A SHEslo Pledge
* I stand with my sisters in compassion, courage and conviction.
• I commit myself to the liberation, safety, and individual sovereignty of all women and children.
• I will work to dismantle systems of oppression through collective action, mutual aid, principled resistance, and de-centering men.
• I will strengthen women's independence.
• I will practice solidarity, accountability, and care within this community.
• I will not abandon my sisters in times of struggle.
• I will contribute my skills, my voice, and my time to building the world we deserve.
• With clarity, strength, rage, and love, I pledge myself to this work.
What is Mutual Aid?
What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual Aid is a practice and politics that emphasizes solidarity rather than charity. What does that mean? It means we recognize that our well-being, health and dignity are all bound up in each other. It means that we understand our survival depends on cooperation, not competition. In this particular moment, we see that our health is also dependent on other people’s health, and we can literally save each other’s lives. Rather than disengage and feel powerless, mutual aid allows us to plug in where we can make the most impact — locally.
Mutual Aid is…
• Getting people together in your community to provide material support to each other
• Building relationships with your neighbors based on trust and common interest
• Making decisions by consensus rather than relying on authority or hierarchy
• Sharing things rather than hoarding things
• Treating no one as disposable
• Providing all kinds of support, ranging from food prep to childcare to translation to emotional support, and recognizing the value of all of them
• A political education opportunity, where we build the relationships and analysis to understand why we are in the conditions that we’re in
• Preparation for the next disaster (natural or economic). Next time around we’ll already have relationships with each other and know who is vulnerable and needs support
• A great jumping off point for other kinds of organizing and movement work
Mutual Aid is not…
• Quid pro quo transactions
• Only for disasters or crises
• Charity or a way to “save” people
• A reason for a social safety net not to exist
