{"id":45989,"date":"2025-04-23T14:01:17","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T14:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/?p=45989"},"modified":"2025-04-23T14:02:41","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T14:02:41","slug":"activist-plea-we-must-refuse-to-disengage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/04\/23\/activist-plea-we-must-refuse-to-disengage\/","title":{"rendered":"If Activists Want to Win, They Must Engage \u2014 Not Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is a guest post by our Movement Partner <\/span><\/i>Chelsea Miller<\/span><\/i><\/a>. Chelsea is the CEO of CPM Global and Co-Founder of <\/span><\/i>Freedom March NYC<\/span><\/i><\/a>, one of the largest youth-led civil rights organizations in the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

We share Chelsea\u2019s piece as a reminder that political passion and activism can <\/span><\/i>coexist<\/span><\/i><\/a> with efforts to overcome toxic polarization. No matter your political views, you can, at the same time, choose to <\/span><\/i>be a Builder<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\n

This week, citizens and organizations across America are celebrating <\/span>National Week of Conversation<\/span><\/a>. In a time of deep division in our country, this week provides a crucial reminder of the power of conversation in building strong, connected communities to restore trust and create lasting change. When people come together with a shared sense of purpose and belonging, we lay the groundwork for a more resilient and inclusive democracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Y<\/span>et, disengagement has become our default to conflict. <\/span>It\u2019s often easier to cancel, scroll past, or tune out people whose views challenge our own. <\/span>Sometimes, that instinct is valid through the lens of\u00a0 safety and well-being. But when this becomes a default mechanism to disagreement, we begin to lose something essential. We lose opportunities to build community, to foster <\/span>understanding<\/span><\/a>, and to strengthen the social fabric that holds us together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As more Americans, particularly young people, become politically active, many are seeking change through action. We must recognize that change doesn\u2019t happen in echo chambers; \u2014it happens in the hard, messy spaces where people choose to stay in conversation, to listen, and to imagine something better together. Reclaiming those spaces is how we begin to heal and rebuild \u2014 one relationship, one community at a time. History shows us that it’s possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

For centuries, Americans of all walks of life have turned to communication as a radical tool for change. Civil rights leaders didn\u2019t just speak to allies \u2014 they confronted harmful ideologies head-on. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. used dialogue to appeal to moral consciousness. Dorothy Height advocated for racial and gender equality by negotiating directly with politicians and civil rights leaders. Their voices didn\u2019t just mobilize supporters; they <\/span>broke down doors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although times have changed, we need conversations now more than ever. In moments of deep division, building community through honest, respectful dialogue is not just helpful\u2014it\u2019s essential. I\u2019ve seen firsthand how powerful it can be when people come together across differences, driven by a shared commitment to progress and understanding. That\u2019s why partnerships with organizations like <\/span>Builders<\/span><\/a> \u2014 who are dedicated to overcoming toxic polarization \u2014 are so important.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my countless conversations with both young people and the institutions trying to reach them, I\u2019ve sat with administrators who ask, \u201cHow do we engage the next generation?\u201d And I\u2019ve listened to young people who ask, \u201cHow can we be heard?\u201d At the core of both questions is the same need: to feel seen, understood, and valued. When we begin to address this need, we open the door to real connection, mutual respect, and meaningful collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Living in a digital first world, we have more access than ever to different perspectives. America has never been a monolith; it\u2019s a collision of cultures, perspectives, and histories that must coexist. If we want a future where all of us can thrive, we can\u2019t afford to opt out of the conversation. Instead of withdrawing into our spaces, we must come together with boldness, empathy, and a shared commitment to meaningful change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Frederick Douglass once said, “The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.” It is through our collective commitment that we build the foundation for the community that we want. Our democracy depends on it. Our future demands it. And history reminds us that every breakthrough we\u2019ve ever achieved began with the courage to speak \u2014 and the willingness to build.<\/span><\/p>\n

To learn more about Chelsea Miller, see <\/span><\/i>her website<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

You can <\/span><\/i>work hard for a political goal<\/span><\/i><\/a> while also striving to lower toxicity. Often, when we take more respectful approaches with our opponents, as a bonus we\u2019ll be <\/span><\/i>more persuasive and effective<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i>Have you used Builder-esque approaches in your activism? <\/span><\/i>Send us your story<\/span><\/i><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Join the Builders Movement! buildersmovement.org\/invite<\/a><\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This is a guest post by our Movement Partner Chelsea Miller. Chelsea is the CEO of CPM Global and Co-Founder of Freedom March NYC, one of the largest youth-led civil rights organizations in the U.S.\u00a0 We share Chelsea\u2019s piece as a reminder that political passion and activism can coexist with efforts to overcome toxic polarization.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":45990,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"collection_feed":[],"type_feed":[77],"class_list":["post-45989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nIf Activists Want to Win, They Must Engage \u2014 Not Avoid - Builders<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/buildersmovement.org\/2025\/04\/23\/activist-plea-we-must-refuse-to-disengage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"If Activists Want to Win, They Must Engage \u2014 Not Avoid - Builders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This is a guest post by our Movement Partner Chelsea Miller. 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