Action Center

This action center will help you join the fight within—and beyond—our local area to oppose the extremist trends and destructive policies (see Project 2025) that took center stage starting January 20, 2025. The Action Center is a work in progress, so sign up for our emails to receive updates as we add action steps and resources.

If you’re already doing some of the actions or using some of the resources provided below, fantastic! If you’re newly energized to get involved, start small. Choose any one area or resource to explore and invite a like-minded friend or family member to join you. Whenever and wherever you can, spread accurate, positive news about what you’re learning or doing.

Four Avenues of Action

Act on Your Passion or Expertise

Choose and engage with an issue-focused organization whose mission matches your passion or area of expertise. From the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to the Center for Common Ground to Planned Parenthood to the Union of Concerned Scientists, there’s an organization—many with local or regional chapters–closely tracking wins and setbacks and putting pressure on government officials to do the right thing.

Why do this: Advocacy organizations keep an eye on what’s happening and issue timely alerts and step-by-step instructions so you can know the actions you take will be effective. Can’t act? Donations–of any size or frequency–help, too.

How: Sign up for your chosen organization’s newsletters and email alerts. You can also check out action–by geographical area, campaign, and issue–posted on Mobilize, the platform for progressive/Democratic volunteer event/action organizing.

Stay Informed

Subscribe and donate to nonprofit news organizations that cover state government. And because disinformation and misinformation are rampant across the country, urge your friends and family members in other states–perhaps even those who don’t always share your views–to do the same.

Why do this: Nonprofit news organizations dig into a state’s economy, culture and society and the corresponding policies proposed or enacted by its state legislatures. They hire professional journalists to investigate stories, present the facts and deliver unbiased news you need to take informed action.

How: Every state has at least one nonprofit news outlet focused on state government (see here); Connecticut’s is CT Mirror. Subscriptions are typically free, though donations are needed.

Find Community

Seek out and join a community with whom to share information and take action. Grassroots action organizations use understanding of their communities to educate neighbors and friends about issues and candidates and how local, state and national initiatives–good and bad–affect them.

Why do this: You can quickly undertake effective actions, spread hope, build coalitions, interact with people outside your usual sphere–and have fun!

How: The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee has fostered a vibrant community of dedicated, innovative volunteers. Join us. You will also find community with grassroots organizations that include ReSistersCT, ICT4 (a local chapter of Indivisible), and many others.

Demand Officials’ Attention

Speak up and be visible! Constituents need to be more visible and vocal to overcome the out-of-control influence of lobbyists, special interest groups and big donors.

Why do this: Your votes put government officials in office, and your tax dollars pay their salaries. And the generally well-meaning neighbors on volunteer boards/commissions deeply appreciate your efforts to be informed about and provide input on their efforts.

How: Add important numbers, email addresses and hearing/meeting dates to your phone’s contact list and calendar. Sign up for Ridgefield’s e-alerts (see below) and your state legislators’ emailed updates. Communicate your views in person when you can, and with phone calls, emails, letters to the editor, and written or spoken testimony during town halls and public comment periods.

Resources and Tools: A Place to Start

Our Ridgefield Elected Officials
Who They Are, at a Glancehttps://ridgefielddems.net/
Ned Lamont, Governorwww.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/Contact/Email-Governor-Lamont
Susan Bysiewicz, Lt. Governorltgovernor.bysiewicz@ct.gov
Stephanie Thomas, Secretary of StateStephanie.thomas@ct.gov
William Tong, Attorney Generalattorney.general@ct.gov
Richard Blumenthal, US SenateBlumenthal.Senate.Gov
Chris Murphy, US SenateMurphy.Senate.Gov
Jim Himes, US House, CT.4Himes.House.Gov
Julie Kushner, State Senate District 24Julie.Kushner@cga.ct.gov
Aimee Berger-Girvalo, House District 111Aimee.Berger-Girvalo@cga.gov
Ceci Maher, Senate District 26Ceci.Maher@cga.ct.gov
Savet Constantine, House District 42Savet.Constantine@cga.ct.gov
Rudi Marconi, First Selectmantorfirstselectperson@ridgefieldct.gov
Arnie DiLaura, Chair, Ridgefield Democratic Town Committeevolguy1@gmail.com

Action Guidance from the State Party, CT Dems

Town of Ridgefield

State of Connecticut

National

Resources and Tools

The Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee has compiled the names of organizations and groups that are active in or cover a wide range of issues, many of them overlapping. The descriptions here are brief; more complete information appears at each entity’s website, and up-to-the-minute information may be found on its other official channels.

We furnish this information as a public service, a starting point for researching and choosing the best outlet for your own civic engagement. Please note that being listed here does not imply endorsement by the Ridgefield Democratic Town Committee endorsement, nor does the absence of an entity mean it is not a valuable resource.

