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Can our democracy hold? Seven million people protesting in the street, plus a huge number of off-year elections swinging toward progressive candidates, show us some rays of hope — I’ll be honest, the most hope I’ve felt in a year.

But that doesn’t change the fact that people are being kidnapped and disappeared by masked, unidentified men in front of daycares. It doesn’t stop the 40 million people on food benefits from going hungry. It doesn’t stop flights from being canceled, grocery costs from skyrocketing, and control of health care reverting back to all-powerful insurance companies whose No. 1 priority is not optimizing health but profits. But, still, hope is alive. We are not powerless. And we can continue to do small things to make a difference. Here’s a list of things you can do to help.

       1.  Protest smarter.

It’s always nice to see images of large crowds of people in big cities holding signs and chanting action-oriented slogans. But protests without smart movement-building can only do so much to advance a cause. At the most recent “No Kings” protest, I acted as press liaison to help connect leaders locally with reporters coming to cover the event. As I looked around, I saw all the tables set up by all the different and disparate Gainesville, FL, groups, each well-meaning and passionate about one issue or another, but likely destined, without coordination, to have little lasting impact when the protest ended.

Now imagine what 20 different groups, all united under a cohesive anti-fascist banner, could do if they communicated among themselves, helped one another, and shared resources and expertise. Imagine what they could do if they developed solid, long-lasting relationships with the media. 

When I was in the media as a full-time journalist, I worked hard to build relationships with sources to make my job easier. If I needed someone to talk about women’s bodily autonomy, for instance, I knew three people I could call for an interview. It’s a mutually beneficial give-and-take: I would get reliable background information and quotes for my stories, and they would reach a larger audience with their message. It’s what resistance groups need to be working on right now.

With this in mind, I went table to table and asked for a leader who could speak with the press for each individual group. I compiled this information into a spreadsheet and sent it to all the groups involved and to the media in the area. 

Besides extending their outreach through smart media coverage, activists should be asking themselves, “What personal skills do I have to protest smarter?” Each future protest will need something you can give. Serve as a marshal, volunteer for mutual aid, first aid, setup, breakdown — start thinking now about which support roles you can step into next time.

       2.  Concentrate on local elections.

Here in Gainesville, we had one issue on the ballot this year. It was a charter amendment to reestablish local control of the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), reversing a power grab by the state of Florida. Our city leadership is Democratic. The state leadership is Republican. Gainesville voters have twice voted to return control of GRU to the city, both times with majorities of more than 60 percent. But each time, the state government found legal flaws in the people’s initiative that led a court to overturn the vote. 

This year, a judge ruled on what specific language changes would be needed to correct the flaws. And with those changes made, the GRU initiative passed with 75 percent of the vote. Of course, the state-appointed GRU authority is suing again to deny the voters’ will. But this third time is almost certainly the charm. The opposition seems to have run out of legal avenues to keep us from regulating our own utilities.

       3.  Call Congress about SNAP.

Before the Trump administration threatened to end SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps — with the government shutdown, I called my congresspeople to urge them to do the right thing and continue to feed people in need. I knew my plea would fall on deaf ears — I have two Republican senators and a Republican representative. They seem completely beholden to President Trump. But they are also beholden to constituents, and the 2026 midterm elections are coming. The more I tell them I disagree with them, and the more people join me in doing so, the more they become aware that they may not be safe in their seats come the next election. 

So, I urge you to call your congresspeople. It’s well worth the effort. If not for this fight, for the next one or the next. The numbers for Florida’s lawmakers are: 

Rep. Kat Cammack: (352) 505-0838
Sen. Ashley Moody: (202) 224-3041
Sen. Rick Scott: (202) 224-5274 

If you live in another state, just look up the names of your senators and representatives, and you’ll find their contact information. They are agents of the people. They take an oath to uphold the US Constitution, not the man sitting in the White House. We, the people, have the right, the duty even, to let them know what we think is the right thing to do.

       4.  Help folks in need where you can. 

With full SNAP benefits in jeopardy, it’s time for the more comfortable among us to step up. Find food boxes in your area, donate to public kitchens and food banks, and find the individuals in your area or on your social media who are struggling. 

I bought groceries for a family I know after a mutual friend alerted me to their situation. I didn’t have enough for a full cart, but even the $25 I could spare bought several meals for them. Canned and processed, of course, but it’s better than nothing on the table. Look for direct actions to help your neighbors where you can.

       5.  Write to Congress about ICE.

I used an ACLU form letter to write to my congresspeople, urging them to stop ICE from terrorizing children. It’s a specific response to a general problem, a bigger problem. The more people who continue speaking up, whether via social media, on the street, through letters and calls, or to their friends and family, the closer we get to shutting this Gestapo machine down. It will take time. It will take hard-nosed empathy. I have faith we have both. If you’d like to write your congresspeople too, you can find the form here.

       6.  Learn another language.

Writing and calling Congress is a good step, but if we want to do more to help immigrants, being able to understand their native language is important. I joined Duolingo to brush up on my Spanish. (I took seven years of it as a kid in school, and was very good at it, but I haven’t used it in decades and couldn’t speak a lick of it right now, despite the many Hispanic and Latino people I know here in Florida.) 

When people I know report that friends and family have been disappeared, I’ve been telling them to come to me, but I’ve felt hamstrung by my lack of Spanish. So, I’m working to re-learn the language. I’ve been studying for 14 days, and it’s already coming back to me. If you’re looking for something small that you can do every single day, using one of the foreign-language apps to become more proficient in Spanish is a great way to get involved.

       7.  Find quiet ways to stand up for your beliefs.

There are so many ways to do this, but I’m going to focus on the recent Halloween festivities. I wore an anti-ICE costume all day and strode around my conservative neighborhood, talking with grocery store workers and customers, starting conversations about Florida’s support of ICE raids on our neighbors who are getting gas or picking up takeout. It was an exhausting day. I got yelled at sometimes, high-fived other times. I spoke with parents who’d brought their children to my home for free candy. 

We don’t always have the opportunity to wear a costume for a conversation starter, but as the major holidays approach, we will have ample opportunities to start those conversations. Sometimes, talking to your own friends and family at in-home gatherings can be the best way to change hearts and minds.

The main message is: Keep on keeping on. We can outlast this. We can find the strength to overcome it. And even when we take breaks to recharge (as I have), we don’t ever completely stop. One small thing isn’t a competition with anyone, even ourselves. It’s not cumulative. If you miss some days, jump back in. No one is keeping score. It’s doing what you can every day you can that makes a difference. 

Past weeks of “One Small Thing” can be found here.