Here's your teen's easy entry point to poster-making for the March 28 No Kings Rally
Log Off to Show Up
I’ve always loved to color.
It’s my zen zone. There's something deeply satisfying about sitting down with a box of colored pencils and focusing all my attention on the page just waiting to come to life. The colors lift my mood and mindset. Creating with my hands grounds me in the moment.
And sharing my finished piece with someone else? That's its own kind of joy.
Poster-making feels a lot like that coloring book experience… just bigger, bolder, and a little more alive.
You brainstorm, sketch, plan, experiment, refine. Borrow ideas, remix them, or make something entirely your own, all by hand. And without even realizing it, you've moved through a deeply creative process. There’s care in it. Intention. Pride in the final product.
And then you hold it up—not just to show what you made, but to say something that matters.
That moment—when something moves from your mind, to your hands, to the world—is easy to forget in a life lived mostly on screens.
Our teens spend so much time reacting. Scrolling. Liking. Commenting. Taking in a constant stream of other people’s thoughts, voices, and ideas. But chances to create something of their own, offline, in real time—and to stand behind it in a shared physical space—are rare.
That’s what makes the upcoming No Kings rally on Saturday, March 28 different. It’s an invitation Log Off and Show Up.
To step out of the feed and into something real. To move beyond group chats and into community. To realize that the circles our teens belong to are bigger than they think—stretching from friends and classmates outward to neighbors, local organizers, and other teens across their city who are also paying attention, asking questions, and trying to make sense of the world they're inheriting. moment we’re living in.
Because ready or not, this moment is already reaching them.
They’re hearing about debates over voting access and representation. Seeing conversations around immigration and enforcement. Catching glimpses of global conflict, environmental impact, and decisions being made in real time.
Sometimes it's clear. Sometimes confusing. Often, it's unfinished in their minds. They don't need to have all the answers.
But they do deserve the chance to step into a space where thinking, creating, and showing up actually connect.
That’s where Joy as Resistance matters.
Across the country, more than 3,000 No Kings gatherings are being organized—bringing together people of all ages to participate in one of the largest peaceful, nonviolent demonstrations in U.S. history. At its core is a simple idea: power belongs to the people.
What makes this movement especially powerful for teens is the spirit behind it: Community as strength. Creativity as expression. Joy as defiance.
For teens who have never participated in something like this before, showing up can feel intimidating. That’s why the lead-up matters just as much as the day itself.
Poster-making—whether at home, with friends, or at a local gathering—becomes a low-pressure, hands-on way to begin. A way to process ideas, experiment with voice, and connect with others before stepping into the larger event.
On March 28, for a few hours, they get to trade passive consumption for active participation. And that shift from watching the world to stepping into it is where awareness and identity begin to take shape, and where connection moves beyond the screen into something real.
And in the process, our teens are discovering that shared, creative, intentional joy is part of how we absorb and face what's happening around us.
As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said, “You are allowed to cultivate joy. In fact, you need to.”
🧭 Here’s How to Get Your Teen Involved
📅 When: Saturday, March 28 (most events take place midday)
📍 Where: Local communities nationwide (3,000+ gatherings) Find one near you:
👥 Who: Families, teens, neighbors—first-timers and longtime participants, all showing up peacefully
✨ How: Show up. Bring a sign. Bring a friend. Stay curious.
🎨 Start Here: Make the Poster
Before stepping into the crowd, start with something simple and tangible: make a message with your hands.
3 Easy Ways to Begin
🏡 Host a mini poster hangout
A few friends. A table. Music, snacks, markers. Keep it casual—this is about creating, not perfection.
🤝 Join a local sign-making event
Many communities are hosting gatherings leading up to March 28. A great way to meet others and ease into the experience.
✏️ DIY at home
Quiet, focused, just as meaningful. One thoughtful sign is enough.
💬 What Should It Say?
Encourage your teen to keep it:
short & clear
readable
respectful
authentic
No need for perfect wording—just something real.
Simple examples:
“We’re paying attention.”
“This affects us too.”
“Future voters are watching.”
“Power belongs to people.”
🎨 Make It Stand Out
Go big + bold (thick markers, large letters)
High contrast colors (so it’s readable from a distance)
Keep it simple (one clear message)
Sketch first (quick pencil draft = cleaner final)
Add personality if it feels right—symbols, humor, even animals 🐸
Above all, think: Visual Storytelling
🎭 Bring the Joy With You
Costumes, props, color themes—these aren’t extra. They’re part of the experience.
They make the space and message feel:
welcoming
expressive
alive
joyful
🌿 After the Rally
Encourage a simple plan:
grab food
talk about what stood out
stay in that offline space a little longer
The conversations after matter just as much as the rally itself!
✨ The Takeaway
This is about:
showing up
making something real
connecting beyond the screen
Sometimes all it takes is a blank poster board…and the decision to fill it.
