Mutual Aid Is Not Enough
“Why don’t you just run a mutual aid fund?”
Great question!
Mutual aid has become a go-to framework for redistributing resources outside of government control. In moments of crisis, it’s been a lifeline—for housing, bail funds, emergency groceries, medical care, and so much more.
But here’s the truth: The way we do mutual aid right now isn’t sustainable.
At Rooted in the Work, we believe in a different approach—one that isn’t just about survival, but about building systems that actually last.
Why Isn’t Mutual Aid Sustainable?
For all its radical intentions, mutual aid in its current form still operates in a scarcity model—one that keeps communities stuck in cycles of urgency, depletion, and dependence.
Here’s what we’ve seen time and time again:
Crisis-Oriented Giving: Mutual aid often exists to meet urgent needs—paying rent, getting someone out of jail, covering last-minute medical bills. But crisis response doesn’t build long-term security.
The Deserving vs. The Undeserving: There’s still deep policing of who “deserves” help. People are asked to prove their struggle, justify their need, and demonstrate that they’re “worthy” of receiving aid. Sound familiar? That’s capitalism’s blueprint.
Burnout Culture: The people running mutual aid efforts are constantly stretched thin—expected to pour from an empty cup without a plan for sustainability.
Charity in Disguise: Too often, mutual aid looks like charity in different packaging. One group is always giving, and another is always receiving—instead of creating a circular, reciprocal system.
These issues hit hardest for people like us—those who don’t just “organize” but live the realities of systemic oppression. We’ve been on both sides—giving when we had extra, and needing help when we didn’t.
And we know this: If we keep playing by the rules of survival, we’ll never build a future where we can thrive.
A New Model: Mutual Aid That is Reciprocal, Sustainable, and Healing
If we want to truly take care of each other, we need a model that is:
Regenerative—where care circulates instead of being extracted.
Rooted in abundance—not just patching up scarcity.
Balanced—so that no one is left depleted.
Holistic—including material, emotional, and spiritual support.
At Rooted in the Work, we believe community care is not about charity—it’s about circulation.
One of the ways we put this into practice?
The Crystal Fund – A New Approach to Mutual Aid
If you need healing, you can take a crystal for yourself.
If you want to contribute, you can buy one for someone else.
Either way, you are part of the ecosystem of care.
No proving you “deserve” it.
No burnout for the people organizing it.
No separation between the givers and the receivers.
This model erases the false divide between charity and self-care. It challenges the idea that giving should be self-sacrificing and that receiving should come with guilt.
Building Systems That Last
We don’t want to just respond to emergencies—we want to build a future where our communities don’t have to keep asking for help in the first place.
That means:
Shifting from one-time relief to ongoing support.
Normalizing rest, care, and healing as essential.
Creating a sustainable economic model that doesn’t exploit the people doing the work.
This isn’t just about a new way to give—it’s about a new way to live.
Redefining Success
Success at Rooted in the Work isn’t measured by how much money we raise in a crisis. It’s measured by:
How many people feel nourished—materially, emotionally, and spiritually.
How well we build systems that sustain both the giver and receiver.
How much we push back against the idea that care has to be earned.
How fully we reclaim our right to rest, abundance, and joy.
We refuse to let capitalism’s scarcity mindset define how we take care of each other.
We’re building something different.
And we hope you’ll build it with us.
We’d love to hear from you! If you have thoughts to share, are interested in being published on our site, or want to collaborate, email us at info@rootedinthework.com.
