Ward 2 Mutual Aid is doing amazing community work so we just had to support it!

50,000+ immigrant children and adults are being detained, many with no path to being released. Some have been kept for 9+ years.

Freedom for Immigrants fights for and supports these unfortunate souls.

Mutual aid organization supporting neighbors in Washington DC, Ward 2.

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What is Mutual Aid?

**Mutual aid is “cooperation for the sake of the common good.” It’s getting people to come together to meet each other’s needs, recognizing that as humans, our survival is dependent on one another.**

Mutual Aid is a practice and politics that emphasizes solidarity rather than charity. It means we recognize that our well-being, health and dignity are all bound up in each other. It means that we understand our survival depends on cooperation, not competition. In this particular moment, we see that our health is also dependent on other people’s health, and we can literally save each other’s lives. Rather than disengage and feel powerless, mutual aid allows us to plug in where we can make the most impact — locally.

Mutual aid IS...

- Getting people together in your community to provide material support to each other
- Building relationships with your neighbors based on trust and common interest
- Making decisions by consensus rather than relying on authority and hierarchy
- Sharing things rather than hoarding things
- Treating no one as disposable
- Providing all kinds of support, ranging from food prep to childcare to translation to emotional support, and recognizing the value of all of them
- A political education opportunity, where we build the relationships and analysis to understand why we are in the conditions that we're in
- Preparation for the next disaster (natural or economic). Next time around we'll already have relationships with each other and know who is vulnerable and needs support
- A great jumping off point for other kinds of organizing and movement work

Mutual aid IS NOT...

- Quid pro quo transactions
- Only for disasters or crises
- Charity or a way to "save" people
- A reason for a social safety net not to exist

DC Mutual Aid Network

The DC Mutual Aid Network (DCMA) is a grassroots community-led effort looking to take care of each other and keep our city as safe as possible.

- DCMA is a decentralized, community-led effort, so there is no single group that runs the network.
- There are autonomous groups for Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Wards 7 & 8 are served together by one group.
- The DCMA Network is governed by the ward groups on topics of social media, website, fundraising, etc. The groups also share resources, best practices and offer referrals to other groups.

Ward 2 Efforts

Ward 2 Mutual Aid is part of the larger DCMA Network. Our concrete activities are:

- **Hotline** - Volunteers staff our warmline, where Ward 2 residents can call and request assistance.
- **Groceries** - We provide a grocery bag delivery to ~150 families that request it through our hotline or building captains. The bags include fresh produce, protein, dry goods, and requested household items.
- **Encampment Outreach** - We organize a supply drop to ~120 unhoused neighbors.
- **Building captains** - We organize with local residents to utilize their leadership and relational networks. Building captains check on neighbors, relay needs, and assist with food donations and distribution.
- **Back to school** - We organize with local parents to host a book and clothing swap.
- **Support for high risk/immuno-compromised individuals** - We have been partnering with local public housing buildings to drop off cleaning supplies, masks, and groceries.

[Click here to join our newsletter to get updates and get involved](https://opencollective.com/redirect?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsubscribepage.io%2FsHh86L).

Ward 2 Mutual Aid

We aim to advance the mental wellbeing of our South Asian community.

In 2021, during their freshman year of college, our founders Ravi Parekh and Aaron Pandian suffered the loss of their close friend and roommate, Farhan, in a tragic murder-suicide where he took the lives of himself and his family. 

Farhan was struggling with a variety of inadequately treated mental illnesses. However, like so many members of the South Asian-American community, his parents simply lacked the tools, resources, and education necessary for providing him the care he needed.

They recognized that, as an immigrant South Asian family, they lacked the tools, resources, and education necessary for providing Farhan the care he needed. The tragedy of Farhan and his family revealed that there are many mental health issues unique to the cultural characteristics of South Asians. Understanding that these environmental factors and structural barriers to effective care created the situation which led to this tragedy, we theorized a youth-led grass-roots advocacy and education initiative that equips South Asian youth and other interested parties with access to tools and resources to understand, process, and empower.

Grass-roots efforts are often inspired by lived experiences. Our passion and drive to bridge the gaps in mental health care for South Asian individuals stem from our lived experiences.

Knowledge is empowering, and part of understanding mental health is to both learn and express empathy for those affected who are unable to receive effective care. To learn not to fear mental illness as a sibling, parent, friend, significant other, or affected individual and employ newly acquired tools that work to connect with the resources they need. 

MHISA embodies these ideals and provides us an outlet to engage those around us with a shared goal: to enable South Asians struggling with mental illness to lead better and healthful lives.

Mental Health Initiative for South Asians

An interfaith network of congregations in the Washington, D.C. area working together to support our immigrant neighbors.

