The Kindness of Collective Action

by Monica Espinoza, MSW

     How do we collectively advocate for issues that matter to us? We all are change agents and we all have spheres of influence.

     First, we speak of our visions, hopes, and trust that we will gravitate to like-minded supporters, and then we join forces to act on behalf of our visions and hopes. As part of the first step, we make sure we ourselves are not giving life to the issue we wish to transform.

     For example as a social worker, I get to be honest with a potential employer offering a low wage or salary. Sometimes, in order to survive, we compromise on salary and then complain about the low pay. We cannot "be forced" to accept low wages if we don’t accept them from the beginning. Circumstances or making ends meet seem to be a reason we may "decide" to accept lower paying jobs. It is a reality many of our fellow humans are being faced with.

     Second, I can encourage other potential candidates to do the same and not compromise on their salary expectations. All it takes is one person to allow the bar to be set low. Employers offering low wages tend to have a revolving door. No one wins when we settle and/or are not honest about our needs, including compensation or living wages.

     A third way is through peaceful walk-outs requesting reconsideration of compensation packages, work/life balance through manageable caseloads, quality of work versus quantity, reasonable documentation expectations, or just willingness to hear staff needs and solutions.

     Each of us has a voice, perspective, idea, or potential solution to improve or resolve what is not working. It takes courage to stand up for what we need in these times when retaliation can be rampant. While it may not be wise to voice grievances without offering solutions, nothing can be gained from suffering silently. If it affects more than one person, then it threatens to affect us all. Collectively, we can be fearless and unstoppable.

     As advocates and social justice agents, we can form "a union for holistic professionals." Collective action arises from our need to contribute to well-being, and that is a beautiful imprint of our kindness.

     I believe the key is to be asking the best possible questions and trusting that together we can come up with "inclusive solutions" to systemic issues.

     Your voice matters, and when we commit to uniting our collective efforts for humanity, we can activate changes. Imagine the kind of impact we can make when, collectively, we unite our voices and offer viable solutions to long-held systemic issues.

     Will you honor humanity by sharing your voice, your wisdom, your solution, and trust in the power of collective love in action?

Monica Espinoza, MSW, has a passion for social justice and uses her voice to peacefully advocate for humanity. Monica blogs about life, love, and transforming of systems of inequity.