This is antithetical to the core concept of American government: it literally is up to everyone what happens. Vote, campaign for others, lobby, run for local office, or bigger offices if you find yourself successful.

Look at AOC. People will be vile, they will mock you and attack you, but you can inch the world in the direction you think it should go.

In any given situation, it may not be clear how an individual can start to effect change. But we certainly, absolutely can.