What is mutual aid?
What we’re used to seeing
Charity often looks like economically wealthy people “giving” money to financially “poor” people, typically by upholding the systems that make most people financially sapped in the first place.
In practice, this often means wealthy individuals or corporations donating to nonprofits in exchange for tax benefits. These nonprofits operate within a broader nonprofit industrial complex that tends to frame poverty as an individual failure rather than the result of systems designed to concentrate wealth and deepen racial inequality.
Because these systems depend on private philanthropy and government approval, they are rarely structured to address root causes of injustice or support work that threatens the status quo. Charity may meet short-term needs, but it rarely builds long term collective power.
What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual aid is not charity. It is when people step up to help each other meet basic needs, knowing that current systems aren’t enough or are designed to make things worse. It’s about building relationships, shared responsibility, and collective resilience over time and starts from the understanding that:
Any of us could face crisis at any time
Poverty and precarity are caused by unjust systems, not personal failure
We don’t need permission, credentials, or hierarchy to act
Most mutual aid projects are volunteer-run and move quickly because people respond to needs as they arise, rather than waiting for institutions to act.
Some Principles of Mutual Aid
Mutuality and solidarity: We support each other as equals, not donors and recipients.
The system is the problem: Poverty and crisis come from unjust systems, not individual failure.
Transparency: Being open about operations and funding.
Inclusivity: Everyone belongs.
Learning: Everyone is learning, every brings wisdoms.
Long-Term Commitment: Fostering a culture of mutuality, not projects.
Resources
MAMA- Mutual aid, Medford and Somerville
Some examples of projects (not prescriptive)
Food & Essentials: Community-run food fridges or pantries stocked by neighbors; Monthly grocery distributions coordinated by tenant associations; diaper, hygiene, or school supply swaps hosted at local parks or community centers
Housing & Tenant Support: Rent support funds for neighbors facing eviction; court accompaniment for housing court; tenant organizing groups sharing know-your-rights info and legal referrals
Health & Care: Mask, test, and air purifier distribution; accompaniment for medical appointments, especially for elders or undocumented neighbors; care circles.
Arts & Culture Mutual Aid: Shared equipment libraries for artists (sound systems, tents, projectors); skill swaps: grant writing, translation, childcare, tech help; community-funded stipends for neighborhood cultural workers
Safety & Mobility: Volunteer ride networks for appointments or grocery trips; community safety watches.
Education & Language Access: Homework help collectives; ESL or translation support for community meetings; know-your-rights workshops led by community members
Emergency Response: Rapid-response funds during heat waves, floods, or immigration raids; phone trees and WhatsApp groups for neighborhood check-ins
