive their diploma, it’s such a wistful, hopeful time. We want them to succeed. We want them to be happy. We want their world to welcome them, success to greet their every venture. And as they walk off into their new lives, we can give them cash (which they would of course rather have) or we can give them a possible tool to help build a better world.

And don’t let them escape from that graduation party without making sure they’re registered to vote!

Dear Friends,

Are you more than a little worried about the election of 2024 and wondering what to do about it? I hope you’ll continue to check out The Optimistic Activist.

Every Tuesday I post some ideas for doing something. How to get out the vote, spread the word, and support progressive candidates. Ideas for simple but effective activism. As easy, as practical, as do-able as I can make them.

Together, I think, we could really make a difference.

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future.”

                                                                 --Noam Chomsky