MMA's work in 2023 focused on supporting new neighbors, many of whom are in Chicago seeking asylum. We primarily spent funds on material resources like food, medicine and clothing, as well as physical space to store those items. We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed time, money, energy, and the many other resources people have put into this work. 

Challenges included capacity, as always, and navigating new terrain with the election of Mayor Brandon Johnson. The Johnson administration has given some access to mutual aid groups like ours, but not nearly enough transparency nor empowerment. This all directly impacts our ability to adequately support our new neighbors. We are watching closely to learn from the leadership of other, larger collectives, like CCC33, as we learn how to live into the complexity of what mutual aid is: meeting survival needs while working to change the political, economic, and social conditions that make survival so impossible for so many.

Looking ahead to next year, things are a bit uncertain. Our collective is pretty loosely organized, and we've all been in response mode for a long time. So hopefully we will have time to reset, reflect, and be intentional in planning our next steps.

No matter what we do, though, it will be grounded in solidarity, interdependence, and deep and active hope for a better world.