Take Back Power Toolkit
You know what’s happening, now is the time to do something about it.
You've seen the headlines. You've shared the posts. You've felt the rage in your chest at 2am doom-scrolling through news you can't unsee. We're right there with you.
But here's what they don't want you to know: civic power is one of the most dangerous tools a woman can have. And it doesn't start in Washington. It starts in your city council, your school board, your state legislature — rooms that are making decisions about your life right now, often without you in them.
→ Information is power and this toolkit is how you take it back.
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The most powerful think you can do is to show up. Whether that’s in the streets, at a local rally or in the room where local decisions are made.
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The opposition is occupying school boards and city councils. We need feminists women in those rooms, that could be you.
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Local government has more direct impact on your daily life than almost anything in Washington. Here's how to tap in.
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Your elected officials work for you. Contacting them is not radical — it's your right.
STEP 1️⃣
Show up and protest
The most powerful thing you can do first is to show up.
Why it matters:
Showing up signals to organizers, elected officials, and your community that this issue has people behind it AND that those people are paying attention.
How to do it:
❇️ Know your rights before you go. Look up local protest guidelines and save the number of a legal observer.
❇️ Look for organizers on the ground — tables, clipboards, sign-up sheets. These are your people.
❇️ Sign up for email lists and ask about volunteer opportunities while you're there.
❇️ Follow up with the organization the next week. One protest can turn into a movement when you stay connected.e community.
Find an action near you:
Register for a training here.
STEP 2️⃣
Step into leadership
The opposition is occupying school boards and city councils. Feminists need to be in those rooms, and that could be you!
❇️ Ask your city councilor or state rep if there are openings on local boards and commissions — these are appointed, not elected, and often overlooked.
❇️ Attend a board or commission meeting before applying. See who's in the room and what's being decided.
❇️ Update your resume to reflect your community work, organizing, and lived experience — all of it counts.
Join a ‘Meet the Moment’ free training
Get started:
These are free 1 hour trainings by Emerge Action Fund built to give you the confidence to step into your power.
Register for a training here.
Pass it on:
Invite a friend who leads in group chats, at work, or in the community.
STEP 3️⃣
Engage your city
Local government has the most direct impact on your daily life. Here is how to tap in.
❇️ Google your city name + ".gov" to find your official city website.
❇️ Find your city council representative and save their email address — you'll use it.
❇️ Look up the city council meeting calendar and find the next agenda. You're allowed to attend and speak.
❇️ Research one local issue that affects your community — housing, schools, public safety — and come ready to ask questions.
Next Step:
Email your city council member to introduce yourself and share what issues matter to you. One email is how it starts.
STEP 4️⃣
Reach your state and federal reps
Remember, your elected officials work for you. You have the right to contact them and hold them accountable.
❇️ Google your state legislature to find your state representative and their contact info.
❇️ Use Common Cause (commoncause.org) to find your members of Congress in one place.
❇️ Look up what committees your reps sit on — that's where the real decisions get made.
❇️ Call or email about one issue. Keep it short: who you are, what you care about, and why it matters to your community.
❇️ Attend a lobby day — many organizations host them at your state capitol and will prep you on exactly what to say.
→ The goal? Build a relationship with your elected officials and make your voice heard to drive direct impact on what policies are written and votes are made.
RSVP for Meet the Moment Trainings by Emerge Action Fund
Free, one-hour online sessions from Emerge Action Fund — built to help you find your entry point into civic and political leadership, at whatever level feels right for you.
⭐ EmergeAmerica.org/candidate-training/meeting-the-moment ⭐
Share with your group chat, your pod, your community. The more feminists in the room, the more power we build together.
Training Dates
June 9th 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PT
June 9th 10:00 – 11:30 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. PT
June 10th 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET / 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. PT
June 10th 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT
These trainings are free and open to the public!
From June to December 2026 → Learn more
How we got here
Three organizations came together with a mission to take back power and fight the opposition.
Through the shared believe that when women and gender expansive people hold civic knowledge, they become the most powerful force for change. Emerge Action Fund, FEMINIST and PERSIST. joined our communities to build a clear pathway to mobilize off screen and into our local, state and federal governments.
2024
Emerge Action Fund launched.
A new fund dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting women running for office at every level of government.
2025
PERSIST. launched. The Opposition Playbook was born.
FEMINIST, Emerge Action Fund, and PERSIST. joined forces for the first time — building an alliance to drive women into Emerge's Step Forward training program and into civic leadership pipelines across the country.
700+ women trained
2026 — Now
Civics at CIVIC. The next chapter begins.
CIVIC. launched. Emerge Action Fund's Meeting the Moment training launched. And tonight, all three organizations gather to do what we've always done — turn community into power and power into action.
Our goal: drive 100 women into each Meeting the Moment training session. Because if 700 women changed what was possible last year, imagine what 100 more can do right now.
June 9 trainingJune 10 trainingGoal: 100 women per session
