Writing letters in crayon to new refugees in America, I looked around the room and thought, “These are my people.”

My family was attending a kids’ dance party to benefit refugees in the wake of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies. It was organized by a local group of politically progressive parents. Beyond card writing, the event included a guitarist, kids’ Zumba, and of course, a drum circle.

It’s hard enough to find good “mom” (or dad) friends. It’s even harder if you want to find people interested in discussing racial justice or climate change in the context of parenting. But building community is key to preventing burn-out as both a parent and activist. It’s nice to talk to people with a variety of perspectives, but it’s also great to connect with people who have the same concerns as you do.

Here are a few ideas for finding like-minded parents:

Hang out in spaces more likely to attract progressive folks

Most “how to meet mom friends” articles recommend looking for mom friends in places for kids, like the library’s children’s area and playgrounds. Of course, these are great, especially if you see them reading Baby Feminist, Last Stop On Market Street, or Me, Jane to their kids.

Beyond those places, you may want to look into locations that naturally attract people who are more politically involved or interested in the same issues. If you’re interested in environmental issues, check out the local nature center. People interested in sustainable agriculture are likely find like-minded folks at the local natural foods store – especially if they offer kids’ cooking classes like ours does. If you have a progressive bookstore or coffee shop, bring the kids by sometime. Some of them even have kids’ story times!

Don’t forget your existing friends

If you participated in progressive groups before having kids, it may be frustrating to not have enough time for that role anymore. (Especially if it took a lot of time.) But that doesn’t mean you have to fall out of touch with your friends from there. I volunteered to knock on doors for Obama’s first campaign and the two friends I made that night led to nearly all of my friends in the D.C. region. Now one of those two original friends also has two kids and we get to bond over both politics and diapers. Even your friends who don’t have kids can offer a useful counterpart to the everyday rhythms of parenting, especially if they can provide a connection to that activist or progressive community.

Look into progressive groups, both those focused on families and not

There’s no lack of volunteer and activism groups to join on both the local and national level. Some of them are focused on families, such as local chapters of Mothers Out Front or Moms Clean Air Force. If you’re interested in LGBTQ issues, many places have groups devoted to youth activism on those issues.

Other groups aren’t focused on families, but can be very welcoming to them.  For example, the Sierra Club and Audubon Society organize lots of family-friendly activities. Parents participating in Showing Up for Racial Justice and Black Lives Matter groups have organized kids’ reading groups focused on anti-racism and other social justice issues. Of course, a lot of the groups that arose out of the Women’s March have moms involved.

Connect with folks in non-political parenting groups who share the same interests

Some groups aren’t designed to be specifically political, but are more likely to attract folks who may have progressive political leanings. Outdoors groups like Hike It Baby or classes like Tinkergarten are more likely to attract people interested in environmental issues. “Crunchy” parenting groups may be more likely to have folks who are interested in health and the environment.

Look online for real-life connections

Meetup is an amazing way to find groups you had no idea existed. Checking out local Meetup groups may reveal parenting groups focused on political action, racial justice or other areas of interest. Even if the group isn’t specific to parents, it’s quite likely there are other parents involved you can connect with.

Because Meetup requires organizers pay a fee, some groups are only on Facebook. Searching the name of your area and “moms” or “parents” is likely to bring up a list of local groups. Personally, I happened to hear about the refugee dance party through a Facebook event. Even if none focus specifically on progressive causes, you can post a question asking who is interested in those subjects. Unfortunately, like all groups, online parenting groups can have some serious issues with racism and classism, so tread wisely.

There are also some groups with a national reach who specialize in parenting with an eye to social justice. On Facebook, there’s the Anti-Racist/Social Justice Parenting Discussion Group group and my own Green and Sustainable Parenting group. The Luminary Brain Trust (organized by the creator of Raising Luminaries) is an amazing online resource and active community for parents invested in social justice. (I’m a long-time member of it!) You may not be able to meet in person, but they can still provide good ideas and food for thought.

Whether you’ve been involved in progressive issues for a long time or you’re just getting started, connecting with people is essential. I hope you can find some mom friends who can support you in your efforts!