DECEMBER 2023
Haga clic aquí para ver El Despacho de diciembre en español.
Click here to view The December Dispatch in Spanish.
The LISTINGS section of the Dispatch–a roundup of ways to contribute to LA's mutual aid and community care-based efforts in the form of time, money and/or items as well as what resources each group offers–can be found by ⬇️ scrolling down ⬇️
A FEW WORDS ON: PARENTHOOD AND MUTUAL AID
2023 was one of the most turbulent years of my life. I grieved, confronted childhood trauma, and navigated the prison industrial complex on a personal level – and in four months, my life is about to drastically change again when my partner and I welcome a baby. It’s been challenging to imagine that this world will provide my child with happiness and wonder, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared of the potential difficulty to protect and do right by them.
Through these fears, what’s been constant – what’s kept me grounded, is the community I’ve built through mutual aid. When I started My Nanay’s Kitchen in 2019, with the belief that everyone is deserving of basic necessities, it wasn't because of “mutual aid” - I didn't even know what that was yet! I knew I had neighbors that needed to eat, but I had no idea I was opting into a greater community that already existed. When the pandemic started and the world shut down, I did what my Nanay always showed me: to cook. It was a simple thing that didn’t need any explanation. I feel thankful now to participate in a network of care with folks like those at Home-y Made Meals, organizing ways to make food accessible.
The last four years of organizing, among many things, have given me a lens based in empathy and kinship, and it's with this perspective that I witness some of our most vulnerable populations navigate their lives. So when I have days during pregnancy where I feel unsure and afraid of the future, I think of my mutual aid community who has guided me this far. And in a few short months when my child enters my life, instead of trying to shield them from the darkness that society often envelops us in, I’ll teach them how to find their light by surrounding them with a community built on equity and understanding. This community has reminded me of what we are all capable of deep down – love, respect, compassion – principles that I will carry through parenthood, and ones that I believe we should demand for one another always.
Written by Veronica Monteyro who started My Nanay's Kitchen and volunteers with the Lincoln Heights Outreach Team
FEATURED EFFORT: ALL POWER BOOKS
The threats to our survival have structural roots that are often obscured as individual problems. We know a better world is possible, yet live in a city where it is radical to feed people or give them water. This is where All Power Books starts, with a dedication to serving people’s material needs in order to organize radical action.
Formed out of the protests of 2020, All Power Books is a socialist endeavor started by five comrades previously involved in a bi-monthly free store. In addition to distributing socialist texts, All Power Books is home to the West Adams LA Community Fridge and an anticapitalist cat named Jiji. Posters of freedom fighters, revolutionary flags, and protest signs, including a banner that reads A World to Win - a quote from Karl Marx - cover the walls. Though there are stacks of political stickers and zines alongside merch for sale, All Power Books, most importantly, is a space that empowers community care.
Basic services provided include: a public restroom; a community fridge; free clothing; workspace with free wifi and printer access; and library. On Saturdays, a large grocery distribution is made available to the neighbors of West Adams. The All Power Pantry is regularly stocked with hygiene products and over-the-counter medications, like emergency contraceptives and Narcan. For any resource not found on shelves, the all-volunteer staff works hard to provide what’s needed for anyone that comes through the door.
Since opening its doors three years ago, APB has grown beyond the walls of the store with programs like the All Power Free Clinic - a pop-up free clinic that collaborates with other mutual aid groups (such as SBMACC, PUMA, CCED, Aetna Street Solidarity) to provide folks medical aid. Additionally, the People’s Education Program, an initiative in collaboration with Midnight Books, applies political theory and history to organizing.
All Power’s mission is not limited by much, other than paying rent - which is always a challenge in a gentrifying neighborhood. They recently launched All Power Thrift, which operates at sliding scale prices, redirecting all proceeds towards covering rent and supporting community projects.
Conceptually, APB is an exercise in fighting for a better world. Their physical space invites leftists across LA to work, educate, and organize. PSL, LATU, dozens of student groups and local organizations, plus many groups regularly listed in The Dispatch work at and oftentimes with APB. Local organizers, educators, musicians, authors and poets are all a part of the everyday offerings found here, making the space and people inside a powerful resource for radical action.
