In 2026, the Peace Alliance began work on a series of "Broadsheets," short, practical documents that provide factual information about current issues and problems, often correcting misstatements, rumors, and downright fibs. These broadsheets are sent out in our newsletter and posted here on our web. Condensed versions are also available as paper docs, two sided, distributed during our tabling at key events.
How to Be an Activist 2026
Local Engagement
· Participate in work of the Chico Peace Alliance; receive our newsletter by signing up at [email protected]. Check the website for events, action statements, and more chicopeacealliance.net.
· Join the Peace Vigil, going on its 64th year, at 3rd and Main, every Saturday, 12:30-1:30; bring new signs to promote peaceful actions: in our town and beyond.
· Join other vigils:
· ReSisters-Saturdays 9-10 am at Vallombrosa and Mangrove
· Defenders of Democracy, Fridays 10-11 am at the Esplanade and at the entrance to Philadelphia Square
· Social Security Vigil-Thursdays, 10-11, Social Security Office on Lassen Avenue
· Fox Take Down- Saturdays 2-3 pm at Third and Main
· See our Newsletters for announcement of yhrt vigils and demonstrations.
· Contact [email protected] for help on making vigil materials.
· Join in the work of other activist organizations in Chico; see list following. Post their announcements and fliers around town.
· Encourage more people to attend rallies and protests. Currently we are at 2% (7million) of the US population showing up but records show historically it takes 3.5% (11 million) and sustain it for the long haul to affectively change the government.
· Volunteer to be a committed rally monitor and take the training. These are announced in the Peace Alliance newsletter.
· Host a postcard and letter writing workshop for your friends and mail to local, state, and national leaders.
· Host a dinner discussion of politics with friends who may not be activated or with like-minded friends to come up with other unique ideas for activism.
· Participate in a voter registration drive, especially for seniors and young adults 18 and over.
· Volunteer to be a paid or volunteer voter registration worker to get more people registered
· Volunteer your musical group for vigils and marches to make some noise and show we are nonviolent.
· Reach out to high school and college groups to participate in protests.
· Post rally posters in Chico and in outlying communities that are not hosting rallies.
Take Political/Community Action
· Educate Yourself Deeply. Understand the history, root causes, data, and voices within the issue you care about. The Peace Alliance provides information on major issues.
· Engage friends, family, and community members in respectful, evidence-based dialogue.
· Attend Public Meetings: School boards, Chico City Council, Butte County Supervisors.
· Write to elected officials: call, testify at hearings, propose legislation, or support policy campaigns. [See following list of addresses, phone numbers.].
· Spread accurate information; counter misinformation; and mobilize participation. The Peace Alliance is in the process of creating “broadsheets” that set the record straight on a range of issues.
· Contact media: Write letters to the editor–frequently. Submit op-eds, give interviews, or support local reporters covering your movement; submit ideas to KZFR and KCHO, Enterprise Record, Chico Sol, Chico News and Review.
· Start or Join a Mutual Aid Network: Help meet community needs (food, childcare, supplies) while building long-term solidarity.
· Offer skills to organizations: design, legal help, coding, writing, web care, translation, logistics, grant-writing, strategic planning.
