BUILDING COMMUNITY
How To Create A Mutual Aid Network
BY MARY ZERKEL, AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
For Sale: Ideal Space for Wellness Practitioners 5547 & 5549 Langston Blvd – North Arlington, VA Unlock the potential of this 2,300 SF two-unit building in the heart of North Arlington along the revitalizing Langston Boulevard corridor. With a shared entrance and stairwell WKLVWKRXJKWIXOO\FRQÀJXUHG space is perfect for wellness professionals —from Yoga teachers and acupuncturists to therapists, nutritionists, and bodyworkers. 6XUURXQGHGE\DKHDOWKFRQVFLRXVDIÁXHQWFRPPXQLW\DQGPLQXWHV from DC, this is a rare opportunity to own your space, grow your practice, and invest in your future . )RU SHRSOH DQG FRPPXQLWLHV ZKR DUH PDUJLQDOL]HG DQGRU FULPL - QDOL]HGRUJDQL]HGPXWXDODLGFDQEHDZD\WRVXUYLYHDQGWKULYH The %ODFN 3DQWKHU 3DUW\ IUHH EUHDNIDVW SURJUDP ZKLFK VHUYHG PHDOVDZHHNWR%ODFNFKLOGUHQLQ LVDJUHDWH[DPSOH 7KH%ODFN3DQWKHU3DUW\IUHHEUHDNIDVWSURJUDPZDVMXVWRQHHOH - In challenging times, mutual aid is one way that communities can come together to support one another when the government can’t or won’t. Everyone deserves to have access to food, health care, housing, and other basic needs. These are fundamental human rights. Government safety net programs have long fallen short of what is needed. Through- out our history, communities have found power in coming together, creating networks of mutual support to help each other when the gov- ernment won’t. %\ IRUPLQJ PXWXDO DLG QHWZRUNV ZH FDQ WDNH LPPHGLDWH DFWLRQ ZKLOHFRQWLQXLQJWRDGYRFDWHIRUFKDQJH0XWXDODLGEXLOGVVROLGDULW\ helping everyone involved by creating new communities of care with our neighbors to redistribute wealth and share skills and material re- sources with those who need help. There are many examples of people working together to keep their FRPPXQLWLHVVDIHDQGKHDOWK\WKURXJKPXWXDODLG UHDGDERXWH̆ RUWV in Chicago and West Virginia). Here’s how you can get involved in building these vital networks of support. Solidarity, Not Charity
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ment in a series of projects that worked to not only meet basic needs IRU%ODFNFRPPXQLWLHVWKDWIDFHGGLYHVWPHQWUHGOLQLQJDQGV\VWHPLF racism, but also provide space for shared analysis, movement build- ing, and liberation. 'XULQJWKH$,'6FULVLVRIWKH VDQG¶ VTXHHUFRPPXQLWLHV took matters into their own hands and created their own health clin- ics, therapy groups, needle exchange programs, and food pantries. The solidarity built with allies and community members who were FULPLQDOL]HGDQGLJQRUHGE\WKHJRYHUQPHQWKHOSHGEXLOGDPRYHPHQW for change that grew for decades and achieved real wins. Currently, Chicago and Los Angeles are using mutual aid to sup- port communities targeted by ICE. Groups have formed to go grocery shopping for immigrants who are worried about leaving their homes, VLJQLQJXSWRZDWFKFRUQHUVIRU,&(DFWLYLW\GXULQJVFKRROGURSR̆ DQG pick-ups, and support each other in many other ways. Community bail funds, bystander intervention, and Cop-watch are all recent examples where the strategies for mutual aid are intertwined with public education about the underlying systems of oppression that create the need for community response. Why You Should You Start A Mutual Aid Network Now At this moment of global change and uncertainty, it is evident that structures in our society leading to inequality and systemic oppres- sion create chaos and harm for everyone. We cannot count on the U.S. government to solve the crises that we face. Creating new structures of collective care can help us through this period, and engaging in mu- WXDODLGLVDZD\IRUXVWREXLOGQHZVRFLDOUHODWLRQVKLSVWKDWUHFRJQL]H our ability to have agency, creativity, and solidarity! +HUHDUHVRPHLQVSLULQJH[DPSOHVRIPXWXDODLGSURMHFWV ł 6DYLQJ OLYHV LQ WKH 0H[LFR86 ERUGHUODQGV by providing direct DLGWRPLJUDQWV1R0RUH'HDWKVLVDYROXQWHHUEDVHGRUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW SUHYHQWV PLJUDQW GHDWKV DQG VX̆ HULQJ E\ OHDYLQJ ZDWHU DQG VXSSOLHVLQWKHGHVHUWDQGPRUH KWWSV QRPRUHGHDWKVRUJHQ ł Responding locally to natural disasters, when the government can- not move quickly enough. After Hurricane Helen hit North Caroli- QDWKHTXHHUPXWXDODLGRUJDQL]DWLRQ3DQV\&ROOHFWLYHUHVSRQGHG ZLWKLQKRXUV KWWSV OLQNWUHHSDQV\DVKHYLOOH ł Financial solidarity projects IRU WKRVH ZKR FDQ KHOS ZLWK ¿QDQ - FLDO DVVLVWDQFH WR UHDFK IRONV ZKR QHHG FDVK GLUHFWO\ 'XULQJ WKH
Zoned for flexible
commercial use
Bright, inviting interior
with natural light
Street and off-street
parking available
Walkable, high-visibility
neighborhood
Excellent opportunity for owner-occupants or investors
Asking Price: $860,000 (both units) For inquiries or a showing, contact: Kenny Robinson kenny@kennysvegetariankitchen.com or call/text 703-533-9158
30—PATHWAYS—Winter 25-26
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