How to Push Back Against the System: A Checklist for Taking Action

Lately, I’ve had people approach me saying, I want to help, but I don’t know where to start. And I get it—if you’re not already involved in activism, political organizing, or volunteer work, it can feel overwhelming.

But here’s the thing: You don’t have to do everything. You just need to pick one thing and go all in.

Trump and his movement are attacking every aspect of justice and democracy. That means there are endless ways to get involved—but waiting around for someone else to stop them isn’t an option. This fight is already here, and we need everyone.

1️⃣ Pick Your Fight

The first step is deciding what you care most about. You will be most effective if you focus on an issue that speaks to you personally. Here are just a few of the biggest fights happening right now:

✔ Reproductive Justice – Abortion bans, restrictions on contraception, criminalizing pregnancy outcomes. Groups to support: The Brigid Alliance, If/When/How, National Network of Abortion Funds.

✔ LGBTQ+ & Trans Rights – Healthcare bans, criminalization, book bans. Support Trans Lifeline, Lambda Legal, The Trevor Project.

✔ Immigrant & Refugee Protection – Mass deportation plans, stripping asylum rights. Get involved with RAICES, The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project, Al Otro Lado.

✔ Palestinian Solidarity & Free Speech Defense – People being arrested for simply speaking out. Groups like Palestine Legal and The Center for Constitutional Rights need support.

✔ Environmental Justice – The destruction of climate protections and Indigenous land rights. Organizations like Sunrise Movement, Earthjustice, Indigenous-led land defense groups need help.

✔ Voting Rights & Democracy Protection – Voter suppression and dismantling free elections. Support Fair Fight, The Brennan Center for Justice, The NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

✔ Poverty & Economic Justice – Our country has abandoned its poorest people. Support Mutual Aid Networks, The Poor People’s Campaign, local food banks.

✔ Education & Curriculum Fights – The right is erasing history and banning books. Fight back by supporting educators, racial justice organizations, and banned book movements.

Not sure where to start? Pick one issue, research local organizations, and plug in.

2️⃣ Decide How You Want to Help

You don’t have to be an activist in the streets to make a difference. Every movement needs people in different roles:

💰 Donate – This is one of the most powerful things you can do. Activist groups and social justice organizations run on shoestring budgets and often lose money just to stay afloat. If you have the means, donate.

⏳ Volunteer Your Time – Whether you have two hours a week or ten hours a month, there is a role for you. Help answer calls, translate documents, knock on doors, or provide legal support.

📢 Use Your Voice – If you have a platform, use it. Sharing critical information, organizing local meetups, or making calls to lawmakers all contribute to resistance.

📝 Educate & Inform – Help people understand their rights, how the system works, and what’s at stake. Schools are under attack, and knowledge is power.

👩🏽‍💻 Tech, Design, or Admin Support – Many grassroots movements desperately need website support, graphic design, IT help, or social media management. If you have these skills, offer them.

⚖️ Legal & Policy Work – If you have expertise in law or policy, consider working pro bono, filing lawsuits, or helping with legal defense.

3️⃣ Support or Join Existing Organizations

You don’t have to start from scratch. There are already people doing the work—find them, support them, and help make their work easier.

At

Diosa Ara

, we are in the social entrepreneurship space, working to improve maternal mortality outcomes, particularly for Black women and women of color.

Too often, social justice movements rely solely on philanthropy or government funding, which is unstable. Black women deserve the best healthcare available—period. Not just the best care Medicaid will pay for, not just the best care within budget constraints. The best care, full stop.

If you want to help with our work, we are always looking for smart, committed people. We are a small team taking on a massive challenge, and we need help—from funding, to research, to advocacy, to organizing. But we are just one example of the thousands of organizations doing critical work.

4️⃣ Understand That This Is Not Optional

Before Trump, people used to say, Well, activism is great, but I have work, I have kids, I don’t have time.

Let me be blunt: That is no longer an excuse.

Pushing back against Trump’s authoritarianism is not secondary to caring for your family—it is caring for your family.

We are not talking about a normal political shift. We are talking about:

🚨 A national abortion ban

🚨 Mass deportations

🚨 The criminalization of LGBTQ+ people

🚨 The erosion of voting rights

🚨 The potential suspension of elections

If you are not involved in this fight, you are accepting these things as inevitable.

And they are not inevitable. But they will happen if people don’t start treating this with the urgency it deserves.

I know life is hard. I know people are exhausted. I am not here to judge anyone. But I am here to be realistic. If you want to take care of your family’s future, you must make time for this.

5️⃣ Act Now. Because We Don’t Have Time.

If you are waiting for someone else to stop this—stop waiting. If you are watching everything unfold and wondering when the breaking point will come, it already has.

They will not stop on their own.

But together, we can stop them.

📩 DM me if you want to get involved. We will do our best to point you in the right direction—whether that’s with us or another organization that fits your passion.

📢 Drop a comment with the cause you’re focusing on. Share this so more people know how to plug in. And DM me if you need help getting started.

We need everyone. Right now. Period.