How to Organize People

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, to ask for a political contribution, to ask for someone to join you in volunteering on a campaign, or to ask someone for help on an advocacy project. Most people will be delighted that you asked and thankful that you’ve opened a way for them to have an impact. The very worst that could happen is that someone says no.

A colleague, Anita Jackson, shared this: “One of the wisest things I was ever told when I needed help, but didn’t want to ask for it, is this: ‘Asking for help is a generous act. Allowing others to step up and be their best, most helpful selves is a gift to them as much as it is for you.’”

While this might sound like a cheesy Hallmark card, it’s actually one of the best advocacy tips around, and I’ve experienced the truth in Anita’s words time and time again. Inviting people in to help fix a problem is pretty much the definition of the word organizing. Respecting and empowering people while helping to open avenues for a legislative, cultural, or corporate change that will lift every woman is a generous act.

One of the biggest hurdles in organizing is making sure the organizers (that’s you now!) aren’t fearful that they’re bothering people, putting unwanted work on people, or, worse, annoying people when they invite them to take action on planning, implementing, or attending a project.

Trust me, you’re not being annoying. What you’re doing is letting in the sunlight. You’re giving someone the opportunity to breathe a sigh of relief that, yes, something can be done to fix this problem. You’re opening doors for people to feel their power.

Think of it like this: You have a delicious appetizer, say a plate of cheese and crackers, to share. The only polite thing to do is pass it around the room and see if anyone is interested. Some people will think it’s delicious and want to eat the entire plate. Some people will be allergic to blue cheese, or just not enjoy cheese at all, and will pass. You don’t demand that people eat the blue cheese and crackers even if they don’t like them, but you also don’t refrain from giving people the option to take a taste.

That, my friends, is organizing.

You invite as many people as possible to work with you on your project because some people might find it simply spectacular and have been waiting for a way to help. You can invite people via email or social media, a phone call, in person, and the list goes on. Be sure to go to where people are already hanging out in your community to invite people to be a part of the project that you’re working on and invite them in a way that they’re already familiar with; you don’t have to snail mail a formal invitation on a piece of paper, but you can if that’s how your community regularly gets together!

Just like I’ve advised not to be annoyed if people say no, don’t take it personally, either. If people or friends aren’t interested in your project this time around, then they might be interested in another project you do sometime in the future.

I’m here to remind you that there’s a special place in America for women who help other women, women who invite other women in across our differences, and women who lift each other up. In fact, that’s the exact way that many of our most important economic security and justice policy advances have happened. So this advocacy tip is for you to invite people in, make it a party, and always think of it as offering an opportunity—whether it’s to make phone calls to save health care or fundraise for a candidate who supports women’s issues. Get to organizing!