CAN mobilizes people of faith and faith communities throughout the DC metro area to advocate and organize for immigration rights. Our goal is to ensure immigrants have access to housing, healthcare, education, food, and legal protections. We work closely with experienced immigration groups and listen to immigrants from our faith communities to create a safe, welcoming place for everyone, no matter where they're from.

Congregation Action Network

ROC-DC is building power with restaurant workers in DC to create a more just, dignified and equitable restaurant industry. 

ROC DC

Open Doors English is an English as a Second Language Program for adults in Ithaca, NY. All students are welcome!

Open Doors English's mission is to “offer English classes so that adults can participate fully in community life, advocate and care for themselves and their families, and pursue their goals.” Our student body is comprised of immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, farm workers, and temporary residents. All students are welcome, and ODE has served 200-300 students per year since opening in 2019. 

At Open Doors English, students:
- Develop or improve their ability to speak, read, write, and listen in English
- Build the confidence needed to communicate effectively in everyday life situations.
- Learn communication and language skills to perform in current and future jobs
- Acquire advanced language skills and training to pursue educational opportunities
- Increase their understanding of American culture and society
- Receive assistance and make connections to other community resources and agencies
- Connect with people, organizations, and events in the Ithaca area
- Have fun while learning
- Find belonging in a community of international friends

Open Doors English is a project of the Center for Transformative Action, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which accepts all funds on our behalf.

Open Doors English

Giving immigrants the knowledge to navigate U.S. financial systems and build lasting wealth.

Most financial education fails immigrants because it doesn’t reflect their day-to-day reality. Our practical, accessible personal finance course helps immigrants break the cycle of living paycheck-to-paycheck and plan their financial futures.

**Vision:** We’re building a country where all of us, immigrants included, have the financial skills to plan for the future, fulfill our dreams, and achieve lasting peace of mind.

**Impact:** Our pilot program has already helped immigrants ranging from 25 to 60 years old build the foundational skills to manage their money. 100% of students have opened a brokerage or a high-yield savings account by the time they finish the course. In addition, students are learning to budget their fixed and variable expenses, plan for retirement, and build their credit in the U.S.

Out of the Mattress

New Hope Community Ministries is a faith-based NPO serving low-income residents in Haledon & Prospect Park, NJ. All are welcome.

**New Hope Community Ministries** is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering low-income families in Haledon and Prospect Park, NJ. We believe in holistic transformation—providing **food security, financial assistance, education, and supportive community programs** that equip individuals to thrive.

Through our **Food Pantry and The Harvest buying club**, we address food insecurity by offering nutritious options at no cost or reduced prices. Our **financial assistance programs** help families navigate crises, while **education and mentoring initiatives** provide essential skills for long-term success. We also foster **community connections** through support groups, case management, and resource navigation.

With your support, we can continue **feeding families, stabilizing households, and empowering individuals** to build a brighter future. Every donation fuels real change—providing food, resources, and hope to those who need it most. **Join us in making a lasting impact!**

New Hope Community Ministries

To alleviate hunger in Lincoln County by distributing healthy, nutritious food to our agency network & education empowerment.

Food Share of Lincoln County is one of 21 regional food banks in the Oregon Food Bank network.  Food Share of Lincoln County distributes food to its network of  local emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, produce drops, senior food box home delivery and other assistance agencies in addition to facilitating cooking classes and farmers' market tours..

Food Share of Lincoln County

Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit advocacy organization and legal service provider. 

S.T.O.P. litigates and advocates for privacy, working to abolish local governments’ systems of mass surveillance. Our work highlights the discriminatory impact of surveillance on Muslim Americans, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, indigenous peoples, pregnant people, and communities of color, particularly the unique trauma of anti-Black policing.

Surveillance Technology Oversight Project

InReach is a trans-led tech nonprofit building the world's first open source verified LGBTQ+ resource platform. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈💚

InReach (fka AsylumConnect) is a trans-led 501(c)(3) tech nonprofit building the world's first open source verified LGBTQ+ resource platform. At scale, InReach will provide every trans and queer person with on-demand access to the safe resources they need to thrive.

The InReach platform connects users to independently verified services, including safe housing, medical and mental health care, legal help, abortion care, meal assistance, education and employment opportunities, translation, community and spiritual support, and more. Available on web (desktop and mobile), native iOS, and Android, over 9,000 services across the U.S. are currently listed with new verified services added daily by trained volunteers.

Designed to meet intersectional community needs, InReach lists vetted service providers focused on LGBTQ+ asylum seekers/refugees/other immigrants, BIPOC communities, transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) folks, youth and caregivers, and more LGBTQ+ communities in need. The platform is free for everyone, including lawyers, case managers, teachers, community organizers and other providers searching for affirming referrals for LGBTQ+ clients.

