Submitted by Marjory on Wed, 2010-08-04 12:15

Filed under:

• Social Change in Oregon

Ah, summer. Time to ease up, slack off, and hang out.

It sounds easy, but have you noticed that people who are committed to social justice have a hard time taking a break? We’re constantly faced with urgent stories that demand an immediate response, and the persistent feeling that we should do something. Inequality never takes a vacation, so why would we?

Working for social justice is a long-term commitment. We all need to take breaks to re-charge and prevent burnout. So how do committed people balance the call of that urgent email that just arrived with the pull of sunshine and fresh berries? Think of summer as a time to learn something new by doing something you already enjoy.

Here are five things you can do while taking a well-deserved break.

Read a book. Pick one idea that you heard this year, and learn more about it. Preferably on the beach. In between detective novels, I’m reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard by Chip & Dan Heath, which was recommended to me by Kathleen, our in-house communications guru.

Join a Cause. A lot of us are hanging out on FaceBook, YouTube and Twitter anyway -- why not make a political statement while we’re there? When you sign up to follow a group you care about, you’ll get regular updates, and their work gets flagged as something people care about and becomes more prominent. If you love ‘em, follow ‘em!

Watch a video. Rent a thought provoking classic movie like The Battle of Algiers or Harlan County U.S.A. and invite friends over for popcorn and a great discussion.

Eat well. We live in an amazing region for fresh organic food. Summer is a great time to get to know your local farmer. Visit a farmer’s market and try something you’ve never had before. Make a party out of it by hosting a “locavore” dinner using only ingredients from your local community.

Go to Happy Hour. Meet new people or find out what the people you already know think about issues from immigration reform to the upcoming midterm elections. MRG’s next Justice Social Happy Hour is in Eugene on August 19th; contact Sheryl Sackman for details. Watch for other groups’ happy hours as a fun, informal way to learn more about their work.

The point is, pick one thing, and make it fun. Rest up. Because there will be plenty to do this fall, and we’ll need you back in the game.

Photo courtesy of Lane County Farmers Market.