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Mutual Aid

Mutual aid is community organized support systems to help people with various needs including food, shelter, transportation or getting connected with resources like legal aid.

It’s also a powerful and valuable community building effort that helps people meet and build connections with others to solve problems quickly and with care.

Civil stewards are attentive to the needs of their communities.

What You Can Do

A great way to learn about local mutual aid efforts is to search the term “mutual aid” and the name of your city or state. Many mutual aid projects have an online presence which will give you instructions on how to get involved. Similarly, your local library might be able to direct you to local organizations you can get involved with. 

If none exist, you can work with your friends and neighbors to establish a new mutual aid source in your community.

Resources

One of the most common forms of mutual aid output is the distribution of resources such as money, food, clothing, and other items of personal care and need.

Training

Mutual aid can also the result of training such as disaster preparedness and bystander training. Mutual aid groups collectively learn how to help people and can also offer training to people.

Services

Mutual aid can also take the form of services such as translation, business advice, legal aid, healthcare or minor labor such as repairs and fixing broken things.

Readings & Resources

Organizations & Resources

Mutual Aid Hub

“Town Hall Project built Mutual Aid Hub in March 2020 to highlight the incredible work of mutual aid organizers around the country, and to facilitate connections and shared strategies in this growing movement of community support.”

Starting a Mutual Aid Network

“At its core, a mutual aid network is a volunteer system of people helping people and communities helping communities.”

Global Giving: Mutual Aid

“Mutual aid creates networks of care and generosity to meet the immediate needs of our neighbors. It also addresses the root causes of challenges we face and demands transformative change.”

American Friend Service Committee

“In challenging times, mutual aid is one way that communities can come together to support one another when the government can’t or won’t.”

Books

Collective Courage

Palaces for the People

Design Justice

Mutual Aid

Practicing Cooperation

A Collective Blooming: The Rise Of The Mutual Aid Community

Pandemic Solidarity

Your Brain on Altruism

How We Show Up

Community

The Art of Gathering

Restoring the Kinship World View

The Black Agenda

Alone Together

Better Together

How Trust Works

The Purpose of Power

The War for Kindness

Give and Take

Together

Collective Wisdom

Affluence Without Abundance

The Fight to Save the Town

Come Hell or High Water

Trauma Stewardship

Disaster Anarchy

Red Flag Warning

Struggle and Mutual Aid

Mutual Aid

Bowling Alone