Getting Involved in the Community

Recently, I heard Roxane Gay’s interview on Girlboss Radio (which you should listen to if you are not already).  I am about to majorly paraphrase, but in the interview, Roxane talks about what success means to her. She talks about that she knows she is successful when she can give back more than the universe gave her. This definition of success really resonated with me, and I couldn’t agree more.

It can be difficult to know how to get involved with different programs in your community. So, here are some tips I have learned over the years:

Pick one or two causes to focus your attention on.

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of great organizations out there. There is no way you can be involved in them all. Pick one or two that mean a lot to you, so you can dive in deeply. You also want to pick the ones that mean the most to you, so usually, they have some personal meaning in your life. For example, the two causes that mean the most to me are anything involving empowering women and anything having to do with dogs. Those are very personal for me, so that is why I can advocate for them.

Getting involved can mean more than money.

At this stage of the game, you might not have a ton of money to donate to the non-profits you care about. While any little bit helps, that is okay! There are other ways to get involved. You can obviously volunteer your time too, and that is just as useful.

Find a leadership position that inspires you! 

If you are anything like me, I like to take ownership of things. I like to feel wanted and useful, so I try to find some kind of leadership position within organizations I want to be part of. It is especially a good way to get started in the organization if you don’t know anyone because you will meet people. If you feel responsible for something, chances are you are more likely to stick around.

Make new friends.

I find that the best way to make new friends is through getting involved in non-profits or something that benefits the greater good. When you are around people that have a common cause, they are fighting for, I find that it is easier to get to know people. Also, most of the members will have likeminded views, so if you are working with a non-profit then all of those people care about the same causes you do.

It can definitely be overwhelming to figure out what causes you want to be involved, but once you do, it is a super rewarding experience.

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