Making An Impact | What You Can Do
Political activism has a tendency to be reactive. You see something outrageous online and you share a petition urging the Mayor to take action. You learn about a protest forming and you join in. That type of work is important. But, what can make your time even more impactful is becoming proactive, rather than exclusively reactive. The sooner you can get involved in the policy process, the better. You don’t want to wait until the news hits the media. Oftentimes, it’ll be too late to effectively take action. You want to be at the table when the policies are being discussed or even be quoted in the news story where they’re being announced.
Getting Started
1.) Find an issue that is impacting you and begin educating yourself. Start with research - Google search and seek out those in your area already doing work on the issues you care about.
2.) Join and collaborate with others. Try your best to avoid doing this work alone. Making change is always a collective endeavor. You need a group of people to support you and hold you accountable to keep showing up and taking action.
3.) Outreach and contact elected officials and their offices. Identify key elected officials or departments for a particular issue or elected officials who oversee your neighborhood. Before contacting elected officials or departments make sure to do your research and be able to provide sound facts on an issue and also aim to provide written petitions and signed letters from organizations who back your issue.
4.) Strategize how best to push elected officials to take up your positions. Below are several ways you can generate public support for a cause and issue.
This is not an exhaustive list of resources, but stay tuned and sign up to be notified when the full guide comes out. We have a lot more information to share on how to get involved!
How to Participate?
Vote in elections
Vote!
One of the most effective and immediate ways constituents have to make their voices heard and put pressure on their elected officials is by voting. Constituents have the ability to elect and reelect their representatives, in most cases every 4 years. This November voters will be able to vote for Federal, State, and Local offices. Find out who your local representatives are here. Research their voting record and make sure they are representing your interests and uplifting the causes you care about. If not, there is a good chance there is another candidate running for that same seat that is interested in the same issues you care about.
Don’t forget to cast your ballot this November!
Provide a verbal or written public comment.
Public Comment
Providing verbal or written public comment are direct ways to make sure public officials listen to concerns from their constituents. City and County council meetings are open to the public allowing constituents to give their testimony in person while their representative is in the room. This is one of the most direct ways voters have access to their representatives. With enough momentum, it can be a powerful tool to sway elected officials to vote on issues you care about more favorably. City and County meetings are usually held during weekdays which makes it difficult for many community residents to participate. The Public Comment can also be written and submitted online to allow for people to still be active and be heard even if they are unable to attend meetings in person.
During the pandemic, public comment can both be submitted online and be done over the phone. However, public comment over the phone is often heavily restricted on time, so it is recommended that anytime you plan to give public comment over the phone, you also submit online. Below are resources with instructions for submitting public comment for both the County Board of Supervisors and Los Angeles City Council meetings.
For examples on preparing a public comment for the County Board of Supervisors visit here.
To submit a public comment to the County Board of Supervisors visit here
For examples on preparing a public comment to the Los Angeles City Council visit here.
To submit a public comment to the Los Angeles City Council visit here.
More helpful tips on public comment are available from LA Pays Attention.
Outreach to elected officials and offices via submitting letters, calling or texting their public office number.
Letters
Writing letters is an effective way to get in touch with your council representative. Whether the letter is directed to a city official directly or submitted in regard to a specific policy motion that your representative will vote on, writing a letter is an important way of being involved. Be specific and clear on the issue you are addressing, why is the issue important to you and how does it impact your community. In the letter, let them know what actions you want them to take and the impact and benefits it will bring to you and or your the community.
Emails
Emails are another tool to reach out to your representative. Similar to phone calls, try your best to identify the right person in the elected official’s office to direct your email to ensure you get the best possible answer to your inquiry. It is not as formal as a letter, but an email is a great way to have a conversation with a representative when you want them to answer a specific question you have or when you want them to get back to you regarding a specific topic.
Find your local, state, and federal representatives email and phone number contact information here
Phone Calls
Phone calls are a practical way of getting your representatives’ attention when you want to express your thoughts or concerns on a specific policy or motion being voted on. One way to make phone calls more impactful is to organize a group of people to make phone calls together on the same issue. This makes elected officials aware of the sentiment that their constituents may have on a particular issue. Another way to be effective with your phone call is to look at your representative’s office directory and call the staff member you can identify as the point person that handles the particular issue you want to discuss with your elected official. Calling the right person in the office may get you better and faster responses than calling the general office number.
Organize community protest
Organize community protest.
Direct Action & Community Organizing
In recent months we have seen the power of direct action organizing as a tool to hold government representatives accountable for their actions. From the Black Lives Matter to the People’s Budget, different groups have come together to take direct action and call on their leaders to make key decisions on important issues. Coalitions and their bases have taken to the street to demand justice and equity for some of the most marginalized people in our city. From marches to sit ins and acts of civil disobedience, groups can come together to protest the injustices and inequities in our cities and uplift the issues that really matter to them.
Join a Coalition
Joining a coalition working on issues that matter to you and following their lead is a great way to get involved and become civically engaged, with the focus of holding our officials accountable. Below is a list of coalitions that fall under a wide range of topics and strategies for mobilizing people and fighting for issues that are impacting Angelenos. Check them out, sign on to their mailers and action alerts and start getting involved. If you want to be able to join their meetings and need an organizational affiliation to do so, you can get involved through LA Forward.
Healthy LA Coalition // LA Street Vendor Campaign // ACT-LA
The People’s Budget // STAND LA // DA Accountability Coalition
Reimagine LA // Justice LA // Housing Now // Right to Counsel
