I am no longer willing to go to great lengths to separate my work life from my personal life.
My work life for the last couple of decades has had an underlying theme of improving opportunities for women from within a business system. Has it helped? I can’t tell. And that is telling.
Like everyone else, I am a plurality of experiences. While I am nominally defined by gender, age, nationality, regional origin, and economic status, I cannot be reduced to these simple labels. And pretending that gender equality is secondary in my life is no longer acceptable. If not now, when?
November 2016 has been a month of upheaval in our American life. I am once again astonished (and a little ashamed) by my country’s treatment of the disenfranchised. This incoming administration is putting everyone's civil rights at risk.
I realized after the election results became clear, that I had several choices.
a. I can leave the country and live elsewhere.
b. I can stay and fret.
c. I can stay and fight.
I chose to stay and fight. There are so many people that the incoming administration wants to silence, I scarcely know where to begin.
I will begin instead at the end. We must speak up.
Get Involved
Identify the causes that mean something to you and donate your time, money and talents in anyway you can. Team up with friends and colleagues to help magnify the causes that are dear to them. I like to concentrate my efforts towards organizations who already have some political force and administrative stability behind them in order to ensure continued operations. Here is a really short list, in no particular order, of great organizations which need your help.
Planned Parenthood
ACLU
Southern Poverty Law Center
Pro Publica
The Sierra Club
League of Women Voters
Amnesty International
Wounded Warriors
The Trevor Project
The Gates Foundation
The Red Cross
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Habitat For Humanity
Check out an organization’s rating by the American Institute of Philanthropy
www.charitywatch.org/top-rated-charities
Sign a petition
Sign well-written petitions aimed at elected officials. This will take only five minutes a month. Browse for some here:
Change.org
MoveOn.org
Speak out
Speak your mind to your government reps. Remember, they work for you. In order of impact: call their offices, write a letter, or email. Be respectful and brief. Find your Congressperson, Senators, Governors and others at:
www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Vote
And while we are on the topic of exercising you democratic rights, vote. If you didn’t vote and you are unhappy with the incoming administration, please consider voting in the next election cycle.
In California:
registertovote.ca.gov
If you travel a lot please consider a permanent absentee ballot.
www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/california
Be smart
Avoid fake news and high drama.
Be accurate and honest in what you say or share.
Remove hyperbole, don't engage in name-calling, and skip the exclamation marks. It serves no one.
Verify your sources of information.
Support news outlets that have clear standards of journalism and fact checking.
Engage your critical thinking skills.
Look after yourself
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The challenges we face to make this country equitable and safe will need long term attention. No one can change the world all by themselves. Be generous with your support and welcome some back.
In the immortal words of Bill S. Preston, Esq., in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Be excellent to each other.