ORGANIZATION/ENTITYFIND ATFOCUS
Political/Civic Engagement
Center for Common Groundhttps://centerforcommonground.orgVoting rights
Civics Centerthecivicscenter.orgYouth voter registration
Common Cause CThttps://www.commoncause.org/connecticut/Democracy
Focus for Democracyhttps://www.focus4democracy.org/Democracy/voting
League of Women Votershttps://lwv.orgVoting rights
NextGen Americaorganizing.nextgenamerica.orgYouth civic engagement
State Party Advancement Networkhttps://www.spanetwork.net/aboutDemocratic state parties building
Young Democrats of Americahttps://yda.org/Youth engagement
Young Democrats of CThttps://www.instagram.com/youngdemsct?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Youth engagement
Advocacy
AARPhttps://www.aarp.org/50+ demographic
American Association of University ProfessorsAaup.orgHigher education
American Library Associationhttps://www.ala.org/Library
American Medical Associationhttps://ama-assn.orgHealthcare
Center for Empowerment & Educationhttps://thecenterct.org/Domestic violence
Connecticut Fair Housing Centerhttps://ctfairhousing.org/Housing
CT Against Gun Violencehttps://cagv.org/Gun violence prevention
CT Black Caucushttps://www.instagram.com/ctblackcaucus/?hl=enCivic rights
Connecticut Justice Alliancehttps://www.instagram.com/ctjusticealliance/?hl=enEnd the criminalization of youth
Connecticut Voices for Childrenhttp://ctvoices.org/Disadvantaged children
Make the Road CThttps://www.maketheroadct.org/Immigrant communities
National Urban Leaguehttps://nul.org/Civil rights
Planned Parenthood Action Fundhttps://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/Reproductive care
Ridgefield Pridewww.ridgefieldctpride.comLGBTQ advocacy and support
Sandy Hook Promisehttps://www.sandyhookpromise.org/Gun violence prevention
Urban League of Greater Hartford Young Professionalshttps://www.instagram.com/ulghyp/?hl=enCivil rights
Labor
AFL-CIOhttps://aflcio.org/Manufacturing
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Council 4 OPC)https://www.council4.orgGovernment
American Federation of Teachers (AFTCT)https://www.aftct.orgEducation
CT State United Auto Workershttps://uaw.org/regions/uaw-region-9a/Auto manufacturing
CT State Employees Associationhttps://csea-ct.comGovernment
International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 478https://local478.orgEngineering
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), Local 371https://ufcw371.orgFood
National Education AssociationNational Education Association NEAEducation
New England Regional Council of Carpenters (CT)https://www.nasrcc.orgConstruction
Sheet Metal Workers Union (Local #38)https://smart-union.orgConstruction
Starbucks Worker’s Unitedhttps://www.sbworkersunited.orgHospitality
CT Employees Union Independent

Service Employees International Union (CT District 1199 & 32BJ CT)
https://www.ceui.orgService
Environment
CT League of Conservation Votershttps://www.ctlcv.org/Legislation
Environmental Defense Fundhttps://www.edf.org/Action
Environmental Voter Projecthttps://environmentalvoter.orgVoter engagement
League of Conservation Votershttps://www.lcv.orgLegislation & litigation
The Nature Conservancyhttps://conservenature.org/en-usResource management
Sierra Clubhttps://www.sierraclub.org/Voter engagement
Civil Rights
ACLU – Connecticuthttps://www.acluct.org/enCivil rights and liberties
ACLU – Nationalhttps://www.aclu.org/Civil rights and liberties
Black Lives Matterhttps://blacklivesmatter.com/Civil rights/Black Americans
Color of Changehttps://colorofchange.org/Civil rights
CT Students for a Dreamhttps://www.ct4adream.org/Immigrants and undocumented people
Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Serviceshttps://irisct.org/Displaced people and refugees
NAACP – Localhttps://www.ctnaacp.org/Civil rights
NAACP – Nationalhttps://naacp.org/Civil rights
Ridgefield Pridehttps://ridgefieldctpride.com/LGBTQ+ community
Grassroots Activism
ActBluesecure.actblue.comFundraising platform
Activate AmericaActivateamerica.voteCongressional elections
Galvanize USAgalvanizeusa.orgWomen’s civic power- education
Galvanize Actiongalvanizeaction.orgWomen’s civic power-research, outreach
Indivisiblehttps://indivisible.org/Guide and tools
Markers for Democracyhttps://markersfordemocracy.org/Activism tools and content
MobilizeMobilize.usVolunteer opportunities
Move Onhttps://front.moveon.org/Activism tools and content
Postcards to Voterspostcardstovoters.orgDIY postcard tools for campaigns nationwide
Run for Somethingrunforsomething.netCandidate training
Sister Districtsisterdistrict.comVoter engagement, district to district
The States ProjectStatesproject.orgState legislature campaigns
Vote Forwardvotefwd.orgDIY letter tools for campaigns nationwide
Vote Save Americavotesaveamerica.comVoter registration, education, engagement
When We All Votewhenweallvote.orgVoter registration, education, engagement
Grassroots Activism – Local
ICT4ict4.orgCT’s 4th Cong. District Indivisible group
ReSistersCThttps://resistersct.org/Civic education and action/Fairfield Cty based
Women on Watchfacebook.com/wow4womenonwatch/Civic education and action/Stamford area