15 Ways to Support Social Justice and Civil Rights

This content was originally published on VolunteerMatch.

Idealist was built to help strengthen communities by providing a platform for organizations working toward justice, equality, dignity, and opportunity to recruit individuals to join their causes. For over 30 years, we have worked to build those relationships, and it’s clear that this work is more important than ever before.

We know that we have a long way to go toward this vision being fully realized. We need your help in continuing the work to create a society that supports and values each of its members equally, where we are motivated and empowered to take action to actively improve the world for our fellow human beings through acts of volunteer service and mutual assistance.

Here are 15 simple ways to support social justice & civil rights

1. Share your support for social justice and civil rights causes and re-share what others are saying on social media.
2. Use your talents to drive change. With over 60% of volunteering opportunities identified as skills-based, you can find a variety of ways to advance your knowledge and experience. 
3. Educate yourself and share what you’ve learned.
4. Advocate for your employer to adopt or strengthen diversity and inclusion practices.
5. Amplify and promote underrepresented voices.
6. Create space for dialogue and exchange of information and ideas.
7. Mentor or tutor a child in need.
8. Seek to understand the history of the land you currently occupy, and become involved in local activist groups.
9. Advocate for creating cultural exchanges within your child’s school. 
10. Volunteer at your local library.
11. Volunteer for LGBTQIA+-related causes and organizations.
12. Help to shrink the inequality gap by giving your time to combat food insecurity and homeless.
13. Contribute to your second-language proficiency.
14. Given the additional pressures of the ongoing worry about the pandemic and its impacts which are disproportionately hitting BIPOC communities, many people are having an even more difficult time than usual.
15. Organize a group volunteering event at your workplace.