MI AASC
Mutual Aid Netwroks
These are not charity. They are resilient, voluntary, and decentralized systems of collective care and resource distribution, built from the ground up by community members, for community members. They operate entirely outside the mechanisms of the market and the state, showcasing the true strength of solidarity.
Through Mutual Aid Networks, we:
Directly address community needs, from food insecurity and lack of access to tools, to childcare gaps and disaster relief, we identify and respond to what our neighbors truly need.
Build strong, reciprocal relationships, proving that by working together, we can provide essential services that traditional systems often fail to deliver.
These networks are vital building blocks for a post-revolutionary, anarchist-communist society, prefiguring a world where collective well-being is paramount.
"From each according to their ability, to each according to their need."
The existing systems often fail us, leaving essential needs unmet and fostering isolation. But at MI AASC, we believe in the transformative power of Mutual Aid Networks.
Our step-by-step plan guides you through identifying community needs, mapping resources, launching pilot projects, developing non-hierarchical structures, and expanding your reach. It's about practical action, collective problem-solving, and a commitment to shared liberation.
Join us in establishing and expanding Mutual Aid Networks that prove the viability of solidarity-based alternatives, one shared meal, one borrowed tool, one collective effort at a time.
Steps:
Phase A: Identifying Needs and Existing Capacity
1.1
Engage with residents through informal conversations, neighborhood assemblies (from 3.1 Community Assemblies), or simple surveys to identify specific, unmet needs within the community. Focus on urgent and widespread issues that the state or market fails to address (e.g., food insecurity, lack of access to tools, childcare gaps, emergency preparedness for local hazards, support for vulnerable populations).
Prioritize needs that can be addressed with existing or easily mobilizable community resources.
1.2
Conduct an inventory of skills, tools, vehicles, spaces (e.g., empty buildings, community centers, private garages), and other resources that community members are willing to share or contribute.
Identify individuals with specific expertise (e.g., doctors, mechanics, gardeners, teachers, cooks, organizers).
1.3
Recognize and connect with existing informal mutual aid practices (e.g., neighbors sharing food, informal childcare swaps, community watch groups) and seek to formalize and expand them.
Phase B: Launching Pilot Mutual Aid Projects (Start Small)
2.1 Select one or two achievable projects that address a clear, immediate need and can quickly demonstrate the effectiveness of mutual aid. Examples:
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Collecting surplus food, cooking communal meals, and distributing them freely.
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Creating a shared repository of tools that residents can borrow for free.
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Organizing healthcare professionals to offer basic medical care or first aid.
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A network of parents collectively sharing childcare responsibilities.
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Organizing a rapid response team for local emergencies (e.g., floods, power outages).
2.2 Call for volunteers from the neighborhood assembly or wider community who have the necessary skills or resources for the chosen project.
2.3 Collectively decide on simple, clear, and non-negotiable principles for the project:
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Services/resources are provided free of charge, based on need.
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All labor and contributions are freely given.
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Decisions are made horizontally by participants.
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Emphasize reciprocal support and collective responsibility.
2.4 Gather necessary initial resources through donations from community members, repurposing existing items, or collective fundraising if absolutely necessary (e.g., for initial supplies).
Phase C: Developing Organizational Structure and Operations (Non-Hierarchical)
3.1 Each mutual aid project forms its own self-organizing working group composed of active participants. These groups handle day-to-day operations and specific tasks (e.g., logistics, scheduling, outreach, maintenance).
3.2 Hold regular, open meetings for all active participants in a project to discuss progress, challenges, and future plans. Decisions are made directly by those involved.
3.3 Ensure mutual aid projects are accountable to and draw support from the broader neighborhood assembly (3.1). Project groups regularly report back to the assembly for input, resource requests, and broader coordination.
3.4 Systematically rotate tasks and responsibilities within each project group to prevent burnout, develop diverse skills among participants, and avoid the formation of permanent leaders or administrators.
3.5 Maintain open and transparent communication within the project group and with the wider community about resources, needs, and activities.
Phase D: Expansion, Diversification, and Integration
4.1 Once a pilot project is stable and successful, share its model, lessons learned, and operational guides with other parts of the community or neighboring areas to encourage replication.
4.2 Based on ongoing needs assessments, initiate new mutual aid projects to address different community needs (e.g., expanding from a food pantry to a full community kitchen, adding a skill-sharing workshop series, or starting a communal repair shop).
4.3 Directly integrate skill-sharing workshops (from 1.3 Skill-Sharing) into mutual aid activities (e.g., a community kitchen hosting food preservation workshops, a tool library offering basic repair classes).
4.4 Organize regular meetings or forums where representatives (mandated, recallable delegates) from different mutual aid projects and neighborhood assemblies can coordinate, share resources, and learn from each other.
Form federations of mutual aid networks at a broader geographic level (city, regional) to facilitate larger-scale resource sharing, coordinate responses to widespread needs (e.g., major disaster relief), and amplify collective impact.
4.5 Engage in solidarity with other struggles (e.g., providing food or medical support to striking workers, offering shelter to those facing eviction), demonstrating the interconnectedness of struggles and strengthening the broader movement.
Phase E: Sustaining and Adapting
5.1 Implement mechanisms for ongoing feedback from both providers and recipients of mutual aid to ensure the networks remain effective, responsive, and equitable.
5.2 Acknowledge the efforts of volunteers and the positive impact of mutual aid. Document processes and stories to inspire new participants and inform future efforts.
5.3 Be flexible and adaptable in response to changing circumstances, new needs, or external pressures (e.g., state crackdowns, resource shortages). The decentralized nature allows for rapid adaptation and resilience.
5.4 Consistently and continuously maintain a culture where giving and receiving are seen as natural, reciprocal acts, reinforcing the idea that collective well-being is everyone's responsibility.
By systematically establishing and expanding mutual aid networks, communities build practical resilience, demonstrate the power of voluntary cooperation, and lay the groundwork for a society where needs are met through solidarity rather than market forces or state intervention.
Start or Join a Mutual Aid Network in Your Community!