America, the Land of (in)Opportunity

The U.S. is hailed as a land of opportunity -- which it is. For some people. The fact of the matter is that some populations systematically have a bit more opportunity than others -- a result of historical racial and gender disparities. Here is what you can do to bring a full equality of opportunity, full access to success for all people -- particularly through help with education.

Daily

• Open opportunities to children who are at less of an advantage — check GoFundMe for children who need school supplies or money for activities

Weekly

• Because wealth of a child’s family is the greatest predictor of their future economic success, advocate for increasing the accessibility of loans to the general public — gives people more opportunities to accumulate wealth

Monthly

• Check your own privilege — try to understand what you have access to that others don’t, and try to contribute to others, if you can

Periodically

• If you’ve graduated college, donate to your alma mater — it’ll give incoming kids slightly more help in the long run

Knowing Your Rights in the Justice System

The process of criminal justice is harrowing enough for anyone caught within it without additional confusion and abuse. The fact of the matter is that, in this country, due process isn't always followed, unlawful arrests are often made, and people don't often know their rights. Here are some things you can do to change that.

Daily

• Know the law and your rights — it is not illegal to videotape interactions with the police

Weekly

• Talk to government officials about requiring police officers to explain their logic behind using probable cause to investigate a situation in detail, so they are held accountable for their actions

Monthly

• Educate others on social media about their rights
• Contact the ACLU about any disconcerting cases locally

Periodically

• Submit FOIA requests to police stations and courthouses for records of police interactions, to make sure probable cause has been established

Spreading Awareness About the Danger of Subprime Loans

Subprime/Predatory Loans

Subprime loans are given out to people in bad financial situations as a way con them into paying large amounts of money that they can't afford. Generally, loans are given to people who have a financial history that shows they are capable of paying them back. Subprime loans, however, target people who would not normally receive loans because of their bad credit reports and take advantage of their need for money by charging them outrageous interest prices. Subprime loans can increase the amount of debt someone is in, thus perpetuating financial struggle in society.

Daily

• Reach out to people and give them tips on financial literacy

Weekly

• Set up weekly meetings where people in debt are alerted about potential scams that loan giving organizations will target them in

Monthly

• Post on social media about predatory lenders, warning people not to use them
• Call out predatory lenders online; write reviews

Periodically

• If you have the power and privilege, offer another option to someone in need — crowdfunding, a loan from you, etc.

Fighting for Gender Equality

Gender inequality is still pervasive around the world -- and while the issue is many-faceted, and there's so much to be done, here we want to focus on what you can do specifically as an average person to contribute, in a small way, to gender equality.

Daily

• Raise awareness to the fact that gender inequality exists
• Show your support on social media platforms by posting data that clearly portrays gender inequality

Weekly

• Check for gender bias in the workplace — if someone is being treated unfairly, being underpaid because of their gender, speak up

Monthly

• Work to convince employers to use an unbiased interviewing method, where names and genders of the applicants are not included on the job applications (creates more equal opportunities for jobs)

Periodically

• Reflect on the role of gender in your life — try to identify and eliminate your subconscious biases
• Donate to the National Women's Law Center

Fighting Racism in America

Racism is, sadly, still a vibrant and violent force in America. It manifests in innumerable different ways -- police brutality, mass incarceration -- and the stakes are clearly high. Here's what you can do to help.

Daily

• Stand up for people who you see being targeted
• Accept different viewpoints and try to talk out any conflicts
• Connect with others to understand both sides and to educate both opinions.

Weekly

• Open up conversations within groups or clubs about race, privilege, and how different races can be allies for each other
• Don’t pretend race and racism do not exist
• Get in contact with government employees that represent one’s city, county, or state and talk to them about creating training programs for police that decrease racial bias
• Learn about racism in today’s society from a different perspective — that is, read a book, talk to someone new

Monthly

• Attend anti-racist seminars at the local SURJ (Stand Up for Racial Justice) organization to remain educated

Periodically

• Join a coalition to work for justice for local victims of police violence at SURJ
• Engage with discomfort — talk to someone with different views from your own to challenge your own biases

The 1% and The Rest of Society: Evening Out The Playing Field

Wealth Inequality, Unemployment, Low Wages

Wealth inequality is a product of many contributing factors, such as institutional racism, unemployment, low standard for minimum wages, gender discrimination, and more. In creates division in our society and means that people with different incomes have different opportunities, thus further increasing the wage gap. In order to break a cycle that is perpetuating racial and gender differences in the amount of wealth one has, action must be taken, for as long as inequality exists, someone is at a disadvantage that is embedded into society.

Daily

• Provide opportunities for people to learn higher skills that can allow them to get a higher paying job.
• Use social media platforms to raise awareness that the minimum wage is not enough to live off of.

Weekly

• Volunteer at organizations, such as a nonprofit tutoring center, that help children further their education so they have more opportunities to increase their wealth
• Set up a space where career counselors can meet with people looking for jobs so they can find ways to strengthen one’s resume and actively seek job training opportunities

Monthly

• Volunteer at local food banks, like the Open Heart Kitchen, to help those in need
• At city council meetings, advocate for higher wages
• Speak to one’s local government representatives to advocate for higher wages, higher taxes on the rich

Periodically

• Be on the lookout for GoFundMe or DonorsChoose pages in need — people who need help with basic costs, like funerals, school supplies, and more
• If you can — form a union
• Donate clothes and food through Goodwill and similar organizations to help those in need

Everyone Should Participate in Democracy

The U.S. has an astonishingly low voter turnout compared to most democracies around the world; even for national, presidential elections, which are the most prominent, our voter turnout is barely a majority. Apathy is just one cause -- systematic discrimination against certain voting populations, as well as a general lack of knowledge around less prominent elections, fuels the issue. Without full participation in democracy, though, the U.S. is barely a democracy -- here's what you can do to change that.

Daily

• Stay educated about the candidates and know their goals — visit campaign websites, social media, news articles
• Educate others about candidates and emphasize the importance that every vote counts

Weekly

• Communicate with government about imposing less strict requirements that may inhibit potential voters from contributing their political stance
• Post unbiased, easily understandable information about candidates on social media so that people are more uneducated about politics, thus more likely to vote

Monthly

• Make sure you are registered to vote
• If there isn't enough access to IDs (i.e. no nearby DMVs) in regions with Voter ID laws, offer to drive people in need -- or petition local government to make access easier

Periodically

• Around voting season, encourage people around you to vote — in person and on social media
• Of course -- go to the polls yourself, when election season comes around.