Mutual Aid
Mutual Aid comes from Black and Brown community organizing and is a form of voluntary, reciprocal support where communities come together to meet each other's needs, especially during times of crisis or hardship. It's based on the idea that everyone has something to offer and something they may need, creating a network of solidarity and resource sharing.
LCRF has adapted the concept of mutual aid to address the extraordinary needs of our members in the post-Dobbs landscape. The work has become significantly more challenging for everyone, whether they focus on policy advocacy or birth work, and funding has drastically decreased as many funders have shifted their focus away from the South. Our members are feeling the strain, as are we.
In response, LCRF staff and leadership continuously assess members' needs and resources, facilitating the sharing of skills, trainings, resources, staff and intern support, office space, and much more. We are dedicated to ensuring the survival of every single member organization during these difficult times.
Mutual aid differs from charitable offerings; it's about empowering communities to take care of each other and build resilience, recognizing that we all have something to contribute and something to gain from working together.