Potluck

Yesterday, I attended a potluck hosted by Progressive Massachusetts in Watertown. I didn’t know anybody, I went by myself, and it was my first time going to a progressive event like this. It was daunting, but passionate volunteers tend to be receptive to newcomers, so after introducing myself a few times, I found the people that resonated with me.

I went in with three goals:

  1. Find out what happened to Progressive Newton
  2. Determine if there’s a niche for my individual interests and skills
  3. Leave with at least one contact

I managed to achieve every one, and plan to post more in-depth follow ups to these in the future. For now, here are the main takeaways I walked away with for developing political engagement:

Disagreeing is easier than ideating

I like to challenge ideas and poke holes in narratives (not for nothing, I’m posting on a site called Dismantl). I spend a lot of time thinking about what I believe and trying to challenge it.

Still, every time someone asked me what I cared about, I hesitated; I can say I care about civil rights, or social justice, or outreach, but what does that look like in the absence of someone to oppose it? It’s easy to figure out which things you disagree with, but I lacked an elevator pitch for the core issues that motivate me on their own.

Takeaway: It’s important to be able to articulate your beliefs from scratch. They should stand on their own, and not only when you’re arguing with someone.

Coalitions need foundations

A lot of people had a story or two to tell about a time when progressive groups failed to align on the “most progressive possible” course of action; a common theme was supporting public infrastructure versus opposing big corporations. This can cause groups to hit a stalemate, suffer from inaction, and splinter.

Takeaway: Political groups need to define foundational principles they abide by. When people get caught up in purity tests or tripped up by buzzwords, they tend to trip over their own laces.

Find your niche

It seems like political organizations are always asking for signatures, canvassing, and phone banking–activities that can be high noise, low signal, but wide-reaching. Though I appreciate the value in earning your stripes, I asked a lot of people about what it takes to apply yourself in areas outside the norm.

The best answers I got were from people who took initiative and met a need they saw, whether it was software development, running for office, or leveraging a connection. There are no “rules” for filling a need if you see one–just act.

Takeaway: If you think you have something to add, try it. Classic volunteering is always welcome, but also, don’t put artificial limits on yourself.

Next steps

The things I learned from attending this potluck have solidified my next civic goals for 2025:

  1. Follow up with one person from Progressive Mass to see where I can plug in and make an impact
  2. Connect with some of the people in my community to see what local movements I can throw my weight behind
  3. Keep building foundations and documentation on this site to provide a roadmap for others to follow

If you’ve also found success, what was your first step or most valuable piece of advice for a newcomer?