Category Archives: Mutual Aid

Property

I continue to struggle to convince others that we cannot make progress toward justice as long as we are content to remain in systems that continue to cause injustice. Racism is built into the social, economic and political structures of … Continue reading

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Mutual Aid and Black Liberation

As I was learning about Mutual Aid over the past year, one of the things that impressed me was in addition to work related to food and shelter, Des Moines Mutual Aid also manages a bail fund. I was glad … Continue reading

Posted in abolition, Black Lives, Des Moines Black Lives Matter, Des Moines Mutual Aid, Mutual Aid, police, race, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Soul Repair

I’ve recently been writing about the concept of moral injury and how I immediately recognized that as a way to express many spiritual struggles in my life. (see below). Specifically, moral injury is a perspective for understanding the damages done … Continue reading

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Mutual Aid, Survival, Polar Vortex and the fierce urgency of now

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there “is” such a thing as being too late. This is no … Continue reading

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Moral Injury

I recently came across a discussion of moral injury, and immediately recognized how that applied to a number of situations in my life, past and present. Much of what is written about moral injury relates to war. Unsurprisingly as combatants … Continue reading

Posted in capitalism, decolonize, Des Moines Mutual Aid, enslavement, Indigenous, Mutual Aid, Quaker, spiritual seekers, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Des Moines Mutual Aid and Black Lives Matter ask for help from faith communities

In this dangerous, bitter cold I think about those who are houseless. Des Moines Mutual Aid and other Mutual Aid groups in Des Moines, and Des Moines Black Lives Matter are responding in many ways as you can see below. … Continue reading

Posted in Black Lives, Des Moines Black Lives Matter, Des Moines Mutual Aid, Mutual Aid, Quaker Meetings, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Mutual Aid and Colonialism

Over the past several years I’ve observed and experienced a powerful confluence of Mutual Aid as a tool to work toward decolonization and antiracism. In the following I write about what I have learned about Mutual Aid. My objective is … Continue reading

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We Must “Think Again”

I’m very concerned the white middle class in this country will continue to ignore the fundamental injustices of the colonial capitalist economic system. It will be in their self-interest to work on alternatives now since capitalism is collapsing. We will … Continue reading

Posted in #NDAPL, capitalism, climate change, Indigenous, Keystone XL pipeline (KXL), Mutual Aid, Native Americans, Quaker, renewable energy, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Black History Month in Iowa

Black History Month is observed in February in the US and Canada. It is good to see events related to Black History. I feel it is important for those who don’t know, to learn a Black State of Emergency in … Continue reading

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Isn’t ‘change the system’ the answer to systemic racism?

I really hesitate to write about racism because I know the strong emotions this bring up. And the errors a white person like me often commits in trying to do so. I’m thinking about this now because my Quaker meeting … Continue reading

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