Mutual Aid
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Mutual aid is the act of contributing to the care and survival of another person (or group of people) when faced with an institution (such as the government, UChicago, etc) that is actively creating a system that makes it harder for that person or group to survive. While racial capitalism promotes individualism, often at the expense of others, mutual aid values community solidarity and responsibility. Mutual aid is focused on holistic care, which understands survival to not just be a condition of the bare minimum of housing and food but including things like safety, autonomy, joy, rest, celebration, and comfort.
Why does mutual aid matter at UChicago? UChicago actively harms and steals resources from the surrounding community through overpolicing, increasing the cost of living, and displacing residents (For more information about UChicago’s harms, check out our other Dis-O resources at https://www.uchicagounited.org/disorientation). UChicago has many resources that are only accessible to students, like the Regenstein Library, Student Wellness, Ratner Gym, as well as many professional development and career opportunities. UChicago students also contribute to the elevated rent prices and lack of housing available for residents.
UChicago students hold a lot of wealth, access, and opportunity. While we fight against the institutional harms UChicago perpetuates, we also must try to combat these harms by redistributing wealth, access, and opportunity into the community.
Basic ways to get involved in mutual aid while at UChicago:
Love Fridge: The Love Fridge is a mutual aid network that sets up community-run, free fridges across Chicago. In Hyde Park, there's a Love Fridge at the Augustana Lutheran Church on 55th Street (walk along 55th between University and Woodlawn to find it). There's a fridge, freezer, and pantry where you can drop off foods for anyone to take. Read the guidelines for what kind of food to drop off at this link: https://www.thelovefridge.com/guidelines
UChicago Monthly Mutual Aid Network: Care Not Cops (CNC) runs a network that helps make mutual aid sustainable and consistent for the UChicago community. To join the network, you pledge a certain amount, and then once a month CNC will find a community member or organization in need of funds, Venmo request all the network members for their pledged amount, and redistribute 100% of the funds raised to that month's mutual aid recipient. You can sign up at the following link (it's nonbinding, and you can always just choose to donate directly by going to the month's network post on Instagram): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSccNHlD_ElrYlvxPdnITciAHTVMvnppCpT-IhhIixmyIVvMRw/viewform
UCAD Free Distribution: One Saturday a month, UChicago Against Displacement (UCAD) sets up a table of free food, clothing, hygiene items, and more on 63rd Street. To learn more about UCAD and how to get involved, visit our Instagram @ucad.cba or our Linktree at https://linktr.ee/ucad.
