Why Every Action Counts, Big or Small
“Nothing we do that is worthwhile is done alone…What if ordinary people have the power to collectively free ourselves?” – Mariame Kaba
At a recent all-team meetup for volunteers at Americans of Conscience, one of our team members asked a quiet question:
“Are we making a difference?”
She was asking not so much from doubt, but a hopeful longing for reassurance that what she’s doing—what we’re all doing—is contributing to something positive and responsive to current events.
I answered her honestly: Yes.
Signs of Impact and Progress
Our mission at AoCC is “to provide tools that encourage engagement to strengthen American democracy, equality, and environment.” We’re doing that, and we’ve got data to back it up:
- Our subscribers are taking exponentially more actions this year than 12 months ago.
- More people are subscribing to the Checklist.
- We’re speaking up together for issues that matter.
- We’re amplifying grassroots groups’ calls to action.
- Anecdotally, we get heartfelt notes of gratitude from grateful readers saying our work has helped them keep going over the years.
Yes, we are making a difference, but I also felt the ache in her question. When we see the scale of harm being done right now—by powerful people bent on enriching themselves, threatening our neighbors, dismantling rights, and silencing dissent—it’s easy to feel like what we’re doing isn’t enough. It seems too small. Too quiet. Too slow.
The Journey Toward Justice
In moments like this, it’s vital to remember how old this struggle is. This work—for peace, improving democracy, and expanding equality and justice—is not new. People have been working and making strides for centuries. The fortress protecting the richest and powerful cannot be toppled overnight. Slowness is baked into the process, but it’s what allows for long term successes.
Just think about the American women who organized, petitioned, argued, and marched for 72 years in order to win the right to vote. Think of the work of Black men and women who persevered another 45 years to gain full, unimpeded access to that same right—not as “three-fifths” of a person, but as equals under the law.
These Americans struggled not just for the right to show up at a ballot box, but to get powerful to concede that the voices and views of women and people of color were equal to their own.
This effort took over a century and is still imperfect, yet these milestones were achieved. Voting rights are better today thanks to every person who showed up—not just to a single protest, or one charismatic leader, or one sweeping piece of legislation. Those voting victories were won through millions of everyday acts by people just like you and me.
Small Acts Change History
Consider a moment of all the simple, small (even boring) acts it took to win the right to vote:
- Sewing protest banners to display during demonstrations.
- Writing newspaper columns and letters to the editor, telling the truth.
- Operating printing presses to share photos and stories.
- Handing out leaflets.
- Researching and strategizing to use the power of the law in courtrooms.
- Opening homes to host organizing meetings.
- Standing arm-in-arm in the streets.
- Offering care to those who were hurt in the struggle.
- Writing and singing songs that uplift and inspire courage even today.
- Balancing the books.
- Making meals.
- Cleaning up the trash after an event.
- Encouraging and supporting those taking on visible, public roles.
The millions of things that average people did to win the vote were small and often invisible. Cumulatively though, those ordinary, unremarkable things helped more Americans win the right to vote.
Continuing a Legacy of Courage
Today, especially as things seem increasingly dire, we may hope that someone—an elected leader or the Supreme Court or Congress—will take a stand put a stop to the chaos. But the truth is that a determined community of people speaking up, showing up, and doing what we can is what advances justice. The heroes we’re waiting for are are you and me.
So, when we’re afraid, tired, or disheartened, we must remember that it’s not the size or visibility of our actions that matters. The important thing is to keep choosing to show up, to contribute, and to join alongside others with similar values and goals. Being connected to other people and working together is how change happens.
Reflection questions:
- When it comes to your values and goals, what future are you working toward?
- What are you contributing right now, no matter how small?
- What people or groups are you currently allied with or working alongside?
Yes, You Are Making a Difference
Returning to my volunteer’s tender question—Are we making a difference?—my answer is still yes.
Each small action you take builds the future we want. You may not feel it, but take inspiration from past movements for a reality check: collective power works. Whether it’s phone calls, making posters, donations, social media sharing, conversations with friends—every action we take is vital.
When thousands of us take action—week after week, in city apartments and rural towns and everywhere in between—that steady, visionary pressure creates momentum—even inevitability.
The history of advancing justice isn’t made by the powerful, it’s made by all of us. Taking action is how we create the future we want. So, let’s keep going, one small step at a time.
Open this week’s Checklist [LINK] to do one small action.