To date, InReach has helped over 420,000 people access safe, verified services.

InReach

Ensures that all eligible immigrants understand and have access to the path to citizenship.

With a singular focus on increasing the naturalization rate in Massachusetts and beyond, Project Citizenship transforms the lives and futures of immigrants in the U.S.!  Our free legal services have enabled over 10,000 permanent residents to achieve U.S. citizenship since 2014.  By accepting the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, our new citizens achieve expanded opportunities, greater economic stability, family reunification, a voice in our democracy, and a deeper sense of belonging in this country.  We all benefit when immigrant groups are not isolated but are full participants in our social and civic life, creating more cohesive communities.

Project Citizenship focuses on those who would not be able to naturalize without assistance through the complex and lengthy process. We coach, we encourage, we inform, and we advocate for each client with the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) - from application to Oath of Allegiance.  We submit requests for waivers of the USCIS application fee and for special consideration for clients who are older or who have a disability. The Project Citizenship community includes over 1,000 attorney volunteers and many local organizations who partner with us. Our clients have a remarkable 95% success rate in achieving citizenship.  Our work is at the intersection of economic vitality, civic engagement, and social justice.

Project Citizenship

Nonprofit organization dedicated to inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the Muslim community of Houston

Dar-us-Sakina is a safe space for people of all abilities and their caregivers.  We inspire the community to abandon stigmas and embrace individuals with disabilities with empathy and respect.  Together, we are better!

We are dedicated to providing inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities, while empowering the affected and their caregivers with social support and access to local resources.  We envision a Muslim community where individuals with disabilities are fully accepted and included, and both they and their caregivers have adequate access to support.

Dar-us-Sakina offers its services to all special needs individuals and their caregivers within the Houston community, but reserves its Zakat fund for Muslim families who are in financial need or crisis. Our mission is achieved through three key service areas: Education, Support, and Community Awareness.

Education:

Special Needs Weekend Islamic School Programs: At four locations across Houston, children with special needs come weekly to the masjid to learn about their faith using an adapted curriculum and to be included in the community.

Teen Adult Program (TAP): This program helps individuals with special needs take the first step to adulthood by teaching them independent life skills in a supportive social environment.

Support:

Caregiver Support Groups: This allows mothers, fathers, and siblings of individuals with special needs to connect with others with similar life circumstances.

Events: From inclusive family events that make all accommodations to caregiver training events, Dar-us-Sakina engages the local special needs population on a monthly basis.

Zakat Services: For special needs families in crisis, we are committed to providing comprehensive support through our Zakat Fund, including funding of emergency respite care, counseling, necessary evaluations, advocacy and durable medical equipment.

Community Awareness:

Youth Inclusion Training: We visit local Islamic schools, masaajid, and Scouts to train typical youth on accepting and including their brothers and sisters with disabilities.

Community Education: We conduct awareness events and workshops to educate the general community on disability awareness and early childhood intervention.

Sakina Internship: This is a one year commitment for college age students who dedicate one day of the week serving individuals with special needs while learning about related topics.

Volunteer Enrichment Program: This is a volunteer buddy program for High School students.

Dar-us-Sakina

We provide comprehensive oral health care for people in need of all ages. Serving 50,000 patients annually at 5 clinics in MN. 

Our mission is to provide culturally sensitive community oral health care, preventive education, professional training, and to advocate for access for all. 

Our vision is that all people will have access to high quality, affordable dental care to improve their overall health in a convenient, caring, and respectful environment.

We are a nonprofit organization, and we serve patients from all walks of life and economic circumstances. We want to make high-quality dentistry available to anyone who needs care. We have over 200 dedicated employees, including dentists, hygienists, assistants, and an administrative team who are continually improving care and delivering the best possible dentistry.

Community Dental Care

FFI is an abolitionist org working to end immigration detention by following the leadership of detained immigrants. 

Freedom for Immigrants is an abolitionist organization that envisions a world without prisons or cages of any kind. We work to abolish immigration incarceration, recognizing we are part of a broader movement fighting for our freedom at the intersection of mass incarceration, immigration enforcement, and the deprivation of Black, brown, and Indigenous people’s autonomy. To empower our communities, we organize alongside and follow the leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated immigrants. We recognize our work is necessarily tied to broader efforts to eradicate white supremacy and the systems that sustain oppression. By cultivating the community-centered solutions that breathe life into our collective liberation, we actively build a future in which all people can move freely and thrive.

Freedom for Immigrants

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founder @ camp.org, expa.com, uber.com & mix.com

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Ward 2 Mutual Aid

ROC DC

Mental Health Initiative for South Asians

Congregation Action Network

Congregation Action Network

ROC DC

Immigrants