Woman's Co-op in Battle Creek's Post-Franklin Neighborhood provides a support system for women

Texas mutual aid groups raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help people with food, housing, and other supplies after natural disasters, which are increasing due to climate change. Organizers go door-to-door and use social media to identify people in need of assistance, particularly people impacted by structural inequalities in low-income communities, communities of color, and people with insecure housing. Donors, most of whom also come from the community, help with cash or goods donations. Recipients aren’t means-tested and the neighbors-helping-neighbors model allows for quick and passionate action.

What started as an informal support group in Texas for undocumented workers who had been injured while working, has morphed into a mutual aid organization that helps connect immigrants and those who are uninsured with health necessities and resources. The group is unique in the U.S., as it advocates for both disability rights and immigrant rights, while also providing support for disaster relief efforts.

Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham tribal leaders took quick action to support members during the Covid-19 pandemic. They instituted a curfew, required face masks, and ensured that tribal members had sufficient food and supplies. The Pascua Yaqui’s information technology team created an app for residents to easily provide household information and request food, household goods and cleaning supplies. Federal rescue money allocated to the tribes has not arrived, so the tribes created their own systems of caring for their tribal members by securing essential goods and distributing them to those in need.

After surviving a traumatic sexual assault in Nairobi, Wangu Kanja founded the Wangu Kanja Foundation to raise awareness of and prevent gender-based violence. The foundation also provides medical, legal, and psychsocial assistance to survivors, shapes policy, and empowers women financially. One program, called "Gender Defenders," pairs past survivors with recent survivors to provide immediate support.

The Kanyashree Prakalpa conditional cash transfer scheme helps support economically marginalized unmarried girls between the ages of 13 and 18 so they can stay in school and delay child marriage. Since launching, the scheme has helped increase enrollment in school and reduce the rate of child marriage in the region.

In an effort to combat cultural stigma, misinformation and harmful behaviors, several groups and individuals are emerging to teach women about sexual health, pleasure and overall wellness, particularly in rural areas where information is sparse.

The Working Group of Women for Land Ownership (WGWLO) is a group of 48 grassroots NGOs and individuals who help local women secure land ownership through raising awareness about women’s land rights and providing access to legal aid when needed. Since forming in 2002, the group estimates that it has helped as many as 20,000 women.

The Power, Innovation and Leadership executive education program brings Black women together to train them to become strong leaders, spearheading causes around issues like reducing poverty, advocating for reproductive justice and protecting voting rights. 25 women have graduated from the program already, and the next cohort is set to start in January, as they work toward their goal of training 100 Black women leaders.

In the 2000s, Kerala's Santhapuram village pioneered the inclusion of women in mahallu, which are mosque area committees, after women demanded representation. Groups of women joined forces to form a grassroots initiative and advocate for more representation. This led to women gaining roles as elected councilors and executive committee members in mosque governance, and now 87 of the 600 mosques in the area include women in their committees.

Black Girls Break Bread addresses maternal mortality disparities among Black women by providing safe spaces, advocating for policy reform and improving local healthcare access. The group successfully advocated for Illinois House Bill 5013, expanding Medicaid patients' freedom to choose healthcare providers, reducing barriers to accessing care. Beyond maternal health care, the group also addresses other community needs like mutual aid and mental health issues among Black women.