With the recent shutdown, and even before, some in our community are discussing the possibility of an organization in Rowan that focuses on mutual aid. Bianca Muñoz provides a primer for what that could mean in our county.

Dear Neighbor, 

According to Cornell Law School, mutual aid is defined as “a voluntary exchange of services and resources between members of society for mutual benefit.”

Growing up in California, my mother always volunteered at Garfield Elementary School, where my siblings and I attended. That’s where I first witnessed the power of service — and where I discovered my passion for community work.

Recently, Happy Roots held their annual fundraiser, this time focused on highlighting the work of the Hispanic community. Happy Roots was one of the first organizations to teach me about mutual aid — empowering the community through self-sufficiency and gardening at homes, schools, nursing homes, and community parks. Teaching people to grow their own food is mutual aid. 

When my farmer friend, Chantel Johnson Walker, lived in the county, she became my birth doula for my third baby. A doula is a trained professional who supports you before, during, and after childbirth. Chantel and I have been friends for eight years now. Offering affordable farm goods and birth services to a low-income family like ours — that’s mutual aid.

One of the most powerful forms of mutual aid came from my best friend, who taught me how to identify and forage edible mushrooms — a skill that becomes especially valuable in times of food insecurity. Foraging connected us to nature and to each other. Mushrooms teach us about resilience, growth, and networks — much like mutual aid itself.

I’ve spent countless hours volunteering with organizations across Rowan County because I love serving my community. My mother instilled that in me. Translating and using my bilingual skills to help others has been one of the most rewarding forms of mutual aid I can offer.

And I can’t count the times my community has helped our family — with food, meals, funds, clothes, appliances, spiritual guidance, even help paying a veterinarian bill. That’s all mutual aid too. Together, we’ve built networks of care — a quiet resistance against a system that too often isolates people and communities. Now, more than ever, we need to keep strengthening those networks.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. And if you’re in a position to help someone else, don’t hesitate — because every act of care builds mutual aid.

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.