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What is mutual aid?

Mutual aid is “cooperation for the sake of the common good.” It’s getting people to come together to meet each other’s needs, recognizing that as humans, our survival is dependent on one another.

Mutual aid is

  • Building relationships with your neighbors based on trust and common interest

  • Sharing things rather than hoarding things

  • Treating no one as disposable

  • Providing all kinds of support, ranging from food prep to childcare to translation to emotional support, and recognizing the value of all of them

  • A political education opportunity, where we build the relationships and analysis to understand why we are in the conditions that we’re in

  • Preparation for the next disaster (natural or economic)

Mutual aid is NOT

  • Transactional

  • Only for disasters or crises

  • Charity or a way to “save” people

  • A reason for a social safety net not to exist

An animated clip from Cooperative Journal's interview with STL Mutual Aid. The elements for this animation were illustrated by Julienne Kaleta and Luis Cisneros as part of our Co-Creating Solidarity Economy Art participatory workshop series. The voices are from organizers Marcus Hunt, Carmen Ward and Julia Ho. Check out CooperativeJournalMedia.com for more art and audio stories.


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What is STL Mutual Aid?

STL Mutual Aid is a network of everyday people coming together to deliver food and supplies, provide financial solidarity, offer emotional support, and connect people to their neighbors

STLMA Organizers, Julia Ho and Erica Williams, answer:

What is mutual aid? How does it work? How can you get involved?

 
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