Mutual Aid in the Time of COVID-19 and the Future of Hyper-Local Community Resilience

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired the emergence of mutual aidMutual aid groups across the United States. Popularized by the philosopher Peter Kropotkin, “mutual aidMutual aid” refers to the voluntary exchange of resources and services for mutual benefit. In this century, mutual aidMutual aid is more commonly identified with community-led recoveryCommunity-led recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters. Post-pandemic mutual aidMutual aid groups are notable due to their locally-isolated nature, use of digital tools and networks as a first resort, and the possibility of building more durable organization for future crises. This chapter provides a snapshot of post-pandemic mutual aidMutual aid efforts, highlights their unique features, raises questions about their use of technology, and suggests future trajectories of these groups in the face of diminished government capacity and mounting natural and economic disasters.