Recently I attended the People’s Education Program screening of the documentary Gaza Fights For Freedom at APB. After the film, organizers started a conversation with the audience. Many of us expressed our grief being, as one organizer aptly quoted Che Guevara, ‘in the belly of the beast’ while Palestinians face an endless threat to their survival. Being in the middle of the empire, we stand on the roots of the problem. Alone, you could despair. Together we could fight for this world-to-win, and All Power Books is a radical place to start.
How YOU can contribute…
- SUBSCRIBE to the $60 monthly subscription which gets you cool merch and allows All Power Books to continue community-driven programs
- DONATE CASH online via Ko-fi or ITEMS are also welcome to be added to the free store (hygiene products, clothes, books and other media, etc.)
- ATTEND the various talks, screenings, workshops all posted on the IG (@allpowerbooks) and held at 4874 W Adams Blvd.
- SWING BY the space (2-7PM Wed-Fri & Sun, 12-7PM Sat, Closed Mon & Tues) and INQUIRE about VOLUNTEERING at All Power Books to support our West Adams neighbors and greater community.
- SHOP SECOND-HAND at the new All Power Thrift store and if you’d like to DONATE ITEMS, keep an eye on the store’s IG account (@allpowerthrift) for the green light on when and what items they’re accepting.
- STOCK & CLEAN THE FRIDGE inside All Power Books w/ unopened, unexpired, edible food.
- FOLLOW all the All Power projects @allpowerbooks, @allpowerthrift, @apfreeclinic, @apmusiciansorg and subscribe to the newsletter at allpowerbooks.org
Written by matt who organizes with MALAN
DO YOU HAVE TIME, ITEMS*, OR MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE?
DO YOU NEED ITEMS, SERVICES, OR FOOD?
*PLEASE clean, sort & fold all items you are donating. Items should be new or gently used. Socks, underwear and hygiene items should always be unused.
WHO: Bodega Comunitaria Pomona
YOU HAVE: ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS
We are a take-what-you-need, pay-what-you-can community bodega located at Lopez Urban Farm in Pomona. We're currently collecting clothing + items to keep our unhoused neighbors warm this winter.
COLLECTING: Winter clothing, coats, gloves, hand warmers (🔎@ Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Costco)
WHEN: Donate in person M-Th & Sat. 5-7pm, Sun 10am-12pm
WHERE: Lopez Urban Farm, 1034 W Mission Blvd, Pomona, CA
$: Venmo: @communityfridgepomona; Or shop our Amazon wishlist
WHO: NENO (Northeast Neighborhood Outreach)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
We provide resources and advocacy to the unhoused of Northeast LA. Email neno.los.angeles@gmail.com or IG DM us @neno4la to sign-up to volunteer.
COLLECTING: New or gently used, clean blankets, new tents (individual, pop up, 4- and 6- person)
WHEN: Bagging + shopping on Saturdays 9:30-10:30AM. Outreach on Sundays 10:30AM-12PM or 1:30PM.
WHERE: Driveway in Eagle Rock or Highland Park (address given directly after volunteers sign-up)
$: Donate funds to help w/ direct operating costs like supplies for our unhoused neighbors
WHO: Boyle Heights Really, Really Free Market
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Give what you don't need, take what you'd like! A community event for reducing waste and sharing resources. We run a gift-economy style market (clothing, electronics, toys, books, household items) where there's no need to donate anything to take whatever you want. Everything is FREE w/ no limits. Live in or near Boyle Heights and want to help? We need folks to help set up, run and break down the market on Sundays. DM @rrfm_bh to be added to the organizer chat.
COLLECTING: Clothing, hygiene items, camping gear, household items, books, dry goods + general food
WHEN: Every Sunday from 12-4pm
WHERE: Boyle Heights, at Hollenbeck Park (corner of 4th and St. Luis)
$: Funds help cover high-demand new items like hygiene products. Venmo @trashcat_moreno
WHO: South Bay Mutual Aid Care Club
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
We work in solidarity w/ our neighbors living unhoused in the South Bay of LA thru mutual aid distro at encampments + other support. Help is needed gathering and distributing supplies at our weekend supply distros in Harbor City, with occasional distros and tabling in Hawthorne as well. Sweep support is also needed, please note times can be unpredictable + some training is required. Email sbmutualaidcareclub@gmail.com or DM (IG or Twitter) if interested!
COLLECTING: hygiene supplies, hot food, clothes, socks, + harm reduction supplies (especially Narcan)
WHEN: Distro is every weekend | Sweep support is sporadic & on weekdays
WHERE: San Pedro, Harbor City, South Bay
$: Financial support via Open Collective helps cover supplies! DM for CashApp or Venmo. We also have an Amazon wishlist.
