About Us

Our Mutual Aid Network

Salt Lake Community Mutual Aid (SLCMA) seeks to facilitate projects and education that meet the material and social needs of the community while building a post-capitalist world. Our beliefs can be summarized by our Points of Unity

• Who/What: Every person deserves support regardless of ability, race, gender, nationality, citizenship, criminal record, sexuality, health, or class. We believe every person has a right to autonomy, self-determination, food, shelter, medical care, education, and comfort. 

• Education: We believe education is a crucial element for both empowerment and liberation. To accomplish this, we seek to share knowledge and learn together  in both theory and practice.

• How: We believe the practice of mutual aid builds communities that are resistant to the structures which cause immense harm. Mutual aid is a collaborative practice of reciprocal support amongst a community.

• Community: Our group depends on active and enthusiastic participation. To achieve this, we seek to facilitate a safe and welcoming community for all.

• Structure: Our group is dynamic, growing, and continually improving. We depend upon community members contributing input, criticism, and taking initiative.

Structure

We have no paid employees meaning no money donated goes towards an executive's salary.

Our group emphasizes the importance of everyone getting a voice. Rather than having a complex system of leaders and managers, we make decisions horizontally through consensus. Every single member is encouraged to participate in making decisions.

Our Projects

Distro — meeting the needs of our fellow unhoused neighbors. Twice a week we distribute hot food and supplies. Salt Lake City and the settler state of Utah punishes unhoused folks, through daily abatements, destruction of property, and dehumanizing them for having basic needs. Everybody needs to eat, survive, and put on a pair of fresh socks. We replace tents, gear, and refill propane tanks in the winter.

Freedges — an open to the public refrigerator and pantry that shares food locally. Freedges exist to address food insecurity, reduce food waste, and promote equal access to food while building stronger community networks. SLCMA supports a network of four freedges in the salt lake valley. ultimately, the community fridges belongs to us: the volunteers, neighbors, anyone who accesses or donates to the fridge shares in the ownership of this food resource.

Community Events — such as Pride Without Police, Really Really Free Markets, Tabling at local gatherings and events.

Solidarity — Collaborations with other value aligned organizations. As a large network of folks, we are able to mobilize quickly and respond to community needs. An example of this would be the SNAP response collaboration (free food distros and deliveries).