Mutual Aid Midlands and the Ames Villas Community
For some months now, Mutual Aid Midlands has been engaging with the Ames Villas apartment community in North Columbia. The initial connection was forged by Mutual Aider Omari Fox, who works as the Lead Community Organizer at Serve and Connect, an organization that does tremendous work in the 29203 area, where Ames is also located.
Omari got connected to Stacey Atkinson, who started The Door Home initiative on-site through Christ Mission Church. The Door Home seeks to make a positive impact on the Ames community by building bridges, forming relationships, cultivating activities, and doing all they can to be good neighbors.
According to Mutual Aider Dylan Gunnels, “In being good neighbors, they hope to foster a community that is committed to one another and recognizes that in our solidarity this place is more than a physical house — it is a home.”
Through this connection to Stacey, Mutual Aid Midlands was offered physical office space at the apartment complex to work and store donated goods. The biggest thing that was asked of MAM: participate in being a good neighbor.
Below, read a brief Q&A with Dylan about the work at Ames and what’s to come in 2021.
What has been happening at Ames recently, and how is MAM involved?Ames has activities happening all the time, ranging from a weekly Bible study, voter registration drives, a weekly cooking class for the kids, a weekly art class for the kids, youth-led initiatives, food distribution, providing senior resources, etc. There have also been cookouts, coffee house conversations, the Fall Festival with Columbia Police Department, and Charlie Brown Christmas Tree Celebration, to name a few. All of these activities recognize and practice all CDC guidelines related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mutual Aid Midlands has been involved in some capacity in all of these events, helping to organize, advertise, and volunteer. MAM also helped with data collection and reporting through the help of UofSC students enrolled in the university’s Mutual Aid class. Finally, MAM just taught a class called What is Mutual Aid? Why Do We Need it Here and Now? The hope is that the Ames community will start their own form of Mutual Aid that is specific to them, ensuring longevity and systemic change.
Is the office space located at Ames a general office for all MAM operations? Or is it specific to the work being done at Ames?
It is a general office for all MAM operations, but is also being used as a “mutual aid incubator.” We are using this space to learn more about how we can put our MAM theories to practice in a specific location for a specific period of time. Everything we learn at Ames about bridge-building, community development, cultural understanding, and specific needs will ultimately help this particular location and beyond.
Why is it important for MAM to have a physical presence in general? And why does it work so well to have the location be where it is now?
It is important for MAM to have a physical presence because solidarity doesn’t just happen overnight. There must be a focus on building trust with the community you are working with, and that only happens with the intentionality of our time and our efforts. Simply put, we can never claim to be in solidarity with our communities if we are not physically there. Trust doesn’t just happen. Situational understandings don’t just happen. We have to be present or our work is in vain.
Are there any holiday-season related plans for work at Ames? Is there any need for volunteers?
None at this time. The Charlie Brown event concluded the year for us. I will let everyone know about volunteer opportunities starting in 2021.
