Today my hero died. This is not a euphemism, he really was my hero. He showed me on many occasion that actions define your place in the world. We lived together for 17 years. Making our way through life, mostly doing our own thing. At times having to cope with the wishes or limitations from others. He taught me that activism is a way of life: if you decide upon an action, you go for it full-heartedly (he thought he was a black panther). His agility even let him pick bats out of the sky (though he did not find them very tasty and he did not understand why I incessantly tried to save them).

When a national campaign wants to engage supporters on a personal level, local house parties can be a great way to do it. At a house party, it’s not just about donating money or calling a congressperson. group experience provides social reinforcement that encourages deeper commitment. Organizing local events, though, can be tricky, especially if they all have to happen at the same time. Reform Immigration for America pulled off an amazing feat when they created a nationwide conference call that included 60,000 supporters at over 1,000 house parties across the nation.