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a question on organizing strategy and mutual aid (hexbear.net)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've noticed that mutual aid efforts in an org often focus on directing aid outside the organization, essentially operating as a charity. Additionally, many leftist orgs are quite small and could benefit from additional membership.

I'm wondering if it might be better for a mutual aid org to focus its aid efforts internally? It is mutual aid after all. Please understand, I recognize that helping one's community is worthwhile, but an org focusing aid internally materially benefits the self-interest of its members. If one sees material benefit to joining a group surely they're more likely to join?

Am I off base here? Seems like an idea worth developing.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

Mutual aid is about helping each other in solidarity, to share alike among ourselves. It can look a lot like charity if you widen yiur definition of "us" to be everyone not of the ruling class, especially if those organizing it are noticeably from another community than those receiving it.

Example: at lefty actions there are often mutual aid tents or carts. These tend to be paid for by the participants and the labor is donated by them. That's more clearly a "by us for us" thing. On the other hand, I've seen lib white leftists start mutual aid groups that go to very poor black neighborhoods to provide food and clothes. It's not a bad thing to get people what they need but it does have some odd vibes and it is edging towards a charity mindset.

I would recommend making connections anywhere you are working so that you either expand your org in a way that authentically embeds in community or to join efforts with any similar orgs already in that community, or both. If you are very lucky you might even be able to merge groups. Rather than become inward-facing with current membership, you can make the current recipient communities, whatever they might be, less separate.