Wellbeing Online

Activism

Studies show that consistent activism increases wellbeing and even brief activism increases subjective vitality. Supporting a cause that you are passionate about also provides an opportunity to boost social wellbeing as you connect with others that support your passion. In addition to giving you a sense of purpose, activism aids occupational wellbeing by granting time for passion projects that you don't get to explore in your job, or allowing you to get exposure to other careers.

In the webinar above, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy talks about how she documented her activist work in South Asia and what ignited her passion for activism.

How Can You Get Involved?

There are a variety of ways that you can be an activist. Combine ideas from the list below or focus on one if you're just getting started.

Educate Others	learn about your topic of interest and seek opportunities to share what you learned with others. School assemblies, forums, and mentor programs are just a few avenues. Get creative with how you present the info. Music, art, theater, and writing are all different ways to express yourself and the issue to reach a variety of audiences.
Legislation and Policy	study how legislation in the past, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, bettered the lives of oppressed groups and how advocates took the policy from an idea to reality. Put passion into action by building coalitions and writing letters to local, state, or federal government.
Run for Office	School governments (whether it's a club or student body), local, state, or federal positions are all ways that you can get leadership experience and support your cause. If the club you want doesn't exist at your school yet, start it!
Demonstrate	Marching, standing in solidarity, singing, and holding posters are some (not all) ways that you can show activism. Calendar of Pride events all over the world
Public Awareness	Exercise your creativity (art, photography, music, etc.) to spread knowledge about your cause. Art galleries, blogs, social media, and YouTube are all ways that you can reach the public.
Survey and Share	Not sure what issues your community needs help with? Surveys are a great way to obtain data for an existing cause or to make a new cause. As a WSU student, you have access to Qualtrics. Many social media platforms also have survey functions. Learning how to interpret surveys also gives you math and critical thinking skills, supporting intellectual wellbeing.
Fundraise	There are tons of ways to raise money for a cause, including bake sales, car washes, auctions, running events, and more.
Write	Speak up through written word if you notice that a company has done something unfair. Make sure to clearly state the issue you found and provide suggestions on how the organization can correct this problem. Educate the company on WHY what they did is harmful.
Community Service	Donate your time and volunteer for an organization that needs help. This way you can learn more about who you are advocating for.
Get the Press Involved	Press releases, interviews, and op-ed articles are ways to involve the press in your cause. Publicity amplifies your message.

From Passion to Action

WSU's Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) isn't just for Pullman students. Tune in to this webinar to get ideas on how to help your community and how the CCE can help.