Aid Categories for Mutual Aid in German Studies: What Resources Can We Share?

by DDGC Mutual Aid Network Action Group

The DDGC Mutual Aid Network brings people in German studies together to share their skills and resources in solidarity to strengthen their communities. As the structures in which we live and work continue to wear us down, we come together to support one another and to pave the path toward more nurturing relationship structures in the future.

In this post, we as the action group members who are facilitating the network would like to share some of the aid categories for the network as a whole. What the list seeks to accomplish is to model what sorts of things you could request from the network. If any of the resources listed below resonate with your needs, please reach out by submitting a mutual aid request form. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, and you might have aid needs not captured below. We aim to support one another as best we can no matter the needs.

Aid Categories: What Resources Can We Share?

Basic needs

Financial assistance (rent, food, bills)

Shelter (temporary, long term)

Transportation (moving, commutes, emergency travel)

Care work (general support, checking in)

Medical care (finding resources, paying bills)

Teaching

Guest lecture/teaching

Curriculum support

Syllabus support

Class observation

General consultation 

Research

Support group

Editing / Proofreading

Finding resources for research (materials, spaces to write)

Translation / transcription

Publication support (how to pitch project, where to submit it)

Professional Development

Mentoring

Job market (alt ac, ac)

Promotion support (strategizing)

Networking (local, regional, national, international)

Letters (recommendation, promotion, support of any variety)

Guidance on how to approach toxic environments

Guidance on access to profession

Organizing

Mentoring "up"

Advocacy

Power-mapping

Network building

Anti-austerity

Union and other organizing locally, regionally, nationally, internationally

Political advocacy and academic freedom discussions