The Activist for Activists. Author of Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism and The Happy Activist: Journey the 5-Step Activism Path to Focus Your Passion and Change the World. Teacher, Psychologist, Environmental Activist, Animal Lover.
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Last Updated on August 21, 2025
Welcome. I’m delighted to provide resources for new activists. Use these tools for social change to support you as you make a difference in your community.
When I started in activism, I found it challenging to navigate the myriad of tools for social change available to me. Sometimes, I found resources that didn’t apply to my cause. Other times, I found academic resources that were hard to apply to my situation. The worst ones were those that sent me on a search that ended with me wondering what I was looking for in the first place.
These resources for new activists are different. I’ve curated these tools for social change that support each step on my easy-to-follow, evidence-based 5-Step Activism Path.
Take your time. It is perfectly fine to dive into resources instead of jumping straight into activism. Without good preparation, only a small percentage of people stay long-term in activism. If they don’t get clear about their passion and skills and find an activism method they love, they end up ineffective and burnt out. So, take your time and remind yourself this is an investment in you and your cause.
Table of Contents
Choose How to Change the World
Find Your Purpose
START HERE >> How to Find the Cause Closest to Your Heart: What is the cause closest to your heart? Find your passion and make a difference. Align your values with action.
How to Create a Vision of a Joyful Life: A joyful life is one in which we experience fulfillment, purpose, and passion. A vision of what that looks like for you points you to your passions.
What is Your Life Vision: Being clear about your life vision means you will live your values in all you do, including activism. Get in-depth engagement in your cause.
Activism Causes: Learn about activism causes.
Other posts you may wish to browse:
- Consider your life roles. What are the five most important roles in your life? How will activism fit in?
- How do activists describe the cause closest to their heart? Activists describe their passions, and you’ll be surprised at the creativity and diversity of their choices.
Additional Resources for Focusing Your Passion
To find and focus your passion, try these tools for social change:
Read
- Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams by Lucia Cappuchione. An excellent resource for finding the right way to tap into your vision.
- Playing Big by Tara Mohr. The entire book on how women can step up and play big is excellent, but for visioning, see her chapter about callings.
- Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger. This book uses MBTI personality types to help you understand your values and motivations. Includes a method for determining your type and specifics on how your type impacts life choices.
Browse
- The Great Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda is an example of a big vision. I wrote about my visit in What is Your Vision?
Use
- Create your Bucket List.
- How to draw mind maps includes suggestions for mind-mapping tools. Xmind is the tool I use to mind map and get creative.
- Human Values Project allows you to complete a free questionnaire about what impacts your behavior based on a research database of the 14 most common values. Then, learn how you express your values in different situations and where you may want to balance your life. Detailed report provided with suggestions for development.
- The Clearer Thinking website provides free tools for improvement.
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- World’s Biggest Problems Quiz: Test your knowledge of some of the world’s most pressing problems: global health, animal welfare, and risks to humanity.
- Belief Challenger: Our beliefs determine our behaviors and interactions with others, so make sure they are accurate.
- Uncover Your Guiding Principles: Build a list of your personal principles to use in your decision-making.
- Lifetime Aspirations: A Tool For Pursuing Ambitious Goals– This tool asks you questions about your meaning and purpose, then sets goals for you.
- The Intrinsic Values Test: Find out what you value most in the world and compare your results with other people.
Inventory your Unique Gifts
START HERE >> How to Take Stock of the Gifts You Bring to Activism: Understand your skills, knowledge, and motivation to find the right activism for you. This post refers you to the Activist Skills and Knowledge Questionnaire.
Other posts you may wish to browse:
More about skills and knowledge and how they relate to performance in What You Can Do and What You Know Can Change the World.
In How Clarifying Your Gifts Helps You Use Your Talents for Good, you learn the story of an activist who learned how important it can be to match your skill to your activism.
Cultural competence is critical in activism. Learn how to improve yours in Things You Should Know Before You Take It to the Streets.
Additional Resources for Inventorying Your Skills
Understanding your skills, knowledge, and motivation is crucial for becoming an effective activist. Here are tools for social change to help you explore your potential.
Read
- What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles. This book contains a great exercise designed to help you identify the skills you enjoy using.
- Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type by Paul D. Tieger & Barbara Barron-Tieger. This book uses MBTI personality types to help you understand your strengths and motivations.
Browse
- Building the World We Dream About: A Unitarian Universalist program that seeks to interrupt the workings of racism.
- It’s Pronounced Metrosexual: Good information about understanding privilege.
- Peggy McIntosh created the items for the Privilege Inventory that travels the web.
