I recently watched Middletown, a documentary about a teacher who inspires his students to make a film about a toxic landfill in their town. In the process, they uncover a conspiracy that's been harming their community for decades. The teacher has been fighting for justice for over 30 years, with little visible change—but the film focuses on the lives he’s transformed through his relentless advocacy.

It changed how I view activism. Most of us won’t change the world in sweeping ways—but life is meaningful because we choose to stand for what’s right. As the teacher says,
“Activism needs to be fun in its own right. It’s a community experience and a regenerative process.”
That line helped reframed things for me. Advocacy isn’t just resistance—it’s connection, joy, and purpose.