Join a Group or Start Your Own
Once you know the issue you care about it is time to either start your own group or join with others. If there is a group or individual tackling the same issue in your community, join up with them. Just give them a call or shoot them an email expressing interest. If they do not get back right away, be persistent and tell them how you will contribute to their efforts. Perhaps they need a team started on your campus, or in your neighborhood. You can spearhead that effort. If no one is working on the issue that interests you, start your own group to ensure your issue is addressed.
Search for Groups with a Similar Mission
Before going through all the work of creating your own group it makes sense to see if there is already a group or organization trying to solve the same problem.
See if you can find a currently existing group that has a similar mission. Use some of the links below to find groups that deal with your issue:
Once you find a group that is working on your issue, contact them to find out how you can get involved with their efforts. For instance if you want to get in touch with Greenpeace to do environmental work, go to their website and get their contact information. For well-established organizations you can often fill out a volunteer form online for a local chapter. Get the local chapter’s phone number and give them a call, it can be as simple as this:
Sample Phone Call Script – Invitation to Join Up
Hello my name is ____________ and I am from ___________. I am interested in your current efforts to save the redwoods on the Northern Oregon coast and would like to help as a volunteer on my local campus (or in my local community). How can I get started?
If you prefer to contact the organization by email, the email text can be as simple as the above script, but be sure to present yourself as flexible. You want to help them and their effort, not create more work by requesting a special job or task. Also keep it brief, people do not have time to read a three page email. Introduce yourself, get your point across, and ask to get started right away.
Upon making these calls or sending these emails you may discover that although Greenpeace does great work, it does not address the specific situation that is affecting your community. In this case Greenpeace is a good coalition partner, but you may choose to start your own group.
Next: Start Your Own Group
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