Since the election, so many of us find ourselves stuck on the same question: “what am I even supposed to do?”

All across social media, a lot of people are saying “well, go out and organize!”

I know because 8 years ago, after Trump’s first election, I found myself in the same situation, and if you’re anything like me, your next thought has been “...ok but what does that even mean?”

Hi, my name is Mattias, I’m the comms director here at TakeAction Minnesota, and as a political organizer over the last decade, I’m here to tell you a bit about what organizing looks like, how and why I got started organizing, and why I know you can too!

What is Organizing?

First, I want to share our Instagram graphic – “What even is organizing?” – if you’re looking for a simple primer. Then, come back here for a more in-depth dive.

Find Your Motivation

Most of us know the trigger events that drive us to get involved (for me, it was Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, GamerGate, and Bernie’s loss and Trump’s subsequent win in 2016).

But from those events, you’ll really want to reflect on the why. What is the change you want to see in the world?

Find Your People

The next thing you have to do is find your people. I guarantee you there are already people thinking what you’re thinking, feeling what you’re feeling, and 9 times out of 10, a community group, movement, or organization that exists to do that. We are stronger together than we are apart, and organizing is a deeply community-based project, so go looking for your people. Don't get out there and start something on your own until you're certain it's not already being done.

Find Your Contribution

So many different skills are needed in organizing. Whoever you are, whatever you’re good at, whatever makes you enthusiastic, you are needed in organizing. And over time, you will try new things, and grow your skills to complement the people you organize with. You don’t need to be perfect to start. You just need to start.

Find Your Bravery

I’m a pretty shy, soft-spoken person. Despite that I’ve gotten out there and knocked doors for ballot propositions in California, and in MN-02 to elect Angie Craig. The experience of talking to my neighbors – and also people whose lives were unimaginably different from mine – helped me grow as an organizer, and I ultimately found myself to be way better at it than I’d feared!

We cannot organize in a bubble. We must organize with everyday people, and we will run into people we have different opinions from. And we must be vulnerable in doing so.

What I’m about to do next is an example of that risk and vulnerability! You see, even though I’ve lived in Minnesota for 6 years, there are times I don’t feel like a Minnesotan, don’t feel qualified to send an email like this.

But as somebody who calls Minnesota my home, let me tell you my vision for our shared home.

Find Your Dream

I dream of a Minnesota where people move into a new apartment and know it’s well maintained, that the heat won’t give out two weeks before winter, that the walls aren’t going to get them sick.

I dream of a Minnesota where people move into a new home without wondering if the local school is underfunded, or if there’s a nearby childcare center with available slots, because every neighborhood has the resources children need to thrive.

I dream of a Minnesota with even more local arts and musical performances.

And while I already live in a neighborhood where I can walk 10 minutes to a local market for all of my grocery needs, where the closest bus and light rail are an accessible walk away, I dream of a Minnesota where that’s a reality for everybody. I dream of a Minnesota where I’m constantly walking past my neighbors on their own walks to the market, waving hello and catching up on their lives and inviting them over for dinner because I picked up WAY too much baby broccoli and somebody has to eat it.

I dream of a Minnesota where we don’t live in anxiety for what the future will hold, because not only have we built clean, renewable energy around the state, but we’ve built climate resilient buildings and homes and roads to weather the changing weather patterns already headed our way.

I organize because I deserve that world, because we all deserve that world, and I can’t rest if I don’t have a hand in building it for us all.

In solidarity,

Mattias Lehman (he/him)
Narrative and Communications Director