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Pick Your Lane: 3 Types of Local Activism That Actually Fit Your Life

  • Writer: Caitlin Kindred
    Caitlin Kindred
  • 1 day ago
  • 6 min read
You Don't Have to Be the Main Character of the Resistance. -Caitlin
Classroom setting with desks and a chalkboard. Text reads: "Practical Resistance: How to Save Your Community." Red "Read More" button included.

Last week, I replied to exactly one PTA email with "Thank you for speaking up about this."

Three sentences. Took me 47 seconds.


And then I felt guilty because that's all I did. Shouldn't I be doing MORE? Shouldn't I be at every meeting, signing every petition, showing up to every protest?


Here's what I keep coming back to: You don't have to save democracy by yourself between soccer practice and bedtime.


The work is real. The stakes are high. But trying to be everywhere, doing everything, showing up to every single thing? That's not sustainable activism. That's a really fast way to burn out and stop showing up at all.

This week's episode is about hyperlocal action that actually fits your life—and why small, consistent moves in your own community might matter more than you think.


Listen to the Episode Here


The Resistance Framework for Busy Moms: Pick Your Local Activism Lane

Instead of trying to do everything everywhere, you're going to choose ONE local focus for this season of your life.


Here are your three lanes:

  1. Schools: School boards, PTA/PTO, curriculum, book bans

  2. Libraries: Library boards, story times, book challenges, inclusive programming

  3. Mutual Aid: Neighbors helping neighbors—food, rides, supplies


The best way to figure out which lane? Ask yourself: What's already part of my life?


If you live at the school anyway, take the schools lane.

If you love books and story time, choose libraries.

If you're the friend who always organizes the meal train, you're probably a mutual aid person.


Pick one local activism lane for THIS season. You're allowed to say, "This season, I'm a school board email mom. I'm not an everything-everywhere mom."


What This Actually Looks Like

I'm going to give you concrete actions for each lane based on your capacity—your "spoons," as Ariella calls them.


Schools Lane

  • Low capacity week: Reply to a school or PTA email with support. Literally: "Thank you for speaking up about [issue]. As a parent, I support keeping our school inclusive and student-centered."

  • Medium capacity week: Send a short email to the school board about a specific concern. (I'm giving you the full template below so you don't have to stare at a blank screen.)

  • High capacity week: Show up in person at a school board meeting. Bring your kids with headphones and quiet snacks. Give a one-minute comment if you want to. Leave after 45 minutes if you need to.


Libraries Lane

  • Low capacity week: Email or fill out a form thanking librarians for inclusive collections. That letter becomes evidence they can use to advocate for more programs like the ones you're supporting.

  • Medium capacity week: Write to the library board about supporting librarians and opposing book bans. Or bring your kids to a library event that aligns with your values—showing up and filling seats IS support.

  • High capacity week: Attend a library board meeting where book challenges are on the agenda. Or organize something simple like kids' artwork or thank-you notes from families.


Mutual Aid Lane

  • Low capacity week: Send $5-10 to a mutual aid fund. Or add an extra pack of diapers to your grocery run and drop it at a local pantry on your way home.

  • Medium capacity week: Sign up for ONE slot on a meal train. One ride. One grocery drop. Not the whole spreadsheet—just one thing.

  • High capacity week: Help coordinate logistics for a mutual aid group once a month. Send reminder texts. Create a signup sheet. Host a quarterly drive.


The Templates You Can Actually Use

Y'all know I love a good sentence frame. Here's your plug-and-play email template so you never get stuck staring at a blank screen:


Subject: Parent in [District]: Please Support [Issue]

Dear [Name/Board Members],

I'm a parent of a [grade] student at [school] and a [regular user of our public library]. I'm writing to ask you to [support/oppose] [specific policy].

This matters to me because [one sentence about how it impacts your kid].

Our kids need [inclusive libraries/age-appropriate education/safe schools] to learn and thrive.

Please vote to [specific action].

Thank you for your time and service.

[Your name][Your neighborhood]Parent of [age/grade] student


That's it. It's not a thesis defense. It's an email from a real human.


And those emails? They get counted. The number of people officials hear from tends to influence how they vote.


Phone Script (Because Sometimes You Have to Call)

Hi, my name is [name], and I'm a parent in [city/district]. I'm calling to ask you to [support/oppose] [issue]. This matters to me because [one sentence]. Please pass along that I [support inclusive libraries/oppose book bans/want our schools to stay welcoming for all students]. Thank you for your time.

Hang up.


You can put this in your notes app and leave a message with a kid yelling in the background.


Staffers hear it all the time. They genuinely don't care about the chaos—they care that you called.


How to Show Up to Meetings with Kids

Listen, we all know the tricks. This is not the time to pretend we don't do screen time. This is the time to bring ALL the ammunition.


Before:

  • Set one goal: "We're staying for 45 minutes" or "I'm giving one comment and then we're leaving."

  • Pack quiet snacks (not the crunchy chips)

  • Load up: coloring books, stickers, headphones, downloaded shows, iPad games


During:

  • Tell your kids: "We're going to a meeting where grown-ups talk about decisions for our school/library. Our job is to listen and be respectful. If you get bored, you can draw/watch your show—you can't throw a fit or interrupt mom."

  • Sit by the EXIT, not the front

  • Tag team with another adult if possible


After:Debrief: "How'd that feel? It mattered that we were there because [reason]. Tell me about the game you played while I was talking."


Acknowledge that they helped you by being quiet. Say thank you.


Why This Matters

Small, consistent actions at the local level are valid and important.


Hyperlocal decisions—about schools, libraries, community support—shape your kids' daily lives even more than federal elections (which also matter, obviously).


You are allowed to be a "send one email this month" activist. You're making your voice heard.


That's what activism IS.


And when your kids see you taking steps to advocate for things that matter, within the bandwidth you actually have? They're seeing you balance advocacy with self-care. That's a great lesson.


Your Tiny Homework

  1. Pick one lane for this season: Schools, libraries, or mutual aid?

  2. Choose one low-capacity action from that lane

  3. Do it this week


That's it. Send the email. Sign up for one slot. Write one thank-you note.


You don't have to be the main character of the resistance. You can be the mom who sends the email, shows up with goldfish and crayons, and keeps your kid's world a little kinder.


That makes a real difference.


Listen to the full episode for all the scripts, more specific examples, and permission to do exactly as much as you can—no more, no less.


Sources for this episode


Who We Are

Caitlin is a former middle school teacher, current mom, and the person who will absolutely sit by the exit at any public meeting.


She's here to remind you that small, consistent actions at the local level are valid and important—and that you're allowed to pick just one lane for this season of your life.


Tell Us What You Need

What topic would you like to see next? Hit the "send me a text" link in the show notes, or DM us on Threads (@ckandgkpodcast).


These topics are unfortunately writing themselves right now, but we want to make sure we're covering what you actually need.


Loved this post? Listen and subscribe today so you'll never miss an episode!

Make good choices,

Caitlin
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