There are many, many more strategies for activists. Check the readings following. And share your experience: What's worked for you or worked for others? Send your ideas to [email protected]
Recommended Readings
Bill Moyer. “The Four Roles of Social Activism.” (Citizen,Rebel, Change Agent, Reformer, with traits of effective and ineffective ways of implementing those roles.) commonslibrary.org/the-four-roles-of-social-activism/
Giving Green. “Activism Strategy Report.” A nonpartisan analysis of what works: the key techniques used by activists” https://www.givinggreen.earth/research/activism-overview
Hannah Arendt. “Personal Responsibility Under a Dictatorship,” from Responsibility and Judgement. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arendt
League of Women Voters. Grassroots Activism: How You Can Take Action! https://www.lwv.org
Sheila McKechnie Foundation. “12 Habits of Successful Changemakers.” Explores ways of setting the mission, being adaptive, understanding others, collaboration, and assessment. Includes a “skills identification worksheet.” https://smk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/12_Habits_Summary-1.pdf
"Why Finding Your Fight Matters: The Path to Effective Activism." Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com
Chico Sister Organizations
Butte Environmental Council becnet.org
Butte County Healthcare Coalition
Chico Concerned Community for Justice (CC4J) https://www.cc4jchico.org/cc4j-coalition
Chico Friends Meeting http://www.chicofriendsmeetingquakers.com/
Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT). https://www.chicohousingactionteam.net/
CPAIN
Defenders of Democracy Coalition
Democratic Action Club of Chico https://www.demchico.org/
Indivisible Chico https://www.indivisiblechico.org/
NAACP Butte County
NorCal Resist https://www.facebook.com/NorCalResistChico/
Re-Sisters https://www.facebook.com/groups/2412727889128153/
Stonewall Alliance https://www.stonewallchico.com/
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chico (Justice Work Committee) uuchico.org
Veterans Action Group https://veteransactiongroup.com
National Organizations
American Civil Liberties Union https://action.aclu.org
Code Pink https://www.codepink.org
Common Cause https://www.commoncause.org
Friends Committee on National Legislation https://www.fcnl.org
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org
Move On https://front.moveon.org
Peace Action https://www.peaceaction.org
Public Citizen https://www.citizen.org
World Beyond War https://worldbeyondwar.org
Contacts for Legislators
Congressman Douglas LaMalfa
https://lamalfa.hous.gov/contact
(202) 225-3076
Senator Adam Schiff
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/contact/get-in-touch/
(202) 224-3841
Senator Alex Padilla
https://www.padilla.senate.gov › contact
(202) 224-0357
Califonia State Senator – Megan Dahle
https://sr01.senate.ca.gov/contact-me
(916) 651-4001
State Assembly Member – James Gallagher
[email protected]
916-319-2003
Chico City Council Members
https://chicoca.gov/Your-Government/Template-COUNCIL/City-Council-Directory/index.html
· Participate in work of the Chico Peace Alliance; receive our newsletter by signing up at [email protected]. Check the website for events, action statements, and more chicopeacealliance.net.
· Join the Peace Vigil, going on its 64th year, at 3rd and Main, every Saturday, 12:30-1:30; bring new signs to promote peaceful actions: in our town and beyond.
· Join other vigils:
· ReSisters-Saturdays 9-10 am at Vallombrosa and Mangrove
· Defenders of Democracy, Fridays 10-11 am at the Esplanade and at the entrance to Philadelphia Square
· Social Security Vigil-Thursdays, 10-11, Social Security Office on Lassen Avenue
· Fox Take Down- Saturdays 2-3 pm at Third and Main
· See our Newsletters for announcement of yhrt vigils and demonstrations.
· Contact [email protected] for help on making vigil materials.
· Join in the work of other activist organizations in Chico; see list following. Post their announcements and fliers around town.
· Encourage more people to attend rallies and protests. Currently we are at 2% (7million) of the US population showing up but records show historically it takes 3.5% (11 million) and sustain it for the long haul to affectively change the government.
· Volunteer to be a committed rally monitor and take the training. These are announced in the Peace Alliance newsletter.
· Host a postcard and letter writing workshop for your friends and mail to local, state, and national leaders.
· Host a dinner discussion of politics with friends who may not be activated or with like-minded friends to come up with other unique ideas for activism.
· Participate in a voter registration drive, especially for seniors and young adults 18 and over.
· Volunteer to be a paid or volunteer voter registration worker to get more people registered
· Volunteer your musical group for vigils and marches to make some noise and show we are nonviolent.
· Reach out to high school and college groups to participate in protests.
· Post rally posters in Chico and in outlying communities that are not hosting rallies.
