Tip of the Day from NOI-Balance

Organizing can be seasonal work, with peak moments that provide employment followed by dry periods where finding work can be tough.

My experience, like many organizers I meet, was that once I turned 18 I was on my own. My mom lives in a nursing home and my dad drives truck, which barely covers his own expenses. Going back home or calling for an emergency loan was definitely not an option!

If you’re trying to stay in the field and balance your budget here are a few tips:

• Focus on living your life’s purpose. You don’t need to be organizing full time to make a difference. Several times I haven’t been able to find an organizing job I knew I’d love. Instead of taking something mediocre, I pieced together other work to cover the bills, and used my spare time to organize. Most employers in the organizing world are looking for people of passion, purpose, and commitment who compulsively organize others—not a perfect resume.
  
  
• You can organize anywhere. During one dry spell I spent 6 months working for a shoe company doing data entry, boxing sandals for shipping, and taking customer service calls. When the women who had been there for 20 years found out I was making more than them for no reason, we had two options: put up and shut up, or organize. Organizing is only sometimes about electing presidents or passing federal legislation. More often it’s about the small ways we come together in solidarity with others to improve our daily lives.
  
  
• Don’t put yourself in debt for any campaign. Sacrificing your basic financial security for a campaign is a false, dangerous test of commitment. I’ve seen too many great organizers leave the field because they racked up thousands of dollars on their personal credit cards. That’s not just a loss to them, but to our whole movement.
  
  
• Once you’re in charge treat people well. Remember what it was like eating ramen noodles and sleeping in your car, and do everything within your means to create good jobs. To be strong as a movement we need organizers from many backgrounds, including those who have student loans to repay, health costs to incur, and children to support.

We’re in a deep struggle that will take our lifetime commitment to see systemic change. Please take care of yourself and your financial health along the way!

What tips do you have for making ends meet so that you can keep organizing? Share in the comments on our blog!

Joy Cushman is Organizing Director at NOI