I’m Not in Power, But I’m Not Powerless

What Do I Do?

I’m not an economist.

I’m not a politician.

I’m not even a social worker—at least, not in the way some might define it.

But I am a person who cares. And right now, in this time of political crisis, where policies are being made that threaten people—people like me, people like the ones I serve—I find myself asking, What can I do?

It’s easy to feel powerless when decisions are being made in rooms we’ll never enter, by people who don’t know our names, affecting lives they will never see. It’s easy to feel like the only options are resignation or rage. But I refuse to accept that my only choices are to give up or to burn out.

I may not be in Congress, but I am in classrooms. I am in communities. I am in conversations that matter. And that means I do have power.

What Can I Do?

1. I Can Speak

Silence is complicity. I can write, I can post, I can talk to my friends, my family, my colleagues. I can make sure that the people in my orbit—especially those who feel unaffected—understand what’s at stake. And I can make sure those who are affected know they’re not alone.

2. I Can Educate

Knowledge is power, and misinformation is a weapon. I can learn. I can research beyond the headlines. I can break down complex policies in ways that make them accessible to the people who need to understand them most.

3. I Can Show Up

I can show up for the resistance in small, tangible ways—by supporting local organizers, amplifying marginalized voices, and standing in solidarity with those most impacted. Whether it’s signing petitions, making calls to representatives, offering resources, or simply showing up when it matters, I can take action in ways that add up and make a difference.

4. I Can Support

The organizations doing the work. The people on the front lines. The communities most impacted. Maybe I can donate. Maybe I can volunteer. Maybe I can simply uplift their voices and share their work.

5. I Can Vote

It seems obvious, but it’s not just about presidential elections. Local elections matter. State elections matter. Policies that start small can grow into national precedents. My vote is one of the most tangible forms of power I hold, and I refuse to waste it.

6. I Can Care

In my work, in my relationships, in my advocacy. No law can take away my ability to show up with kindness, to fight for dignity, to create spaces where people feel seen and safe. And sometimes, that’s the most radical act of all.

I Am Not Powerless

The systems we’re up against were built to make us feel small. They thrive on our exhaustion. They rely on our despair. But I will not give them that.

I may not be an economist, a politician, or a high-ranking official. But I am here. I am watching. I am working.

And that is enough.

For now.

But not forever.