Boots On The Ground Demonstrates How Midwest Activists Can Organize Effectively

By Whitney Young

Since the 2024 election results came in, we’ve been living in a grave, new political reality for the past 14 months. Instead of grieving the loss, we activated, and our activations took different forms. Some of us started gathering resource lists for our community, while others, like Boots on the Ground, began organizing. 

Boots on the Ground started with the nonprofits that needed the most assistance after the new administration took office in 2025. From there, it grew into a multifaceted community action plan: sharing information and current events over Substack and social media; community-building programs such as Workshop Wednesdays; and engaging the Midwest to show up at local and statewide protests and rallies—a little something for everyone to get involved at their own pace. 

We reached out to Boots on the Ground co-founders, Nancy Mays and Martha Lawrence, to learn more about their mission and to gather a few pieces of advice regarding the political environment we find ourselves in for the foreseeable future.

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Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Choosing Which Charity to Support

By Erin Gabriel
Art by Whitney Young

When the news is full of global crisis after global crisis, it’s not uncommon to feel a profound sense of helplessness when confronted with the myriad of complex issues so prevalent today. From ongoing genocides to pressing concerns such as climate change, gun violence, immigration and refugee crises, and women’s health accessibility, the array of challenges can be overwhelming. The natural question arises: What can one do to help? 

Answering that question seems complex. Which issues deserve your time or financial support? How do you ensure your contributions make a positive impact? However,  you can contribute to positive change through various avenues. 

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