Feeling helpless after the election? Here’s exactly what to do

If you have a lot of feelings about the election results and don’t know where to channel them, you are not alone. With one candidate winning the popular vote and the other winning the Electoral College, the election may be over, but the debate on who really won is just getting started.

If you are a woman, minority, immigrant or generally decent human being, you are probably feeling confused, with bouts of sadness and sprinkles of helplessness. But instead of being fearful and rolling over to endure a new regime, there are steps you can take to make sure your voice is heard and you and your needs are represented by your local officials. The first step? Getting involved.

Emily Ellsworth, former Congressional staffer of six years, took to Twitter to give her advice on how to get your Congressperson’s attention and help shape your local government. We’ve assembled her tweets and tips below, so check them out and get going!

More:How to cope with your election anxiety because we’re all kind of freaking out

1. Get off the computer and throw it back with good old phone calls and snail mail

Remember, you deal directly with the staff when emailing or calling, so be kind to them — they are the ones who pass along your message!

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More:How I explained President-elect Donald Trump to my daughter

2. If you want to speak to your rep, get your butt to town hall meetings

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3. Focus on your own district — start with where you are and what you have

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4. Figure out the issues you care about

Research, organize and recruit backup if you can.

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5. Research the officials and their departments — who represents what in your state?

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More:How to show your support for those marginalized and bullied by Trump

Now that you have an outline of how to go about getting involved, what are the issues you care about? Below is a list of organizations that need your help now. Donate, volunteer, call on their behalf and get informed.

1. American Civil Liberties Union
2. Anti-Defamation League
3. Black Lives Matter
4. Border Angels
5. Boys & Girls Clubs of America
6. Campaign Zero
7. Center for Reproductive Rights
8. Climate Science Legal Defense Fund
9. Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA)
10. Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
11. Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
12. Earthjustice
13. EMILY’s List
14. Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
15. The Human Rights Campaign
16. Lambda Legal
17. League of Conservative Voters
18. Mazzoni Center
19. NARAL Pro-Choice America
20. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
21. NAACP Legal Defense Fund
22. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV)
23. National Immigration Law Center
24. National Immigration Forum
25. National Organization for Women (NOW)
26. National Women’s Law Center
27. Native American Rights Fund
28. New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault
29. NextGen Climate
30. PEN America
31. Planned Parenthood
32. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN)
33. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
34. Reproductive Health Access Project
35. Running Start
36. She Should Run
37. Showing Up for Racial Justice
38. Sierra Club
39. Southern Poverty Law Center
40. Southerners on New Ground
41. Sylvia Rivera Law Project
42. The Trevor Project
43. Union of Concerned Scientists
44. Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights

Let us know what issues you care about and how you plan on getting involved in the comments below!