The Mutual Aid Project (MAP) is a collaborative effort between Faculty, Students and Staff and between BSE, the Community Scholars Program, and Social Thought and Political Economy. MAP critically explores, researches, and works against the conditions shaping alienation and hardship on the the campus of the University of Massachusetts and beyond, and aims to highlight, support and expand spaces and relations of mutual aid and care. Students participate in MAP through events, working groups, and in the MAP collective where we read, reflect, build relationships, theorize, and plan (more information for students who would like to participate in MAP, in the section below.)
MAP 2024 Politics, Process, Projects (produced by the “zinesters” working group, see below).
MAP facilitates regular thingswaps and skillshares that attract hundreds of students to each event.
MAP conducts ethnographic research around how students come to understand and desire mutual aid and other non-capitalist ways of belonging. We are currently producing a few different pieces of writing, academic and non-academic, to communicate the research generated stories, ideas, and theory.
As part of our efforts towards community building and political education, MAP ZINESTERS produce accessible and engaging zines for distribution and use on campus and beyond.
MAP is working with the Food Recovery Network to help organize and host free community meals by recovering and repurposing wasted food on campus.
MAP is conducting research around the viability of a campus-based TIMEBANK to meet needs and build relationships and is organizing a pilot project.
Other efforts include a campus-based mapping project, a student-print shop, the organization of a resource library, and building relationships with other mutual aid efforts on and off campus.
Participation
Students, staff, and faculty can participate in MAP in a number of ways including through attending or volunteering at different events or joining working groups. Participating in the MAP collective is a larger commitment that consists of embracing an ethics of mutual accountability, attending weekly 2-hour collective meetings, participating in organizing thingswaps and joining other MAP projects. It is also super fun! Students can join the MAP collective in a number of ways, both for credit and not-for credit. The most common way is to register for the MAP practicum. Students also run their thesis projects through MAP, or their independent studies and internships; students also will join or continue on as part of the MAP collective without receiving credit. If you are interested in participating in MAP you can reach out to us over instagram, through email, or through bshear@umass.edu. Joining the collective currently involves a few fun, supportive conversations with MAP members to help you see if it is a good fit.
buildingsolidarityeconomies.com 