Mutual Aid
Download our Spanish Mutual Aid Guide down below!
Our new Mutual Aid Guide is here and ready to be distributed! It is tabloid size and is compatible for B&W printing. This guide lists different mutual aid organizations in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. With this pamphlet, Spanish-speaking community members can easily find local food pantries, hot meal programs, and a small selection of health organizations that provide care at little to no cost for those who need it.
You may recognize this program from our old Mutual Aid Map — and it is! This is our most recently updated map, and it has been triple-checked for accuracy to ensure that the listed distribution sites are still operating. If you visit a distribution center that is listed but no longer available, please don’t hesitate to email us at ariandy@publicmediainstitute.com.
PMI finds ways to engage in and amplify mutual aid projects in Chicago. We believe in the power of everyday people to build a more just world, fostering a network where everyone contributes and benefits.
PMI deepened its support for immigrant justice and community safety through a citywide print and distribution campaign, leveraging our Riso printer and 3D fabrication tools to produce practical resources for organizers and newcomers. Working closely with partners such as OCAD, Chicago Community and Workers’ Rights, and Latino Union, we distributed more than 12,000 zines, 5,000 ICIRR Know Your Rights cards and handouts, 2,000 Red Cards, and over 1,000 posters promoting workplace safety and community protection. We also purchased and began 3D-printing 5,000 safety whistles to serve as tools of solidarity and defense. These materials—shared in libraries, worker centers, and public spaces across Chicago—demonstrate our continued commitment to strengthening mutual aid networks and increasing access to essential rights information throughout the city.
Today, our Mutual Aid Report radio show is being led by intergenerational radio hosts and journalists that explores how Chicago communities care for one another and stay safe. We highlight mutual aid groups and solidarity efforts like food distribution, after-school support, immigration defense, and rapid-response networks, while sharing practical pathways for our audiences to get involved by volunteering, donating, showing up, and co-leading the new and ongoing work keeping us safer.
In a time of growing hostility and violence, we work to help our communities understand and be inspired by mutual aid strategies for survival and solidarity. Each episode uplifts organizers, neighbors, and everyday caretakers building communities of care and neighborhood safety.
As Mario Smith himself said on the episode, "The news media tends to focus on the worst aspects of neighborhoods... The Mutual Aid Report aims to be a narrative changer." The show shines a light on the many success stories and grassroots efforts, like Grow Greater Englewood and The Love Fridge, that are building a stronger Chicago, one act of mutual aid at a time. The Mutual Aid Report highlights these inspiring community-based initiatives with the goal of elevating their profile, motivating others to join, and fostering collaboration across the city's vibrant network of mutual aid organizations.
Hosted by Lumpen Radio hosts, rotating guest hosts and on-the-ground reporters.
Listen: Tuesdays at 2 PM on Lumpen Radio 105.5 FM (Chicago) or stream at lumpenradio.com
While The Mutual Aid Report is a cornerstone of our efforts, PMI continues its commitment to direct action. Partnering with existing groups, we've provided essential resources, from phones for asylum seekers (over 200 phones and SIM cards distributed!) to basic supplies, making a real difference in our community.
Our collaborative spirit extends to past projects like the Chicago Area Mutual Aid Map and Directory, which connected people with food pantries, kitchens, and food security organizations. The Helping Handles: Tote Bags 4 Refugee Fundraiser is another example: local artists designed the bags, and proceeds directly support getting cell phones into the hands of asylum seekers, helping them connect with loved ones and navigate their new city.
By working together, learning from each other, and celebrating the collective power of everyday people, PMI stands alongside Chicago's vibrant network of mutual aid organizations.
Past mutual aid projects, like Community Kitchen, can be found on our archive page.