Be exuberant
Follow the money
Connect the dots
Take right and left hand actions
Know the power of collective action

Be exuberant: If we're ACTING UP for the rest of our lives, our activism has got to be joyful. No one wants to rally around anger anymore. Studies show that negative advertising causes women to politically disengage and now is the time to engage EVERY last woman, every last man, and every last Who down in Whoville. This movement is all about the JOY of standing up for what you believe & publicly declaring your priorities. Let's gather in the streets, not with bullhorns, but singing.

Follow the money: Every dollar spent, each tax dollar collected is a vote. It's time to get educated about what we are funding—from corporations we support in our household budgets, to the far-reaching policies our tax dollars are funding. If anybody knows how to shop, balance a budget and make sure everyone eats, it's mothers*. Make sure your vote counts for the world’s children.

Connect the dots: All children’s well-being is inextricably connected. They breathe the same air, eat fish from the same ocean and live in countries at war with each other. Our children will grow up to be either friends or enemies of other nations' children. So, it’s time to measure the true impact of our actions—our consumption, energy & trade policies and national security strategies—not only by how they affect our children, but children everywhere. My, your and her child’s future health & happiness depend on our ability to connect the dots today.

Take right and left hand actions: There are two distinct ways to create change: direct action and systematic change. Direct action attends to immediate and urgent needs—donating to the local food pantry or building Habitat houses. At the same time, we ask WHY are so many people without food and shelter in the richest country in the world? Systematic change involves a dedicated lobby, legislation, persistence and patience, while direct action sustains us for the long haul. The two-handed approach is the surest way to create lasting change.

Know the power of collective action: It’s time to show up on the radar screen! One voice calling for health care for all children is great. 100 voices, better yet. 1,000,000 voices and every child has health care. That is the undeniable truth & beauty of taking collective action. Working together, we can create a world fit for all children. Our challenge is to focus our energies on what unites us rather than divides us and get public about protecting all our children.