Today we’d like to introduce you to Jewan Price and Kara Mason.
Hi Jewan and Kara, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We at EMA are working towards building an educated, empathetic, and liberated city. We started small and have built a team dedicated to forming a close-knit community within the heart of Detroit!
Formed in the latter moments of COVID we saw a need for care and comradery in the inner cities where the majority of individuals are in need of basic necessities, and we are striving towards getting these needs met while going above and promoting a sense of care throughout our interactions.
The difference between Mutual Aid and charity is the connection that you build through self-sufficiency in your community. We all watch and care for each other instead of donating solely to those in need. You engage and uplift your community; being a part of something greater. Everyone has a stake in the success and empowerment of the current environment, benefiting all involved. Solidarity not Charity.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Mutual aid and any organization is going to see issues. It’s all about how you handle and respond to them! We have seen issues with COVID, police intervention, and violence at our distributions, communication, distribution of power, conflicting ideologies, and other things.
It is incredibly important that we remember that the mission, and therefore community, comes first.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Mutual aid, or a voluntary reciprocal exchange of resources, is o goal. We want to create a self-sufficient, empathetic, and educated community out of Detroit. In an individualistic, capitalistic society, this takes time.
Currently, we do food, toiletry clothing, book, education, and other donated distributions. We also provide resources to folks that reach out to us or try to connect them with folks who have more knowledge.
We are most proud of how far we have come in the near year we have been formed. We feel that we have truly committed to putting the community first and foremost, with the limited resources we have at this time. In our future, we are hopeful that we can acquire a building and form co-ops and other empowering programs for Detroiters.
One of the things that sets us apart is our diverse group. Our group is led by a black man from Detroit, who has been homeless and faced and still faces many of the struggles that the people we work with do. We have people from various marginalized groups, as well as privileged groups.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Mutual aid is community-centered, and we have met and worked with so many wonderful people and groups in the area. Listed below are some organizations to check out:
Hey Y’all Detroit
Detroit Community Fridge
Michigan Mutual Aid Coalition
For the People Detroit
Metro Detroit Mutual Aid
Hollaback Detroit
Detroit Eviction Defense
Helping People Experiencing Hardships
Food Not Class
Nox Library
Arts and Scraps
Oakland County Mutual Aid
Oakland Artist Avenue Coalition
Detroit Heals Detroit
Corktown Cleanup
Blue Water Mutual Aid
Golden Quetzel
Mutual Aid Disaster Relief
Feed Your Ferals
Detroit People’s Food Co-Op
Detroit Queer Activist Coalition
March for Black Women
We The People Detroit
Metro Food Rescue
Madison Heights Mutual Aid
Detroit Democratic Socialists of America
One Fair Wage Michigan
Eagles Helping Hands
Seva Truck
Detroit Action
The Young Black Panther Party
Keep Growing Detroit
Detroit Slutwalk
Rebel Dogs Detroit
Cadillac Urban Gardens
Contact Info:
- Email: Eastsidemutualaid@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ESmutualaid
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esmutualaid/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/eastsidemutualaid/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/esmutualaid?s=21
