Mutual aid is the voluntary exchange of resources and services for the benefit of all people.  Because it involves the community coming together to provide for itself, it builds solidarity among its participants.  And because it demonstrates how we can provide for ourselves outside of the confines of the "free market," it teaches principles of socialism through action--rather than indirectly through theory.  

In short, mutual aid is an essential part of any socialist movement, as organizations from the Black Panthers (who practiced mutual aid through their Free Breakfast Program, establishing free medical clinics, a national screening program for sickle cell, and more), to many current DSA local chapters (like NYC DSA, which is supporting a grocery delivery program, and like DSA Los Angeles, which organizes Free Brakelight Clinics, childwatch, and more).

Philly DSA does not currently do mutual aid work and has no formal infrastructure to begin doing so.  A group of members (Austin B., Brian B., Daisy C., Sam D., Colin E., Rachel F., Will M., Adrian O., Rachie W., and Matthew Z.) came together to change that by proposing a resolution to create Philly DSA's first mutual aid committee.  If you also see mutual aid work as essential to any socialist movement, we ask that you attend the Philly DSA general meeting over Zoom and vote for the resolution. (Registration is required to attend the meeting; register for the meeting HERE: https://www.phillydsa.org/gm_10032020).  If you'll be there, please let us know by filling out this pledge!

If you'd like to learn more about mutual aid, its historical successes, why mutual aid is essential to Philly DSA and what mutual aid could look like in Philly DSA, and information about getting involved, check out this explainer pamphlet that we've put together: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jEBCt36hKM4Eb1sDB8K4lSfyXvLIoP0r/view