The best way to help others is often to educate yourself. Look to experts in social justice, listen to the voices of those who are oppressed, dive into discussions about complex issues, and allow yourself to be challenged. Through all of that, you will learn the ways that you can make a real difference.

To help you get there, we’re looking at ways folks can get involved and informed about social justice this week.

If there’s something on the horizon in your area that you’d like to see featured in the MTV News Social Justice Forecast, email us at mtvnews.sjf@gmail.com!

All Month Long:

Everywhere: Help folks recover from Hurricane Matthew.

As a New Orleans native who remembers the long road to recovery that my family, my hometown, and much of the Gulf Region went through after Hurricane Katrina, I know how important it is to keep supporting those who are trying to pull their lives back together after a storm.

From Haiti to North Carolina, there are many ways we can help. I put together a list of some of them earlier this week, which is by no means comprehensive, but it’s a good place to start. (We’ll have another piece up with ways to help folks along the East Coast too.)

If you want to know how you can make donations or even volunteer in the states hit by Hurricane Matthew, United Way can provide valuable information. Effective Aid Haiti also has posted a list of ways you can donate to organizations that are led by and working directly with Haitian communities.

This Week:

We’ve got black sunshine over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as folks dig into the Movement for Black Lives Vision, while St. Louis, Missouri, is exploring one historic 1970 march for women’s equality.

Saturday, October 15

Washington, D.C.: Connect to a social justice community at the Racial Awareness and Mindfulness Festival.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church

400 I St. SW

Washington, DC 20024

This festival is an opportunity for black people and their allies in the D.C. area to share in art, music, and food, all while organizing against racism together. The keynote speakers — Erika Totten of D.C. Black Lives Matter and Katrina Browne, producer of the documentary Traces of the Trade — will also be facilitating some workshops. There will be sessions exploring the concept of whiteness, healing, racial awareness, and the interplay of language and justice. Registration is free and begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Tuesday, October 18

St. Louis, Missouri: Hear a firsthand account of A Women’s History Story — March for Equality 1970.

6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.

First Congregational Church

6501 Wydown Blvd.

Clayton, MO 63105

Carole DeSaram was there when 100,000 women went on strike and marched through New York City to demand equal pay and treatment in the workplace. In fact, she helped organize it. You can hear about that historic march and the beginnings of the National Organization for Women (NOW) at this event. If you can’t make it on Tuesday, don’t worry: There’s another chance to see Carole DeSaram on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Webster Groves Public Library. Both events are free and open to the public.

Looking Ahead:

Tuesday, October, 25

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Understand what it means to work for black liberation at Vision to Action — End the War on Black People.

5:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Friends Center

1501 Cherry St.

Philadelphia, PA 19102

Philadelphia Showing Up for Racial Justice (Philly SURJ) is working to help white allies deepen their understanding of the Movement for Black Lives Vision — that is, the various goals that the movement believes are necessary to end white supremacy and racial oppression. Each week, members of Philly SURJ will be discussing a different facet of the M4BL Vision as part of a reading series. Folks who plan to attend are asked to read at least the summary of the Vision and one specific policy brief prior to the event. This meeting is intended to help white folks be better coconspirators for racial justice, but all are welcome.

Every time we’re presented with a chance to gain a better understanding of social justice, we should take it. It will take the work of all who have come before, all who are taking action now, and many who have yet to be for all of us to become free. And whether that means bringing out the sun or calling down a storm, we need you!