Use
- Activism Skills and Experiences Questionnaire by Randy Schutt
- Check your Privilege: From Buzzfeed.
- The Clifton’s StrengthsFinder, used by millions of people, is a tool for self-awareness to capitalize on talents and apply them to challenges.
- Compare Countries: From Sociologist Geert Hofstede’s Cultural Competency Research
- Anti-Defamation League Personal Self-Assessment of Anti-Bias Behavior
- The Clearer Thinking website provides free tools for improvement.
- Gender Continuum Test: Learn about the relationship between gender and personality.
- Emotional Obstacles to Doing Good: If you want to improve the world, emotions can help and hinder your progress.
- The Ultimate Personality Test: Find out which of the 16 personality types you match best. Get a personalized report.
Choose How to Change The World
START HERE >> How to Find the Best Activism Method: There are many opportunities for budding activists. So, take time to make the match between your passion and the best activism method for you.
Other posts you may wish to browse:
Activism in Art and Other Creative Ways to Use Your Talents for Your Cause: Activism in art is one of many creative ways to make a difference in the world. Find the perfect activism method for you.
Get Inspired by Amazing Activists: The Everyday Heroes of Activism: Browse activist profiles to better understand the diverse ways people make change.
Additional Resources on Activism Methods
To find the right activism method, try these tools for social change:
Mobilization
Mobilization includes practices such as protesting and signing petitions rather than those that require deep engagement.
- Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Round the World. The story of the largest worldwide protest in history. Includes links to activist organizations.
- Change.org– Create a petition or browse those created by others.
Advocacy
Awareness
- Advocate to end extreme poverty. ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030.
- Advocacy programs support community members trying to make a difference. An example is the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Coaching and Mentoring
- Provide financial coaching for the underserved. Cristo Rey Community Center provides financial counseling to the community.
- Inspire girls to pursue STEM careers. Jessica Wade was disappointed with the lack of wikis about female scientists. So, she decided to change that by writing over 1750 biographies. She wants girls to find inspiring examples of successful female scientists.
Lobbying
- Molly Burhons lobbied the Vatican to encourage better land use.
- David Hogg is a survivor of a school mass shooting. He and others created March for Our Lives to advocate for gun control.
Run for Office
- Emily’s List: Supports pro-choice women candidates.
- Run for office as a member of a party with an anti-cruelty platform. Georgie Purcell is an Australian politician and a member of the Animal Justice Party. She is also a lawyer and advocates for women’s rights and reproductive health.
Training
- Help kids learn how to be environmental activists. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez created Earth Guardians to teach kids to make a difference for the planet.
- Help others recognize human trafficking. Truckers Against Trafficking trains truckers to assist law enforcement in the recognition and reporting of human trafficking.
Art as Activism
Crafting
- The Craftivist Collective was created by activist Sarah Corbett to promote craftivism and gentle protest.
- How to be a Craftivist: The art of gentle protest by Sarah Corbett
- The Art and Craft of Activism and Knitting for Good. A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change Stitch by Stitch by Betsy Greer
Dance
Drawing and Illustration
- The website Creative Activism offers workshops, resources, and inspiration for using art and creativity for social change.
- Create a comic strip about peace activism. Cartooning for Peace is an international network of cartoonists who use humor to bring awareness to peacebuilding.
Film
- Film a documentary on fast fashion. For example, True Cost is about the clothes we wear, the people who make them, and their impact on our world.
Music
- Bring singers together for your cause. The Appalachian Equality Chorus promotes inclusion and ending hostility toward marginalized people.
Photography
- Create photography that highlights your cause. Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Renée Byer’s exhibit ‘Living on a Dollar a Day’ reveals the faces of those living in extreme poverty.
Podcasts
- The Activist Files podcast delves into the strategies and successes of different activist movements worldwide. An example is episode 40: Radical Freedom through Art and Activism with Nadia Ben-Youssef & BK King.
- Code Switch is an NPR podcast that explores race and identity in America, featuring stories of activists fighting for social justice. Hosted by journalists of color.
Poetry
- Poets can bring awareness to social justice issues with just a few carefully chosen words. Bobbi-Anjelica Morris is a spoken poetry performer and disability advocate.
Sculpture
- Create a sculpture to highlight immigration. The sculpture Refugee Baggage seeks to humanize the word “refugee” and was created by Mohamad Hafez and Ahmed Badr.
Theater
- The Diggers is a guerrilla theater group from the 1960s.
- Is acting in your blood? Check out this post about theater and activism.
- Write a play about your cause. Sheltering by Timothy Schmalz highlights homelessness.
