by Susan Finn, V.A. Lopes and Craig Swallow, Indivisible: “Do Something” SouthCoast NE
As co-leaders for Indivisible “Do Something” SouthCoast NE, we dedicate significant time to our movement each week. We suspect that if you’re reading this, you too spend considerable time absorbing, discussing and processing what’s happening in our world.
Clearly, something compels you to commit your valuable energy to this fight.
What is it?
What’s your “Why?”
For example, for one of us (Susan), the horrors of fascism suffered by great-grandparents, uncles and aunts in Poland — leaving only two Holocaust survivors — fuel the fight.
Today, we fight for our children and grandchildren, so they can enjoy safe education (preferably without live-shooter drills), love freely, enjoy clean air and water, access health care (especially our daughters and granddaughters), and never be persecuted for their religion or lack thereof.
It’s so important that each of us shares our own clear message — our true story.
Why?
Because your personal experience helps friends and colleagues emotionally connect to you and build trust, making big issues feel real and easy to grasp. This genuine connection shows them why it matters, making them want to get involved. It makes our group’s work feel personal and encourages others to join the cause to fight for their “Why?”
For people who don’t care about politics: Your story cuts through the confusion. It gives them tangible examples of why an issue truly matters to people they know and care about, making it feel important to them too.
For those who disagree or are wary: Your story builds understanding rather than conflict. It helps others see an issue from a different perspective, creating a connection that can change minds more effectively than just facts or political arguments (because we know facts don’t change people’s minds).
Discussing how a cause personally affects you and motivates you to act can be incredibly inspiring to others. It helps jolt them out of the cognitive dissonance of thinking that “everything will be ok”. It will give others a channel to envision themselves getting involved and believing their contribution can truly make a difference.
Ultimately, it answers the unspoken question: “Why should I care?”
Many people are wary of politics or feel disengaged. Your personal narrative can cut through that cynicism, making our movement feel more accessible and less like an impersonal political machine. For example, using a personal story can help build a relationship that may lead a nonvoter to find their own “Why?” and become a voter. Crucially, telling your story invites conversation rather than confrontation.
Here at Indivisible “Do Something” SouthCoast New England, we’ve been discussing how to craft our own “Why?” statements that connect to the broader mission of Indivisible National. We know this process demonstrates how larger goals translate into our many and varied individual drivers, reinforcing the relevance and importance of Indivisible’s work.
This personal connection makes the mission feel achievable and deeply meaningful to potential new recruits.
Crafting your personal, compelling message to explain why you’re dedicated to this cause can feel challenging and isn’t always intuitive. That’s why our co-leader, V.A. Lopes created a simple guide to help us all connect our individual stories with the broader Indivisible movement.
Sharing our stories is a means of engaging people who may be different from us, who may be of a different generation or different ethnic group, or who may have voted for different candidates. Some of these people will be looking for an organization like Indivisible, and we use these conversations as a way of building bridges to our groups and our movement.
We encourage you to try this approach — socially, through canvassing, or with curious people at rallies.
Please don’t hesitate to email us if you have any questions about how to create and use your stories to build engagement.
Find more about Indivisible SouthCoast NE : https://www.dosomethingsc.org
Susan Finn, V.A. Lopes and Craig Swallow are co-leaders of Indivisible: “Do Something” SouthCoast NE, with members from southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
