The elements of mutual aid
Experiments Toward liberation
A four-part, independently produced docuseries looking under the hood and into the operations of mutual aid efforts across North America.
Struggling to build in a collapsing system, hear the perspectives of over a dozen groups who explore the origins, structures, healing ways, and logistics of collective organizing.
Watch the Trailer
We’re currently in mid post-production! All of 2024 is dedicated to editing, scoring, and animating the series. Release and our screening tour is planned for summer of 2025.
Fund the animation
We’re seeking donations totaling $10,000 to cover 4.5 minutes of animation for the series! Check out our blog post here to learn more.
Series Parts
Our series is composed of four, hour-long parts, each themed by a different natural element.
PART 1: Fire
The spirit of mutual aid compels us to take care of each other instead of believing we must be dependent on authoritative structures. In this introductory installment, we meet organizers who can help us define what mutual aid is and the other values it guides us towards.
Featuring Interviews With:
– Reclaiming Our Homes
– Just Seeds
– Sol Underground
– Lorenzo Kom’boa & JoNina Abron-Ervin
– Klee Benally
PART 2: Earth
In chapter two we visit grassroots projects whose roots have taken hold and are supporting their communities’ different material needs. Here we scale up our imaginations for what’s possible when we counter authority with mutuality by building collective infrastructure.
Featuring Interviews With:
– Centros de Apoyo Mutuo in Caguas, Lares, & Las Marias
– Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
– Church of Safe Injection Tucson
– Dr. Jessica Gordon Nembhard
– Vanessa Bolin
PART 3: Water
The internalization of oppressive systems prevents our mutuality from flowing. Chapter three is an intentional platform for women, two-spirit, and gender non-conforming people of color and explores how healing and protection from colonial and patriarchal violence is an integral part of mutual aid.
Featuring Interviews With:
– Arm the Girls
– The OVAS
– Muqu
– Cosette Ayele
PART 4: Air
How we make decisions collectively, share power and skills, rotate responsibilities, and resource our work are the nuts and bolts of mutual aid-based work. Our final chapter celebrates the power of grassroots groups experimenting with the logistics of organizing horizontally.
Featuring Interviews With:
– Contra Viento Y Marea
– Northeast Action Collective
– West Street Recovery
– Bonnabella Baudelaire
– Arlo Fosburg