Take Political/Community Action
· Educate Yourself Deeply. Understand the history, root causes, data, and voices within the issue you care about. The Peace Alliance provides information on major issues.
· Engage friends, family, and community members in respectful, evidence-based dialogue.
· Attend Public Meetings: School boards, Chico City Council, Butte County Supervisors.
· Write to elected officials: call, testify at hearings, propose legislation, or support policy campaigns. [See following list of addresses, phone numbers.].
· Spread accurate information; counter misinformation; and mobilize participation. The Peace Alliance is in the process of creating “broadsheets” that set the record straight on a range of issues.
· Contact media: Write letters to the editor–frequently. Submit op-eds, give interviews, or support local reporters covering your movement; submit ideas to KZFR and KCHO, Enterprise Record, Chico Sol, Chico News and Review.
· Start or Join a Mutual Aid Network: Help meet community needs (food, childcare, supplies) while building long-term solidarity.
· Offer skills to organizations: design, legal help, coding, writing, web care, translation, logistics, grant-writing, strategic planning.
There are many, many more strategies for activists. Check the readings following. And share your experience: What's worked for you or worked for others? Send your ideas to [email protected]
Recommended Readings
Bill Moyer. “The Four Roles of Social Activism.” (Citizen,Rebel, Change Agent, Reformer, with traits of effective and ineffective ways of implementing those roles.) commonslibrary.org/the-four-roles-of-social-activism/
Giving Green. “Activism Strategy Report.” A nonpartisan analysis of what works: the key techniques used by activists” https://www.givinggreen.earth/research/activism-overview
Hannah Arendt. “Personal Responsibility Under a Dictatorship,” from Responsibility and Judgement. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/arendt
League of Women Voters. Grassroots Activism: How You Can Take Action! https://www.lwv.org
Sheila McKechnie Foundation. “12 Habits of Successful Changemakers.” Explores ways of setting the mission, being adaptive, understanding others, collaboration, and assessment. Includes a “skills identification worksheet.” https://smk.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/12_Habits_Summary-1.pdf
"Why Finding Your Fight Matters: The Path to Effective Activism." Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com
Chico Sister Organizations
Butte Environmental Council becnet.org
Butte County Healthcare Coalition
Chico Concerned Community for Justice (CC4J) https://www.cc4jchico.org/cc4j-coalition
Chico Friends Meeting http://www.chicofriendsmeetingquakers.com/
Chico Housing Action Team (CHAT). https://www.chicohousingactionteam.net/
CPAIN
Defenders of Democracy Coalition
Democratic Action Club of Chico https://www.demchico.org/
Indivisible Chico https://www.indivisiblechico.org/
NAACP Butte County
NorCal Resist https://www.facebook.com/NorCalResistChico/
Re-Sisters https://www.facebook.com/groups/2412727889128153/
Stonewall Alliance https://www.stonewallchico.com/
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Chico (Justice Work Committee) uuchico.org
Veterans Action Group https://veteransactiongroup.com
National Organizations
American Civil Liberties Union https://action.aclu.org
Code Pink https://www.codepink.org
Common Cause https://www.commoncause.org
Friends Committee on National Legislation https://www.fcnl.org
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org
Move On https://front.moveon.org
Peace Action https://www.peaceaction.org
Public Citizen https://www.citizen.org
World Beyond War https://worldbeyondwar.org
Contacts for Legislators
Congressman Douglas LaMalfa
https://lamalfa.hous.gov/contact
(202) 225-3076
Senator Adam Schiff
https://www.schiff.senate.gov/contact/get-in-touch/
(202) 224-3841
Senator Alex Padilla
https://www.padilla.senate.gov › contact
(202) 224-0357
Califonia State Senator – Megan Dahle
https://sr01.senate.ca.gov/contact-me
(916) 651-4001
State Assembly Member – James Gallagher
[email protected]
916-319-2003
Chico City Council Members
https://chicoca.gov/Your-Government/Template-COUNCIL/City-Council-Directory/index.html