#cooperatives

The concept of “mutual aid” has entered the popular imagination over the past few months, but it is not a new concept – and not one everyone understands.

Mutual aid is often characterized by the slogan “solidarity - not charity.” In short, it is the process of building and maintaining bottom-up structures of cooperation (for the people, by the people) to replace reliance on top-down solving of problems, such as the state or philanthropists. It is an inherently anti-capitalist politic by valuing cooperation over competition in all aspects of life.

Following mutual aid accounts on social media is not enough. We must actively and regularly participate in the process itself by serving or donating. Share and promote the needs of our communities, yes, but shares do not help pay for food or rent. We must do more.

[ID: Pink gradient background. White centered rectangle frames black text with “mutual aid” and its pronunciation, part of speech, and definition. The TEP logo is in the bottom left.]