There’s a song* that goes “all God’s critters got a place in the choir.” The song lists many animals and the different voices they might add to a choir. In the grand work of building a better world, we each have a part to play, even those of us limited by illness.

Inspired by a post on the Antiracism Daily, I wrote a short description of several roles someone might play in a social change effort.

Visionaries dream of how things might be better and hold those ideas to pull us forward.

Scouts discover what’s happening and tell us about possible paths forward.

Liaisons work with other organizations and tell us how we can be allies or partners.

Communicators tell other people about what we are doing and explain how and why.

Demonstrators show up at door knocking, demonstrations, marches, meetings etc.

Supporters encourage, listen to, encourage, strategize with, and care for people filling after roles.

Students learn more deeply about the issues and report what they’ve learned.

Strategists tell us how we can most effectively spend our energy.

Coordinators keep us meeting and moving together.

Ideally, we can each fill roles that suit us and stretch us.

You may find your roles shift and evolve as time moves on and circumstances change. That’s okay. Be aware of and ask for what you need.

Notice that many of these roles do not involve physical action out in the world. Those of us with limited mobility can still play a part in creating what comes next.

We all have a place in social change. We are best when we work together, supporting and celebrating each other.

In your journal:

• What changes would you like to see in the world?
• What roles “suit and stretch” you?
• How might you find folks with whom to collaborate?

* Bill Staines composed the song “All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir”. See also “it’s in every one of us” by David Pomerantz.