WHO: Kitchen Committee
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
We are a mutual aid group that formed as a strike kitchen during the 2022 UC academic workers strike. We now supply meals to mutual aid groups around LA, stock a community fridge @ UCLA, and deliver home cooked meals around the Westside. If you’re an org that would like meals for distro, please DM @kitchencommittee or email kitchencommitteeucla@gmail.com! We can provide orgs w/ 30-70 meals, but let us know if more are needed and we can see what’s possible. Interested in getting involved? Reach out!
WHEN: TBD (we’ll coordinate with you)
WHERE: Westwood/Palms
$: Venmo @mikeybuse to help w/ food and supply costs
WHO: Valley of Change (TVOC)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
TVOC is a nonprofit whose mission is to liberate Black people from systems of oppression and brutality. We work to uplift marginalized + underserved communities by protesting police brutality and racism, distributing backpacks to children, organizing community clean-up days, + cooking + distributing meals. While we protest on the corner of Sepulveda Blvd + Ventura Blvd, we provide resources (food, drinks, clothing, shoes, hygiene kits + other necessities) to our unhoused neighbors. Follow @thevalleyofchange to find out about volunteer opportunities & DM if interested.
COLLECTING: Non-perishable food and ingredients for meal distribution, bottled water, hygiene products, socks, + blankets.
WHEN: Check our IG for upcoming events. DM to coordinate a donation drop-off time.
WHERE: Based in the San Fernando Valley, but we serve the City of LA.
$: Donate via Donorbox to support our infrastructure, edu programs, meals + supplies for outreach
WHO: Indigeknowledge
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
We’re a Pomona-based org committed to the preservation of culture thru the study of language, art, + service to our communities. We offer free art programs, like beading classes during El Puestecito (Lopez Urban Farm's (LUF) Wednesday night market) and are leading the establishment of a "Southwest N8tv Garden" at LUF, a dedicated space for access to culturally relevant but difficult to obtain crops for Southwest natives, individuals from "Border Tribes," + people indigenous to what is now known as Northern "Mexico." Our ultimate goal is to cultivate food sovereignty and reclaim these crops for our communities. We always need volunteers on the farm. Contact Julián at (909) 242-3108 with q’s or to get involved.
COLLECTING: Wood (2x4s, OSB (oriented strand board) panels), acrylic paint, ModPodge, crayons, colored pencils, markers, printer paper
WHEN: Beading is Wed. 5-7pm; Southwest Garden is Tues. & Thurs. 3-5pm/Sat 11am-1pm
WHERE: Lopez Urban Farm: 1034 W. Mission Blvd. Pomona CA
$: Cashapp: $Indigeknowledge Venmo: @Indigeknowledge to help w/ operating costs + supplies
WHO: The People of South Gate
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
Our collective redistributes food to Southeast LA community members facing food insecurity. Volunteers needed – especially on distro days – to pick up food, set up the space & help community members get what they need. DM @thepeopleofsg or email thepeopleofsg@gmail.com if interested in helping out.
COLLECTING: New, unopened, gender neutral toys for years K-3 for our 92nd St. Elementary toy drive. More info + drop-off locations here. Donation deadline is December 7th.
WHEN: Saturdays, excluding the first of the month, 10am-2pm
WHERE: Art Space HP (accessible by Metro bus 111)
$: Funds help us feed people + purchase toys still needed for drive. Venmo @thepeopleofsg | CashApp $thepeopleofsg or recurring via Patreon or Ko-fi
WHO: The MALAN Dispatch Team
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: SERVICES
We’re a group of fun folks who learn about and connect with mutual aid groups in LA and then write, format, + code the publication you are reading right now! We need more folks to join the team to fill month-long, remote, ~1 hour/week TOPS roles like Dispatch Lead (a project manager that keeps the team on track leading up to publish), a group researcher, a calendar keeper and we’re especially calling out to folks who have experience w/ or are willing to learn Markdown + Buttondown (our newsletter platform). Bilingualism is a plus! Email info@mutualaidla.org w/ any q’s or interest.
WHEN: Virtual team meetings (optional) are on Thursdays @ 7PM. While each Dispatch issue has a month-long timeline, you can complete your role remotely on your own schedule.
WHERE: Remote
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