Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 13 First Published at Cultured Image by Lisic via Shutterstock Voluntary associations persist today. Rather than competing for resources and hoarding, we thrive most when we work together to meet real, human needs now. Alas, these oppressive systems established themselves before you or I ever came into this world. A better world is possible, though, and it’s within our collective power to achieve that. Success need not come at the expense of others; let's thrive together. Also, we need not begin anew. Let's build on what we have already, too. We saw how th ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 12 First Published at Cultured Photo of Brooklyn Heights Community Garden by JM Heatherly Garden Design by Nashville Foodscapes Community gardens bring another solution to hunger in food deserts, a form of mutual aid most dear to us here. Any one may share space and practice how to grow food, build community through their relationships, and share the harvests. Great spaces include churches, libraries, nursing homes, balconies, apartment grounds, rooftops, abandoned swimming pools, trailheads and more! One would be hard-pressed to miss the obvious benefits ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 11 First Published at Cultured Community fridges serve the needs of low-income and/or limited mobility people who live long walks from accessible sources of good food — in food deserts. Individuals or groups may organize a community fridge in a public place, and they share the responsibility of keeping it stocked. The fridges go great at a free store, school, studio, church, or library. Check out @tncommgard partner organizations, Hope Community Fridge of Chattanooga, TN. We provide free food to the fine folks of East Brainerd. Big Sycamore Farm of Decatur ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 10 First Published at Cultured Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash People need medical care to both maintain health and prevent the progress of disease and illness. Especially amidst poor access to healthy food choices. The American healthcare system erects price barriers which limits access. This system profits at the expense of public health. How do we fulfill medical needs until healthcare is established as a human right? Just as we realized educational outcomes fall short when competing with the profit motive, the same is true with health ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 9 First Published at Cultured Image by Haeko via Wikimedia Little Free Libraries are another form of mutual aid. They are little bookshelves on a post in neighborhoods and other public spaces, and one constructs an enclosure to protect books from the elements. Little Free Libraries expand access to literature in a give and take format. The Little Free Library nonprofit was founded at Hudson, Wisconsin, in 2012. They seek to build community, inspire readers, and expand global access to books. You can find Little Free libraries today in all 50 US states, ove ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 8 First Published at Cultured Image by Phoebe via Wikimedia Tool libraries allow a group to share their working tools. Second Harvest of Nashville offers a Tool Share, for example. One person may have a shed, and neighbors pool together tools for the benefit of their neighborhood. This saves money and space, and it decreases carbon footprints. Tool Libraries could also adjoin community workspaces. The Berkeley Public Library in California incorporated a tool library into their service offerings. It began first with community members applying for a federal ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 7 First Published at Cultured Panorama by DerMische via Wikimedia Another spectacular example of solidarity is free stores. Imagine a place where you don’t pay but rather get what you need. You can leave clean, durable goods you no longer want in good condition. Or some kind hearts offer their surplus. This alternative presents one vision of a more caring world. The Diggers, a guerrilla street theater group of the 1960s, established this tradition at San Francisco called giveaway shops. Perhaps combine a free shop with other forms of solidarity to make a M ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 6 First Published at Cultured Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash The Amish engage in solidarity when they host frolics. Frolics are cultural events where community members meet to socialize and work together, prime examples of mutual aid. When deemed necessary, an Amish community will plan a barn-raising. All the area men decide to meet for a day or two to build an entire barn, or they might need a church or home. The person being helped would arrange materials and logistics ahead of time. The men put together an entire building within a day. Watch the video ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 5 First Published at Cultured Image by Rainalee111 via Wikimedia With a commitment to serve and uplift Black communities by any means necessary, the BPP (Black Panther Party) fulfilled needs in countless ways. Unfortunately, many white folks considered them extremists. But the Panthers got things done despite racist violence and social exclusion. The Free Breakfast Program comes to most informed minds when discussing how the Black Panthers met the needs of black schoolchildren starting in 1969. They knew that learning is a Herculean effort on an empty stom ..read more

Mutual Aid for a More Just World pt. 4 First Published at Cultured Via Mutual Aid 101: Toolkit What are some examples of mutual aid in action? Mutual aid takes different forms depending on needs and your local volunteers. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Abolitionist Mariame Kaba made an excellent toolkit available called “Mutual Aid 101.” They released this in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the need for communities to answer unmet community needs in #WeGotOurBlock. One finds an extensive history of mutual aid in the United States, particularly among marginalized groups. "We ..read more