Mutual Aid
Mutual aid is people helping people — rooted in care, not charity. Here, you’ll find definitions, tools, guides, and real-world examples to help you start or support mutual aid efforts in your community.
What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual aid is a form of community support where people voluntarily share resources, skills, and care to meet each other’s needs - without hierarchy, and often outside traditional institutions. It’s rooted in solidarity, not charity.
Mutual aid isn’t just about food or shelter. It means offering what you have — a skill, a service, a connection, or simply your time — and working with others on what they need and can offer in return.
It’s neighbors delivering groceries, strangers helping with rides, volunteers offering legal support, and countless acts of everyday solidarity.
Why Mutual Aid?
People have been forming mutual aid groups — formal or informal — perhaps since humans have existed.
It is a proven response in times of crisis.
The power of ordinary people collaborating and exchanging resources far exceeds what individuals can achieve alone.
Also, the Zombies are here - it's time to prepare.
Getting Started
Starting a mutual aid group is a powerful way to build community and address local needs directly. Remember, mutual aid is about building relationships of care and solidarity in your community.Start small, be responsive, and focus on empowering everyone involved. To get started, review the core steps below - and stay tuned for our complete guide.
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Start Small and Build a Core Team
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Assess Community Needs and Resources
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Define Your Purpose and Scope (Be Clear!)
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Establish Communication and Structure (Keep it Simple and Adaptive)
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Consider Practicalities (Especially if Handling Funds)
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Build Relationships and Trust
Resources to Explore
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Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit: Developed with Mariame Kaba and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, this is a great starting point.
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Mutual Aid Hub: A searchable map to find existing groups.
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Shareable's toolkit: "Mutual Aid 101: Solidarity, Survival, and Resistance"
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Mutual Aid: We Are Our Most Powerful Resource
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"Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During this Crisis (and the Next)" Dean Spade's foundational text on mutual aid.
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The People's Paper Sustack: A regenerative field manual for collective power, mutual aid, and the quiet dismantling of extractive systems.