Mutual aid was a buzzword in the aftermath of the Palisades and Eaton fires in January. There was an outpouring of donation and volunteer support to grassroots organizations, some that have existed for several years but hadn’t ever seen that level of support.
But two months after flames tore through the region, interest in volunteering is beginning to lag, and mutual aid organizers are reflecting on what can be done to sustain mutual aid in the long term. They also flagged concerns with the way locals who wanted to help fire victims turned up their noses at LA’s most vulnerable people.
While celebrating the increased support in recent weeks, mutual aid organizers told LA Public Press they’ve also contended with people who try to control where their donations are going, or are uninterested in getting involved with the political issues that these groups organize around, such as the housing crisis and unhoused communities.
Read the rest at LA Public Press
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