Mutual Aid 102
The Newsletter Edition
A reminder that the Palestine Resource Guide can be downloaded here. Want a quick rundown of tech you can use to disrupt the lives of those funding these atrocities? Grab a copy of Tech for Unrest here.
“What are we pretending not to know today?”
-Toni Cade Bambara
Let’s talk about mutual aid and how Americans suck at it. The majority of us couldn’t build community if our individualistic, colonized lives depended on it.
Oh but wait. They do.
If you’ve been here for a minute then you know that I’m poor - not broke. Broke is when you can’t afford a meal out. Poor is when you can’t afford a meal.
This Substack is called Poverty Sucks for a reason, babes.
This newsletter is my primary stream of income. Does it cover my bills? lmao no. But that’s not the point. Stay focused. The point is that for many of us who teach online, paid content creation is how we don’t die.
I started this newsletter in an attempt to write my way out of poverty.
The dilemma is that while I want to make a living from my writing, I want it to be free.
Robin, that makes no sense. I’m aware. Stay with me.
Everyone can’t afford $7/month. Listen, I can’t even afford my newsletter…
…but there are plenty of people who can.
They could afford $20/month.
They could even gift 10 memberships.
They could become a founding member for $250.
Did you catch what happened?
The creator was fairly compensated for their labor.
People who couldn’t afford it still had access to the resource.
Those who could afford it supported the the creator and contributed to the community.
-Want to pay a creator a higher price point each month?
Set up an auto payment on PayPal.
-Want to gift memberships but don’t know who wants one?
Reach out. We can make an ask to our community.
-Want to make a larger contribution? (love you, mean it.)
Let us know. Often we’re more that happy share our Venmo’s and Cashapp’s, many are already posted. (I’ve updated my own payment handles in the about section.)
Below are a handful of dope creators that I stay learning from. I’ve either been gifted a subscription or I’m a free subscriber until my damn money quits playin.
Please check out their content and tangibly support their work.
Absolutely Not! by K Mataōtama Strohl
Absolutely Not! is a space created by K Mataōtama Strohl (They/Them) dedicated to providing examples of setting boundaries around work and the vocabulary needed to name harm in those spaces. Special guests are interviewed about their experiences and what they have learned when having set boundaries. The show hopes to encourage all to say "Absolutely Not!" to abuse, mistreatment unsafe environments and relationships.
Mindbodies Decolonised by AJ Singh
Mindbodies Decolonised is your beginning or continuing journey of decolonising your mind and your relationship with Neurodivergence, Disability and Health. You’ll learn how colonised thinking has turned difference into disorder, why we so desperately need to move away from this and how to start living a neuro-embodied life.
Roots of Change by Sam Chavez
Roots of Change is for those who recognize that our world is on fire, our institutions are crumbling, and want to do something about it. Whether you are an activist, a heart-first human, or you work in the non-profit, political, or social justice world, this newsletter is for you!
Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter by Sharon Hurley-Hall
Sharon’s Anti-Racism newsletter includes:
-Sharon’s own experiences of and perspectives on racism and anti-racism based on several decades living and working in different countries.
-Interviews with anti-racism writers, activists and people making a difference.
-Personally curated articles by other anti-racism writers.
-Resources and tools for fighting racism.
When it comes to online creatives you learn from, don’t just consume our content - contribute to our care.
#PovertySucks