Four Key Takeaways from Mutual Aid Organizing During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Beeck Center

Meet people where they are, even if that means going low-tech.

Mutual aid inherently centers human connection. It requires cooperation to create networks of care and levels of generosity to meet the immediate needs of a given community. BSS strongly emphasized having conversations with neighbors –even at the expense of efficiency – as its organizational model necessitated mutual support and community involveme... See more

Integrate mutual aid into existing public service ecosystems.

Though more technical, advanced systems can facilitate efficient communication for those with the expertise, it was necessary to maintain a low technical barrier to entry

Center people and relationships at every point in the process to build public trust.

Negative experiences or perceptions of government services can decrease trust and turn people away from programs designed to help them.

deliberately integrating mutual aid into the public service ecosystem can be extremely beneficial. Government agencies can consult with aid networks to learn from their work, involve them in policy design, and collaborate with community groups on outreach efforts.