An Act of Resistance: Why Getting to Know Your Neighbors Matters Right Now

One reason I do this work is I believe all humans deserve to feel safe – but for a lot of us, that’s not a reality right now.

Across the country, from Minneapolis to Maine, people, including children, are being kidnapped from their homes under the guise of immigration crackdown.

So today’s episode is about leveraging connection as a form of resistance to protect our neighbors. What can you offer, and how do you present yourself as a safe person?

You might think the action ideas in this episode are too small. But resistance doesn’t always have to be on the front lines. You can be the neighbor somebody calls in an emergency. You can pay attention and let people who might do harm know you’re watching. It all adds up.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Ideas for how to present yourself as a safe person, from hanging rainbow flags or multilingual signs to simply talking about your values in casual conversation
• The truth about numbers: when people who help outnumber those who’d harm, it becomes harder for hateful actors to act
• Why not all resistance is viral and the real value in small, everyday connections and actions, particularly when crises hit
• How to help, from calling congressional representatives to watching for opportunities in which you can show up

Resources & Links

Listen to Episode 120 where I dive into my political beliefs and Episode 126 about how friendship can be a vehicle for radical change.

Like what you hear? Visit my website, leave me a voicemail, and follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out!