Activists, optimists and ordinary radicals?

Recently, one of our members shared with us how she had felt uncertain about joining Justice Matters because she wasn't that actively involved in campaigning or anything like that. Thankfully, a conversation with another member encouraged her that we weren't all zealous placard waving revolutionaries, but rather ordinary people with a shared passion to make a difference in whatever (often small) ways we can.

Reflecting on this conversation, I wanted to explain a little bit more about our invitation to 'activists, optimists and ordinary radicals' in case anyone else was uncertain about whether JM is the place for them.

There are no admission criteria to be a member of Justice Matters aside from an appetite to get involved with the community. You don't have to work in the charitable sector or be a seasoned campaigner. You don't even have to be especially engaged with any particular issue to come along and take part. It is our hope that through JM you may find an issue or an organisation that inspires you and you might like to get behind, but that needn't be the case from Day One.

So what do we mean by calling ourselves a network of activists, optimists and ordinary radicals?

Our membership is quite varied. Some of our members work in International Development and other Third Sector organisations. Some are active in championing a specific cause or charity. These two sets might be described at the activists, but not everyone has that same clarity of purpose or opportunity to be engaged in this way. A good number of our members are what might be called 'ordinary radicals' - individuals living their lives as best they can, making deliberate decisions about where they shop, what they eat and where they save their money. They may do this to different degrees, but they make concious decisions to live a life alert to the impact of their choices and seeking in their own everyday way to sow positive change into the world around them. If that sounds like you, you are just as welcome as the person running fundraising marathons or visiting Number 10 to lobby the Prime Minister.

So that's the activists and the ordinary radicals explained - different but both welcome. What about the optimists?

The reason we include optimists in our description is because we are aware of lots of people out there who see that the world is in a mess and would like to make a difference, but feel that there is no way the barriers to change can be overcome. This is not an unreasonable position to hold given the scale of the challenge. If that's how you feel, you are just as welcome to come along as anyone else. However, we believe that the situation is not insurmountable, that change is possible and that we can play a part in that. If we didn't believe that, there would be no Justice Matters; there would be no point in trying. We are optimists because we have hope. If you share that belief, then you'll fit right in and we've love to see you at a future gathering. However, you don't have to share that hope to be welcome. Come along and see what we're about - who knows, you may even rediscover your optimism...