HOW WE HELP

TIPS FOR ACTIVISM ENGAGEMENT

First and Foremost – You’ve got to Believe, have Hope, Passion and Confidence that valuable change can and does happen because individuals take bold initiative.

A 5-FINGER APPROACH TO MAKING YOUR POINT

1. EFFECTIVENESS:
Making sure that what you intend to do gets done. Symbolized by the thumb, without which the hand is not effective.
2. CONSTRUCTIVENESS:
Ensuring that everything you do follows a positive direction. Symbolized by the index finger, the finger used to point a direction.
3. RESPECT:
Treating others as human beings, with human rights and human dignity. A revolution BY people is also FOR people, so respect is essential. As this is considered the most important principle of all, it's symbolized by the longest finger, the middle finger... contrary to popular usage.
4. SELF-IMPROVEMENT:
Continuously increasing positive attitude, habits and skills while decreasing negative ones. Every individual has the right as well as the duty to make himself or herself better. This is symbolized by the ring finger, which is seldom most prominent in our actions, but is always there.
5. CONTRIBUTION:
Giving what you can toward bringing the positive revolution to pass. Symbolized by the little finger, meaning that even the smallest contribution is worthwhile, and will add up eventually.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT:

DO Listen to others, even if you don’t agree
DO Ask clarifying questions
DO Welcome new ideas
DO Treat every contribution as valuable
DO Learn from your mistakes
DO Take pride in your community
Do NOT Raise your voice
Do NOT Engage in negativity
Do NOT Allow personal physical attacks
Do NOT Become violent or hostile
Do NOT Humiliate an opponent

WALK AWAY FROM:

ANY physical intimidation
ANY sort of threat, heckling, name calling, taunts, etc.

TEACH ALTERNATIVES:

Propose and articulate intelligent alternatives to the status quo. Inspire people with well thought out, attractive visions of how things can be better. Use actual examples, what's been tried, where and how it works. Do your homework, get the word out and create visual representations. Be positive and hopeful. Change occurs when we united together with our peers and work towards a common cause.

REMEMBER - YOU'RE NOT ALONE!

We are a brilliant community of people bound by the common factor of love. Celebrate that TODAY and ALWAYS!