After the Rally: Five Ways to Keep Building Power

— April 16, 2025 —

You came to the rally. You cheered. You listened. You felt connected to something bigger than yourself.

For a few powerful hours, we were all reminded that we are not powerless—that people still care, that democracy is worth fighting for, and that there’s strength in standing together.

Now the speakers have left the stage. The crowd has dispersed. What do we do next?

Rallies are just the beginning. The real work begins after the noise dies down—when we decide how to carry that energy forward. If you left feeling inspired but unsure what to do next, here are five real things you can do this week to turn momentum into action:

1. Reconnect With Someone You Met

Maybe it was the person standing near you, or someone you chatted with in line. Reach out. Ask what they’re thinking. Invite them to a meet-up or virtual debrief. Organizing starts with relationships.

2. Plug Into a Local Effort

Find a local campaign, mutual aid group, issue-based movement, or community project. Ask, “How can I help?” Whether it’s voter outreach, community defense, or ballot education, there’s work being done all around you—right now.

3. Share What Moved You

Was there a line that hit home? A story you won’t forget? Write about it. Post about it. Call someone and talk it through. When we share what hits us deeply, we give others permission to care, too.

4. Do One Thing—Small But Real

• Volunteer for a campaign

• Help a friend get registered to vote

• Show up at a community meeting

• Make a call to a legislator or newspaper

One action leads to another. You don’t need a perfect plan—just a next step.

5. Keep Showing Up

The movement doesn’t end when the crowd goes home. Democracy is built in the quieter spaces: the committee room, the canvassing route, the conversation over coffee. That’s where power is reclaimed—person by person.

What you felt at the rally matters. But what you do with it matters even more.

Let’s take this spark and keep building—across Missoula, across Montana, and beyond.

This is only the beginning.