Given the vastness of impact we are all experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is taking as many of us as possible modeling and practicing mutual aid to confront the collective overwhelm and systemic impacts of this crisis. Across the world, hyper-local community networks of care have come together in radical solidarity to help pull each other through.
We urge everyone to consider the people at increased risk in your life and neighborhood and how to take precautions to keep yourself and others safe. If you’re inspired to start organizing with your community and neighbors, Mutual Aid Disaster Relief has an extensive list of COVID-19 Collective Care Resources to get started. As we work to shoulder the many systemic disruptions in our community, we recognize the need to center populations who are disproportionately impacted. Be diligent to resist and dismantle ableist/racist/trans-phobic/classist or other oppressive behaviors in crisis response spaces.
Within The Dandelion Network, several of us have been contributing to distributed, localized projects that have formed in response to this particular moment or have been engaged in long-term mutual aid efforts. As state aid has halted, resources are stretching, and COVID-19 cases are surging in our area we encourage those who can to extend support to the following:
- Everett Free Grocery Program (weekly autonomous food distribution in the Everett Neighborhood)
- For the People (solidarity program and community supply distribution)
- Medical Mutual Aid/Advocacy for Nebraska (created in response to the local BLM protests & their impact, + COVID’s impact on the health of Black folx)
Take care, and care for each other. 💛
The Dandelion Network
In the face of climate crisis and systems of oppression, The Dandelion Network takes action. Growing at the speed of trust, we seek the emergence of liberatory relationships through mutual aid and crisis response. The Dandelion Network seeks to be anti-oppression and anti-racist. We commit to critically examining our actions and remaining accountable as we grow within joyful and resilient communities.
This group is partly a result of the excitement and energy that came from the Mutual Aid Disaster Relief tour stop and workshop that took place in Lincoln, Nebraska in November 2018. The organizers of that workshop and this group are primarily based in Lincoln. While this group is open to anyone, at this time the resources and events and organizing efforts will most likely be centered on the Eastern Nebraska area.
Ante la crisis climática y sistemas de opresión, The Dandelion Network toma acciones. Creciendo con la confianza depositada en nosotros, buscamos el surgimiento de relaciones libertadoras a través de la ayuda mutua y la respuesta ante la crisis. The Dandelion Network busca ser una organización en contra del racismo y la opresión. Nos comprometemos a examinar nuestras acciones y hacernos responsables conforme crecemos en las comunidades alegres y resilientes.
Este grupo existe en parte como resultado de la participación y el entusiasmo del tour del Fondo para la Asistencia Mutua y Asistencia por Disastres y el taller que tuvo lugar en Lincoln Nebraska en Noviembre de 2018. Este grupo así como los organizadores del taller están ubicados principalmente en Lincoln, Nebraska. Aunque este grupo está abierto a cualquiera, en este momento los recursos y eventos muy probablemente serán concentrado en la zona este de Nebraska.