When Obama was interviewed by Pod Save America about his legacy, he didn’t talk about Healthcare, Osama Bin Laden, Gay Marriage, the Iran deal or the Paris Agreement, instead he spoke of an aspiration to cultivate a generation of new leaders.

We are the leaders of right now. Our every civic action matters.

When people talk about how we’re leaderless in this moment, I think it’s true, we don’t have that one big voice guiding our way, instead we have many voices – youth voices, women, former Congressional Aides, yours and mine.

As the leaders of the Progress what are we willing and able to do in the next 11 days?

We are bombarded in brutality as tyranny attempts to plow into our Democracy. Each day we are faced with the unimaginable, behaviors that are so cruel, shortsighted and inhumane. It’s hard to imagine why anybody would behave that way and why anybody would vote for these people. Yet, they do, in lockstep.

If Progressives win Governors races, State Houses and in Congress, we can halt the hate.

We will influence the drawing of new districts in the 2020 census, which dramatically effects how legislators are elected. We will stop greed based tax cuts that benefit corporations and the ultra-wealthy by 83%. And, we will protect the civil rights of all human beings. At this moment, there is an Equality bill in Congress with the focus of protecting LGBTQ people if passed. We will enact checks and balances.

None of this can happen without our full participation.

Data shows that the GOP does better when fewer people vote and Progress does better when people show up. How can we show up and how can we inspire others to show up?

So what can you commit to in the next 11 days?

THE NEXT ELEVEN DAYS OF EASY ACTIVISM –

CANVAS - Knocking on doors requires gumption and a companion. I do it because I believe the data, which says the most effective way to convert voters is to talk to voters face to face. It sounds worse than it is. It can even be fun. Especially in a year like this when the stakes are so high.Here’s some organizations that can direct you to canvassing opportunities in your area - Swing Left, Indivisible or Google the Democratic Party in Your State

PHONE BANK – It’s fun to phone bank. Seriously it is. Especially if you go to a call party where lots of people are dialing for Democracy. I made hundreds of calls last night. I helped people make decisions on how to vote. It is rewarding and it’s two hours of your evening. Indivisible can connect you to a phone bank.

WRITE POSTCARDS - My friend Hilary went to the Democratic office in LA, picked up postcards, wrote directly to voters and then dropped them back at the office where they addressed, put the postage on and mailed them. EASY.

DONATE – I may get this wrong so don’t quote me and I believe this midterm has cost 5 billion dollars. What a waste of a valuable resource that could truly change lives. Money wasted to enact an agenda that wants fewer people voting, spreads hate and will make the rich richer regardless of the harm caused. I hate this. All that said, every donation counts and lots of candidates need help. I imagine you’re getting hit up all day long. Give where you can. Red to Blue, Emily’s List, VoteVets and many more.

TALK TO EVERYBODY - I talk to everybody about voting. This is easy to do this. Some people feel like I’m infringing on their privacy as their vote is private. Our voting records are public knowledge. The DNC and RNC know exactly how you’ve voted. And how people vote OR if they vote affects all of us. So talk to people. Everybody. At the coffee shop. At the grocery store. At the Dentist. At school. You get the idea.

VOTE! Early is best if it’s an option. If you don’t know all the issues on the ballot, talk to your friends, look at who backs the issues and ask do you share their values, research using progressive organizations and help other vote. 1631 in Washington State is backed by Big Oil, which means bad for the environment. Voting YES on 1631 is a no brainer although not if you’ve seen the ads. There are also plenty of progressive voter guides. And share your voting values with your friends and families.

The thing that keeps me motivated is realizing how easy I have it. While my rights as a Gay Jewish Woman face constant bigotry and inequality, I walk through life pretty easily. All around me are people in pain. The news cycle reflects deep personal and cultural dis-ease. If one of us is suffering, we all our suffering. We must ease the suffering of others if we can.

I do my civic duty to create wellness for all of us. This is not about me. This is about us.

We are strong, resilient people and if we have time for social media and other leisurely activities, perhaps we have time to do SOME or ALL of the above.

Lives depend upon our activism. Let’s do this. 11 days.

What can you commit too?

In love and gratitude –

:: Genessa