Writing
- Start a magazine about your cause. Surge is a Charleston magazine focused on local environmental issues.
- Peace activist George Lakey wrote Dancing with History: A Life for Peace and Justice.
Specialized Skills
Apps and Games
- Create a video game about the LGBTQ+ experience. Portrait of a Texas Family is a video game where the player raises a trans teen in Texas.
Gardening
- Save seeds that preserve a cultural history. Second Generation Seeds keeps Asian heirloom seeds in the food system.
Leadership
- Create a support program for your cause. The goal of Veganuary is to inspire people to try vegan food.
- Help disabled people get better access to job opportunities. Keely Cat-Wells represents disabled talent, placing them in jobs in Hollywood.
Legal Support
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) offers legal aid and advocacy on various social justice issues.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) combats hate groups and bigotry through litigation and education.
- Coordinate a pro-bono law student project with a nonprofit to provide legal aid. Grab those law students and give them a way to practice their skills and give back.
News Media Outreach
- MediaJustice fights for communication rights, access, and power for communities harmed by persistent dehumanization, discrimination, and disadvantage.
- Develop news media contacts in your area and provide information on your cause. Making media contacts lets you get your issue in the press, advertise events, and educate journalists.
Research
- The Data Science Institute Data for Good advances data science applications that are used to benefit society.
- Organize large datasets to guide campaign decision-making. Movements need access to good data and a way to organize that data to make decisions. An example is the HEAL Food Alliance, which collects and analyzes data on food insecurity.
Undercover Investigations
- Undercover investigations and whistleblowing can provide critical information about a cause. For example, The Project On Government Oversight is a watchdog investigating governmental waste, corruption, and abuse of power.
- Mercy for Animals sends staff into animal factory farms to document the terrible cruelty of the system.
Movement Support
Administrative Support
- Administrative support is a huge need in the activism community.
- Offer mindfulness resources for changemakers. Activists must stay motivated over the long haul. People skilled in mindfulness can help them with self-care tools.
Fundraising
- Create a product and donate the profit to your cause. Former NFL player Justin Watson created BLQK Coffee and donates 25% of its profits to Black communities.
- Create a sports group to support your cause. Running to Protest organizes NYC runs to protest racial injustice.
Volunteer Care
- Feed the Resistance: Recipes and Ideas for Getting Involved by Julia Turshen.
- Start a yoga class for veterans. Veterans Yoga Project aims to support recovery and resilience among veterans, military families, and communities.
Social Media
- Act.tv is a media company doing live streaming and digital campaigns.
- Maintain your organization’s website. An excellent social media presence allows nonprofits to build awareness, generate donations, and build a volunteer base.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to activism. The most important thing is to find a method that resonates with you, allows you to use your skills effectively, and contributes meaningfully to the cause you care about.
Maximize Your Impactfulness
START HERE >> How to Make an Impact with Your Activism
In How to Craft Your Ideal Activism Opportunity, a budding climate change activist considers her skills, motivation, and desired method to visualize her perfect activism opportunity.
In How to Start in Activism: Are You Making an Impact? Linda wonders whether her activism makes a difference. With reflection, she finds a way to impact her cause significantly.
Other posts you may wish to browse:
How to Make Powerful Change in Your Activism provides guidance on maximizing your performance. Activist Jenny sets herself up for success by considering all aspects of her performance.
Sometimes, we get punished for doing things right and rewarded for doing things wrong. Learn more in How to Fix Your Mixed-Up Motivation.
Additional Resources on Making the Most Impact
To maximize your impact, try these tools for social change:
Read
- Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Help Others, Do Work that Matters, and Make Smarter Choices about Giving Back by William MacAskill
Browse
- 80,000 Hours: You work for 80,000 hours in a lifetime. Make it count.
- Effective Altruism: Use your donations and effort in the most impactful way.
Use
- The Clearer Thinking website provides free tools for improvement.
- What Causes Match Your Values? Find a charity that matches your charitable priorities and is highly effective.
- Activism Finder-Volunteer Match connects you with local volunteer opportunities aligned with your passions.
Set Goals and Stay Motivated
START HERE >> How to Stay Motivated in Your Activism
Learn more about SMART goals at Be SMART: How to Set Activism Goals.
Is Self-Care Important? How Caring for Yourself Helps You and Others reviews how self-care is a social change method.
Other posts you may wish to browse:
In The Most Powerful Self-Care Strategy for Activists, find stress awareness methods and coping strategies that work for you.
Learn from activist Bert, who creates an action plan for his new activism.
