In the last few days the Supreme Courts decisions in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has filled my social media feeds with passionate reactions. I have received numerous texts from my former Weoples with messages of helplessness.

I have stressed to them that they are far from helpless. I responded to a early morning text with one of my former Unit 6 members who is 15 with the following suggestions.

First, I told her to start a countdown timer until she could register to vote. Make the timer visible. Share it with others. Encourage others to do the same. Share the countdown time on a regular interval. Keep the interest alive.

Second, I encouraged her to form a voter registration group at the high school with a plan to use their social media reach and student government involvement to register new voters. Encourage them to reach out those in college to submit absentee ballots on time.

Third, develop a platform of issues in order to expand the tent to find others that have similar passions. I suggested the March for Our Lives organizers as a model for action.

Fourth, I reminded my change-agent that all politics are local. Find a candidate that has similar views and help canvas for them. Get involved beyond social media. Contact her Indiana representatives with her concerns.

Fifth, make a goal of increasing voter turnout rates. The Indiana voter turnout rates in the highly motivated 2020 election was only 65%.

I would remind my former students on the message on the back of our team t-shirts this year: “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm!“