Spectrum of Activism By: Julius Ogunde

Signing a Petition

Nov 11, 1111

Signing a petition is the easiest way to get involved with a specific cause. You're just signing a piece of paper or filling out an online survey, so you may not think its much. But adding your name to the hundreds of thousands of millions of supporters behind a social issue can be more meaningful than you may think.
Example: Erika had almost 18,000 people sign a petition to prevent her mother from getting deported

Writing a letter

Feb 22, 2222

Writing a letter is also a easy way to be an activist. Depending on who you write the letter to can determine how much action will actually be taken. For example, writing a letter to someone with authority like a government official or politician can help bring awareness to the issue and spark conversation. It won't guarantee immediate change, but it's a start.

Writing a Op-Ed or News Article

Mar 3, 3333

This is slightly more difficult but is still another way to bring awareness to a cause. Writing an article and having it posted in the newspaper or online newspaper can allow other people to see your viewpoint on the situation. It's another way to start conversation about the cause and have people want to possibly help and back the issue. Example: Writing an article about personal experience with a social issue may relate to some readers which might motivate them to get involved with said issue.

Social Media

Apr 4, 4444

This is another easy way to help spread awareness to a specific cause. Posting online through Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, is a great way to expose your followers to the issue. It allows them to understand what the problem actually is and can stir up conversation quickly through the liking and sharing of the content.

Fundraising

May 5, 5555

Fundraising is a common method of activism and can be extremely effective in promoting a social issue. It requires a bit of organizing but gives people another way to show support for a cause as well as another way to spread awareness. The funds that are produced during a fundraising event typically go toward funding bigger and better activist movements. But the money can also be used to actually resolve part if not the entire issue.

Boycotting

Jun 6, 6666

Depending on the cause and what it can be associated with, boycotting industries that are causing or not helping the social issue has proven to be an effective and efficient way to produce change. The most current example can be the boycott of H & M because of their racist advertising. Another example would be the boycotting of Starbucks because of their employees changing quality of service to individuals because of race.

Holding a Press Conference

Jul 7, 7777

This is a more difficult method of activism but can be extremely helpful. It allows multiple different viewpoints to be brought together, discussed and compared to see what the best method would be to try and resolve whatever issue is at hand. It also allows nearly everyone to hear what one has to say about a certain cause and usually ends up being everywhere in the national news so it's hard to ignore.

Protesting, Rallying, or Marches

Aug 8, 8888

This method is probably the most difficult to organize and hardest to actually initiate. But this method of activism is the most popular and is usually the first method that comes to mind when people think of activism. This method can involve hundreds, thousands, or even millions of people around a city, state, or nation. It's the best way to show how serious a certain cause is and how serious you and so many others are about wanting change to better or solve said social issue. (Ex Gun violence)