Additional Resources for Staying Motivated
To stay motivated, try these tools for social change:
Set Goals
Read
- SMART Goals. A Guide for writing SMART goals provided by the University of California
Browse
- The podcast On Being with Krista Tippett explores spirit, science, healing, and poetry in conversations.
Use
- Stress Test
- Start a daily journaling practice, focusing on your emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Pay attention to what triggers strong emotions, both positive and negative. Day One is a Journaling app.
- The Clearer Thinking website provides free tools for improvement.
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- What Makes an Effective Goal?: Use a research-based process to set effective goals.
- Daily Ritual: A Habit Creation System: This tool builds a custom habit-formation strategy for you.
- Savor Your Life: A Tool for Boosting Happiness
Stay Motivated
Read
- The Lifelong Activist: How to change the world without losing your way by Hillary Rettig
- In The Tiger’s Mouth: An Empowerment Guide For Social Action by Katrina Shields
- An oldie but a goodie: The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook by Martha Davis, Elizabeth Robbins Eshelman, and Matthew McKay. Now in its 7th edition. This book provides easy step-by-step instructions for the gamut of stress reduction techniques, both mental and physical, and helps you create an action plan.
- Feed the Resistance: Recipes + Ideas for Getting Involved, by Julia Turshen. You can read my review at How Chef Helps Activists with Self-Care.
- Pacing Yourself for the Journey: How to Avoid Burnout and Thrive while Working to Change the World. Chapter 15 of Grassroots and Nonprofit Leadership (1995) by Berit Lakey, George Lakey, Rod Napier, and Janice Robinson.
Browse
- 11 Changemakers Share How They Deal with Activism Fatigue
- Self-Care Resources from New Tactics in Human Rights
Use
- Stress Test
- The Burnout Rating Scale: The Change Agency. Originally from In The Tiger’s Mouth: An Empowerment Guide For Social Action by Katrina Shields.
- The Healthy Minds App is free, easy to use, and evidence-based. You can use it while doing other activities. My experience with this has been highly positive.
- The Clearer Thinking website provides free tools for improvement.
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- Replace Unhelpful Coping Strategies: Replace your unhelpful coping mechanisms with strategies that will benefit you.
- Surpass Self-Limiting Beliefs: Our beliefs can hold us back. Learn to overcome them.
- Savor Your Life: A Tool for Boosting Happiness: Learn a positive psychology skill to increase satisfaction and happiness.
- Reframing Negative Emotions: Learn cognitive reframing of difficult situations.
- Make Your Work More Joyful: Determine how to improve your work experience.
- Practice Self-Compassion: How self-compassionate are you? Learn techniques to develop more self-compassion.
- Tactics for Happier Living: Get a personalized plan to support you in adding meaning to your life.
Remember, staying motivated is a continuous process. There will be ups and downs, but by utilizing these resources and cultivating strong self-care practices, you can ensure that your passion for activism burns bright and continues to make a difference in the world.
Sharpen Your Tools for Social Change: General Resources
Regardless of your choice of activism opportunities, some tools for social change can help all activists. Keep a list of resources you can tap into regularly to stay informed about your cause. Stay informed with your preferred news outlets and social media accounts.
Read
- The Better Boundaries Workbook: A CBT-Based Program to Help You Set Limits, Express Your Needs, and Create Healthy Relationships by Sharon Martin. Learn more in How a Boundaries Book Can Teach You to Be a Motivated Volunteer.
- The Good Good Good Newspaper
- To understand key terms and concepts related to the movement and social justice, read How to Master Social Change Definitions: Try this Sure-Fire Guide.
- The Activist Handbook is a comprehensive resource for activists, covering a wide range of topics.
Browse
- TED Talks: Find inspiring talks by activists and changemakers.
- Good News Network: This website celebrates inspiring acts of kindness and compassion worldwide.
- The Happiness Lab Podcast is based on a popular class at Yale University. ‘Dr. Laurie Santos takes you through the latest scientific research and shares surprising and inspiring stories that will change your thoughts about happiness.’
The Power of Community
Whether you plan to join up with an existing organization or go solo, connection to others is critical. Find tools for social change that link you to your community. Attend community meetings, volunteer fairs, or protests to connect with passionate people and explore local needs. Many organizations like the Sierra Club or Amnesty International have local chapters. Social media offers access to your fellow activists worldwide. The collective power of individual action is the foundation of social movements.
Call to Action
Wherever you are on your activism journey, I hope these resources for new activists help you make a difference in the world. Use these tools for social change to ignite your fire, and hone your skills. Never lose sight of the power you hold to make a difference.
READ NEXT
There is some overlap in the lists but you may be interested in browsing resources for experienced activists.
