Abstract

For the past decade, there has been a focus placed on research on community liberation, solidarity networks, and self-help group formation. In the following paper, I will be examining mutual aid systems and groups in the United States. I characterize these groups as informal aid networks that do not follow traditional bureaucratic methods of organizing. These organizations usually have an increased knowledge of their local community and usually incorporate some sort of social justice criticism that motivates their work. I conduct semi-structured interviews with two Ohio networks in Wooster and in Cleveland that I categorize as mutual aid networks. I find that having an informal structure allows for more freedom for workers and recipients of aid. There is an ideological component that holds significance to mutual aid networks and drives their efforts. There is also a continual reimagine of what a supportive, caring community can look like. This paper contributes to a growing body of work on community liberation, social network creation, and organizational structure.

Advisor

Matsuzawa, Seiko

Department

Sociology and Anthropology

Disciplines

Community-Based Research

Keywords

mutual aid, community, social networks

Publication Date

2023

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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