There has been a story on the progressive left for some time now that individual actions are largely futile. That for society to change, we must instead focus on systems. My guest on the program today belongs to a generation that was raised on this message. But now she’s written a powerful piece about the costs that come with such a worldview — and how volunteering in her community helped her to rethink it.

Rachel Cohen is a reporter for Vox.com, covering American social policy. Her essay is “Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering.”

Rachel Cohen is my guest, today on Lean Out. Transcript to come for paid subscribers.

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