Mutual Aid: Solidarity, Not Charity.

This year has we have experienced a global health and economic crisis unlike any other in recent history. The string of unfortunate events that have occurred in the past few months have revealed issues that have been plaguing American families for years. According to this Forbes article, around 49% of American families were expected to live paycheck to paycheck in 2020. That article was written in February 2020, a month before the nation went on lockdown.

With all the chaos that has occurred, that number has likely increased significantly; and even more American families have been affected.

Enter, Riverside Mutual Aid. Spearheaded by director Aram Ayra, Riverside mutual aid has stepped up to the task in helping communities all over Riverside county during this time of need. Instead of giving you a scant summation of who they are or what they do, you can read the words from director Aram Ayra, yourself.

As an organization, who are you and how did you get your start?

"We are a group of UCR alumni/students, workers, neighbors and community members organizing a mutual aid fund, resource sharing and community support activities in the City of Riverside. Our organization is completely volunteer-funded and volunteer-led and we operate on a “solidarity, not charity” model. The major focus of our efforts is community empowerment and giving neighborhoods the resources they need to take of each other. We believe that agency and sovereignty in decision-making is critical to the long-term well-being and success of our impacted communities."

What does your Organization do?

"Since the start of the pandemic, we have coordinated a variety of community support activities that prioritize Riverside’s vulnerable populations. Within the last 6 months, we have raised over $5000 dollars for impacted families, distributed 1000+ meals, harvested hundreds of pounds of fresh produce for local food banks, and provided volunteer medical treatment at local actions."

Can you explain “mutual aid” for someone who has never heard it before?

"While the term “mutual aid” has only recently entered the popular consciousness, the concept of communities taking care of each other is ancient. Our organization is fortunate to have learned a lot from community members that ran mutual aid initiatives before us, including but not limited to the Black Panthers, the Young Lords, Hurricane Katrina responders, and American union groups.

At its core mutual aid is neighbors helping neighbors, providing aid and mutual assistance outside of the traditional government and non-profit structures. It’s the most organic and grassroots form of community and political participation, in which people take responsibility for caring for one another and working together to change unfavorable conditions for the mutual benefit of all. While non-profits and government organizations have done their fair share of well-intentioned work, they have also eroded (whether directly or indirectly), the agency and self-determination of communities that have come to depend on them. Mutual aid shakes up that dynamic and puts that power back into the hands of the people."

What is your vision for the community and local area as an organization?

"In the long-term, we envision strong, connected, sustainable, and empowered communities who lead their own recovery and have a direct voice in the resource allocation and decision-making that happens within the City of Riverside."

Why is it important to do what you do, especially in the current climate of events we are facing?

We are one of the many groups of organizers across America fighting to ensure that our neighbors and communities stay safe during the pandemic. The strength, effectiveness and general necessity of mutual aid networks has been clearly demonstrated during the last 6 months and has provided a real proof of concept that a better world is possible.

For those in need, how can they access your help?

We have food and wellbeing resources available for those in need of assistance and we work closely with community and County partners to ensure that more serious needs are met. For those in need, they can access the Request Aid form on our website: www.riversidemutualaid.com

How can people help or contribute to your cause?

1. Join the Riverside Mutual Aid Network (visit our website for more info)
2. Donate to our mutual aid fund on GoFundMe https://gf.me/u/ykh272 or Venmo us @rivmutualaid.
3. Start a Mutual Aid group in your own community (we will provide all the resources and training needed).
4. Get to know your neighbors, prioritize and protect impacted Riverside County community members and get more involved in your local community. At the end of the day, we are all we have.

If you need help in these times we are facing, reach out to Riverside Mutual Aid or any other mutual aid organization near you.