AN INVITATION TO MUTUAL IMAGINATION:
CONNECT LOCALLY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THROUGH MUTUAL AID
In our commitment to uniting communities, RJC is encouraging RJC Advocates to think about ways of showing meaningful solidarity, as well as spotlighting organizations already offering support and mutual aid to community members of color.
What time, talent, and resources can you bring to meet our community’s rights to access support, care, and supplies? This can include sharing groceries, diapers, delivering medicine or food, offering your AirBnB for housing, etc. What networks are you connected to that you can invite into a deeper practice of mutual aid that ensures that all people in our community are included?
Below is a sample of local mutual aid resources with whom we have relationships and not a comprehensive list. We will seek to grow and update it a few times a year and welcome your suggestions via the Google form below. When we receive these suggestions RJC Organizers will have conversations with these organizations about their commitments to serving Black communities or communities of color and their commitment to racial equity.
Local Mutual Aid Resources
Population(s) served: African American and Latinx communities, elders, youth, people on the streets
Resources offered: COVID Rapid Relief including food distribution sites throughout Buncombe County and PPE distribution; Advocacy, Arts & Education (including Asheville in Black and Asheville en Espanol media pages), & Racial Healing; Street Pantries; Street medic team, building Asheville’s first deeply affordable housing with equity; Resource list of shelters, housing, healthcare providers, clothing closets, and food pantries.
Resources needed: To learn how you can support BeLoved Asheville, go to https://belovedasheville.com/get-involved/.
Umoja Health, Wellness & Justice Collective
Population(s) served: primarily communities of color, anyone working to dismantle white supremacy. Founded in 2019 to address trauma, healing, and resilience through creating a community of connections.
Resources offered: Men and Women’s health and wellness support groups, peer support services, peer support specialist training, training for clinicians of color, trauma and resilience training for foster parents, Multi-Generational Healing through the Arts program, community-based wealth building, peace education programs, and more.
Resources needed: Donations welcomed.
Contact:
Email: umojahwjcollective@gmail.com
Phone: 828-412-3070
441 N. Louisiana Ave., Suite E, Asheville
Pandemic of Love is a grassroots, volunteer-led mutual aid organization, serving community members whose livelihood has been affected by COVID-19.
Resources offered: Payment for grocery, medical, utility bills; filling up gas tank, and other resources. Email: pandemicofloveAVL@gmail.com or complete assistance request form.
Resources needed: Please complete give help form to be matched with a community member.
- (*RJC has not specifically spoken with this organization yet, but we believe they are a great resource and we welcome community feedback if you believe otherwise)
YWCA of Asheville – Empowerment Child Care
The YWCA provides up to 12 hours of free childcare per week for parents who are in
transition, experiencing homelessness, continuing their education, accessing social
services or looking for employment. They work closely with the Family Justice Center,
Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services, A-B Tech, Green
Opportunities, and Mary Benson House.
Contact:
Email: ecc@ywcaofasheville.org
Phone: 828-254-7206 x113
Have a suggestion for a Mutual Aid group
to add to our list?
Click here to give us some background information.