WHY WE ARE HERE
There are undeniable logistical access issues and financial barriers to getting into the outdoors. Gear is expensive to the point of it being an impenetrable hurdle for some people to get what they need in order to participate. The goal of The Gear Fund Collective is to gain control of resources and facilitate the redistribution of these resources back into the community, helping to close the loop of consumerism, capitalism, and inaccessibility. Mutual aid is NOT charity- it is not saviorism- it is not philanthropy. So what IS Mutual Aid? From MADRVA, a mutual aid society in Richmond VA: “Mutual aid is the act of exchanging skills and redistributing resources for our collective benefit. It is a form of political participation, one that is rooted in the idea of caring for each other through a horizontal model of resources and power”. In mutual aid, there is no hierarchy, no leadership, and it is organized on a volunteer basis, thus making an effort to avoid potentially harmful power dynamics. Anyone can participate, or step back as capacity allows. Through this model we become beholden to each other and the community on a basis of interdependence, not obligation. It is important to remember that the oppressive aspects of our society (racism, class and capitalism, cis-heteropatriarchy, trans and queer antagonism, ableism, misogyny and misogynoir, etc.) will permeate any mutual aid effort. This framework asks us to reflect on the aspects of our identities that are privileged, and the parts that are not- a constant and evolving journey. Doing the uncomfortable work of calling in, reflecting, holding ourselves and each other accountable when we cause harm, and educating ourselves is of the utmost importance. This is what makes mutual aid an act of resistance, because we are actively working to deconstruct the systems of oppression both externally and internally. We can take care of us.