Work to create and/or participate in identity-specific safe spaces. I do not mean safe space in the sense of trigger free, I mean groups/chats/whatever else for people who are marginalized in the same way you are.

Maybe you don’t need that space personally, but I will put cash money on the table that other people do. The thing about these spaces is that they only work when people participate.

Identity-specific spaces are extremely important. They aren’t a replacement for your friend group- this isn’t ‘only talk to your own’- this is ‘give your own a space they know they won’t be targeted for their race/gender/religion/sexuality/etc’

When possible, see if you can’t create spaces/work to make safe spaces for different moods too. People need to be angry. People also need to be sad. And sometimes people just need to hear about great things their people have accomplished.

Donating to people in need is great. But it’s a pinch hit solution.

Most of us are not in a position to create the bigger solution, but any of us with jobs or say so over where our money goes- are capable of participating in the solution.

Which is helping support businesses/artists/etc run by communities that are directly being impacted. You’ll notice that I’ve been commissioning people lately. This is me putting my money where my mouth is. And I never commission someone unless I know I can tip because most artists on tumblr habitually undercharge.

See if you can look into small businesses in your area. See what they have. For items you buy online anyway (or wouldn’t mind paying shipping for) see if there are any Black owned/ Indigenous owned/ Autistic owned/ etc shops online.

If you have the community resource (aka, a large voice or a big group of friends) but not the financial resource- see what you can’t do about creating a masterlist or getting the word out about these businesses.

Assess your skillset and see if there’s a place where it can be useful.

Good at listening? Talented at keeping your cool in triggering situations and remaining gentle? Could you donate a few hours a week to a suicide hotline? Or see what’s needed at a local crisis org?

Are you great at graphics/drawing? Would you be willing to work with a group who is trying to spread a message?

When I ran a survivor resource- and probably as I get it restarted- I know one thing I was pretty much always in need of was artists who were willing to send similar messages. Some people process information better in comic form- or it sticks with them longer. Especially for groups that are running on no capital or very little capital- see if you can reach out.

Do you have knowledge that might be helpful to others that could be imparted via graphics? You don’t always have to work with a group to do good work.

Are you tech savvy? Most domestic violence websites look like they were created in the 90s and have not been updated since, I noticed this when I was info collecting. I’m sure there are plenty of other groups like that where need to get out information has topped skillsets. Could you contact one of these places and offer your help?

Another thing as a survivor resource- I started to, and then failed- to turn the survivor resources into youtube videos. Some people process information better in video form- with audio and visual feed back or because of the conversational format. Are you someone who doesn’t mind putting your face to a cause? Reach out to groups that are doing things you like that are completely text based and see if you can form a partnership there.

Do you drive? Do you mind helping folks out?

See if your area has a pool of volunteers to drive people to abortions or court stuff. Figure out if you can do a carpool for folks wanting to go to events that you’re going to (especially activist/marginalized community-oriented events)

A lot of folks aren’t. Do you have the time/energy/resources to create something that would help them? Maybe it’s a comic. Maybe it’s an advice blog. Maybe it’s something else entirely.

Make a conscious effort to boost the voices of marginalized communities. And I don’t just mean in terms of activist stuff- though that’s great too. But also, read their books. Talk about them. Recommend them to others. Show off their art work. Talk about historical figures.