Brick by Brick Action Ladder
The Brick by Brick Action Ladder
A Step-by-Step Guide to Making Your Voice Heard
You did it. Two weeks without the noise. You stepped back, cleared your head, and proved to yourself that you're capable of thinking beyond the outrage cycle. That's not a small thing — most people never try. Now it's time to put that clarity to work.
The Action Ladder below is your roadmap. Each rung builds on the last. Start at the bottom, take your time, and climb at your own pace. This isn't a sprint — it's how lasting change happens.
↓ Download the Action Ladder PDFKnow Your Landscape
Week 3Before you can make your voice heard, you need to know who's supposed to be listening. Most Americans can't name their state legislator or their county commissioner. That's not their fault — the system isn't designed to make it easy. We're going to fix that.
Find your elected officials at every level:
- City / Town Council Member
- County Commissioner or Supervisor
- State House Representative
- State Senator
- U.S. House Representative
- U.S. Senator (you have two)
Tools to use:
- USA.gov/elected-officials — enter your address, get your full list
- Ballotpedia.org — deep background on every official
- Your state's official legislature website
Write down the name, office, phone number, and mailing address of each official. Keep this list. You'll use it on every rung that follows.
Make Contact
Weeks 3–4Elected officials pay attention to constituent contact — especially calls and written letters. Emails get filtered. Calls get logged. Physical letters get noticed. Your goal on this rung is simply to let them know you exist and that you're paying attention.
Keep it short. Keep it respectful. Keep it non-partisan. You're not attacking them — you're introducing yourself as an engaged citizen who cares about honest government.
Phone Call Script — Use this or make it your own:
"Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent in [YOUR CITY/DISTRICT]. I'm calling to let [OFFICIAL'S NAME] know that I'm a registered voter who cares deeply about honest, accountable government. I'm not calling on behalf of any party or organization — I'm calling as an American who wants their elected officials to know their constituents are engaged and watching. I'd appreciate it if you'd pass that along. Thank you."
Written Letter Template — Personalize and mail:
Dear [OFFICIAL'S NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I am writing as a private citizen — not as a member of any political party or advocacy group — to let you know that I am an engaged constituent who cares about the integrity of our government.
I am part of a growing nonpartisan movement called Brick by Brick. We believe that political corruption — on both sides of the aisle — is the single greatest threat to a government that truly represents its people. We are not here to argue left or right. We are here to demand honest, accountable leadership from everyone we elect.
I will be following your record on campaign finance, transparency, and ethics reforms. I encourage you to make decisions that serve your constituents — not your donors.
Respectfully,
[YOUR NAME]
[ADDRESS] | [EMAIL] | [PHONE]
Contact at least three officials — one local, one state, one federal. A call counts. A letter counts more.
Show Up
Month 2There is nothing more powerful than a citizen physically present at a public meeting. Town halls, city council sessions, school board meetings, county commissioner hearings are open to the public and most seats are empty. Your presence alone sends a message.
Your goal on this rung is not to speak yet — it's to observe. Learn how decisions are made in your community. Watch who shows up to advocate for what. Get comfortable in the room.
How to find meetings:
- Your city or county's official website — look for "agendas" or "public meetings"
- Your U.S. Representative's website — many hold periodic town halls
- Your state legislature's website — committee hearings are often public
- Eventbrite or Facebook — search "town hall [your city]"
Attend at least one public meeting this month. Take notes. Introduce yourself to one other attendee. You don't have to say a word to your official yet — just be there.
Amplify
Month 2Now it's time to expand your reach. Local media — newspapers, radio stations, community blogs — are starving for engaged citizens with something real to say. A well-written letter to the editor or a call to a local radio show reaches thousands of your neighbors at once.
Remember: you're not ranting. You're inviting. Your message is nonpartisan, hopeful, and solution-focused. You're not attacking politicians — you're calling for accountability from all of them.
Local Newspaper — Letter to the Editor:
- Keep it under 250 words — most papers have strict limits
- State your name, city, and that you're a private citizen
- One clear message: corruption on both sides is hurting your community
- End with a call to action — invite readers to brickxbrick.us
- Find submission guidelines by searching "[newspaper name] letter to the editor"
Local Radio — Call-In Shows:
- Search "[your city] talk radio" to find local shows
- Have your three talking points ready before you call
- Be calm, brief, and curious — not combative
- Mention Brick by Brick and brickxbrick.us by name
Online Community Platforms:
- Nextdoor — post in your neighborhood with a simple, friendly message
- Local Facebook community groups — share your story, not a rant
- Reddit local subreddits — many cities have active civic communities
Sample Amplify Message — adapt for any platform:
"I'm not a Democrat or a Republican — I'm an American who's tired of watching both parties serve donors instead of constituents. I recently joined a nonpartisan organization called Brick by Brick that's focused on real accountability from our elected leaders. If you're tired of the division and ready to actually do something about it, check out brickxbrick.us. We're not here to fight. We're here to fix it."
Submit one letter to the editor OR make one radio call OR post in two community online spaces. Pick the one that fits you best — and do it.
Recruit
OngoingThis is the rung that turns a movement into a force. Every person you bring into Brick by Brick multiplies everything you've already done. You don't need to convince anyone of anything — you just need to share your own experience and extend an invitation.
Think about one person in your life who you know is frustrated with the state of the country — someone who doesn't feel represented by either party, who is tired of the noise, who still believes things could be better. That person is your first recruit.
How to invite someone:
- Share the website: brickxbrick.us
- Tell them what you did — the detox, the action steps, what changed for you
- Forward the welcome letter you received when you joined
- Invite them to attend a public meeting with you
- No pressure, no pitch — just one American talking to another
Reach out to one person this week. That's all. One conversation, one invitation, one new brick.
The ladder doesn't end at Rung 5.
As Brick by Brick grows, we'll be adding new steps — from organizing local chapters to participating in candidate forums to launching Clean Money campaigns in your district. Check brickxbrick.us regularly for updates specific to your location and congressional district.
You started this journey by turning down the noise. Now you're adding your voice to something bigger. That's not politics as usual — that's citizenship. And this country was built on it.