Latanya’s Story

“Through STL Mutual Aid I have built a small community for me and my daughter”

We were able to interview Latanya and discover her story and the way STL Mutual Aid has impacted her life. As a med tech with a young daughter who has a breathing condition, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced Latanya to make the difficult decision to leave her job to protect her child. This decision led to severe financial hardships; within seven months, she depleted her savings and faced imminent threats of eviction and car repossession.

Desperate, Latanya reached out for help and was directed to STL Mutual Aid. Initially skeptical, she was astonished when the organization promptly provided her with significant financial aid based purely on her expressed need, without the bureaucratic hurdles typical of many other aid institutions. This experience not only provided immediate relief but also deeply impressed upon her the integrity and effectiveness of Mutual Aid.

Inspired by the direct and compassionate approach of STL Mutual Aid, Latanya decided to engage more deeply with the organization. She joined their Community Care Council, helping to make decisions about fund allocation, and later advanced to a more central role on the admin board. Through her involvement, she witnessed and contributed to the organization’s grassroots efforts to dismantle ineffective systems and directly address community needs.

For Latanya, STL Mutual Aid represents a template for genuine community support—where those with resources assist those without, not as a transaction, but as a community act of caring and responsibility. Her story underscores the profound impact of Mutual Aid on her life and highlights its role as a community-builder, providing not just financial aid but a sense of belonging and support in her new city, far from her hometown of Birmingham.