Gather Your Power

Marcus Patrick Ellsworth
Jan 31
5 min read

Updated: Feb 3

Attacks on vulnerable communities are coming in rapid fire succession and en masse. It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the brazen disregard for people’s dignity, safety, rights, and the Constitution itself. But there are people fighting back, and you can be one of them.

We’re providing a list of reputable groups who have been doing this work for years so that you can help them to make a difference. There are efforts popping up everywhere, but we won’t be able to cover them all. You should also take care to look into any call to action yourself in order to make sure that you are putting your energy and resources toward those who are equipped for the long haul and are responding effectively in this moment.

This list is broken down by focus area for the organizations being listed. We encourage you to find at least one thing that you can do. Every action helps and every bit of support goes a very long way. This is not a comprehensive list, but it covers some of the more active organizations.

Remember: We are not helpless. There is power in the people. There is power in you. Use it.

LGBTQIA+

Tennessee Equality Project is continuing its work to defend the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Tennesseeans with some calls to action throughout the state legislative session. Make sure you sign up for their mailing list and keep track of their website for the most current information.

Advancing Equality Day on the Hill on February 11th, you can contact TEP directly at info@tnep.org and they will help you schedule and prepare for meeting your representative. This will be an all day event in Nashville. There are carpools being organized for Chattanooga through Seed Theatre. You can still attend and show your support even if you do not feel comfortable speaking to your representative. Your presence alone will strengthen the message of those who do speak.

Weekly legislative updates and phone banking will begin the evening of Monday, February 3rd. TEP leadership will provide a summary of what is happening at the state level and provide scripts and support for those who wish to call the offices of their representatives after hours to leave messages. You can find more information and the sign in for the scheduled Zoom call at the link.

TEP's legislative tracking on their website can help keep you informed of what is happening and what actions are recommended.

Soft Animal was born in the fall of 2021 out of concern for the lack of explicitly safe spaces in Chattanooga. They curate events centered around marginalized people - queer, POC, disabled, fat, neurodivergent, etc…All of our events aim to be safe, accessible, inclusive, and fun AF. They believe in joy as both a human right and an act of resistance.

Seed Theatre is providing various resources, the most vital of which are various support groups and community events. You do not have to cope alone. Seek out community and lean on each other.

Chattanooga Trans Liberation Collective is continuing their work to provide mutual aid and direct support to trans people in our area. Reach out to them if you are in need or make a donation to support their efforts, which are needed now more than ever.

Chattanooga Queer Empowerment Collective is hosting regular meetups and is also providing mutual aid for members of our community. You can plug into their events, request support, or make a donation to help them carry out their mission.

Immigration

Immigrant communities are being burdened with increased concerns for safety, citizenship status, and finding accurate information. While things are changing quickly and staying informed is essential, there has been some misinformation being circulated. Anyone who needs to know what is going on or wants to share updates should make sure that information is from reputable sources, some of which are listed below. Consider making donations to any or all of these orgs.

Semillas TN works building community and empowerment within the Latino community and their allies. They provide information for many resources (housing, health, etc) and lately have been using social media to help keep people informed of developments regarding the concerns of Latino immigrants in Spanish and English.

Bridge Refugee Services is a long standing resource for immigrants moving to our area. Their resettlement initiatives are vulnerable to the threat of federal spending freezes and budget cuts. You can help their clients by making a donation and sharing information about their services.

La Paz is a support system for much of Chattanooga’s Latino community. They do an incredible amount of work, including connecting people with legal support, and are calling on people to help by advocating for the rights and dignity of Latino immigrants.

Reproductive Healthcare

Healthy & Free Tennessee is a statewide network of advocates and organizations fighting for reproductive justice in Tennessee. They frequently post updates, calls to action, and advice regarding reproductive health and resources.

Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi is our region’s arm of the national organization. Support their work and follow them for updates, resources, and opportunities for advocacy.

A Step Ahead Chattanooga provides free birth control options including removal of IUDs, pregnancy tests, and some telehealth options. They also provide educational resources and work to remove barriers to access to birth control. Anyone within their service area is eligible to receive assistance even without insurance coverage. This includes a large radius of counties surrounding Hamilton County in Tennessee, north Georgia, and north Alabama.

Accessibility/Disabled Advocacy

Disability Rights Tennessee advocates for disabled people and is tracking bills that affect the people they serve. They monitor accessibility and safety across the state as well as provide legal advocacy services to people with disabilities for free.

Tennessee Disability Coalition provides job training, job placement, policy advocacy, and assistance connecting people with needed services. They are monitoring legislation and are providing information and calls to action for those who want to advocate for the rights of disabled people. There are resources for contacting legislators being posted to their social media and website.

Food Security and Essential Items

Chattanooga Area Food Bank is the area’s largest provider of food insecurity relief. They work with a vast network of partners to acquire donations and distribute food to those in need. Check their website and social media for ways to donate or receive support.

Chattanooga Free Store provides a completely free store carrying a variety of donated items including clothing, hygiene products, baby supplies, and more. They post immediate needs on social media. Anyone is welcome to shop at the store

Hope Community Fridge addresses food injustice in the area by providing access to food and working to reduce food waste. Information about donation needs, upcoming events, and locations they serve are available at the link.

Justice

Concerned Citizens for Justice has been working in Chattanooga for a long time on the frontlines of racial justice, prison abolition, support for currently and formerly incarcerated people, and providing a wide range of resources including fresh food and legal support. Their work is rooted in leadership from those most affected by the injustices they are fighting. Follow them on social media for current initiatives and opportunities to get involved.

CALEB is the Hamilton County community bail fund. With rising concerns about people being arrested for a variety of reasons from overzealous immigration agents to punitive measures for those standing up for their rights, now is a good time to support the bail fund and use their resources to stay informed of your rights.

This is by no means a complete list of the groups working for the freedoms, dignity, safety, and well being of people. Most of them are plugged into networks where even more resources and opportunities are available.

Their ongoing work is proof that we do not need to wait for someone else to swoop in and save us. We have each other. And while we may have to move differently, we will keep moving forward together.