Mutual Aid in the Mountains: Learning from Asheville
Thanks largely in part to the members of Academic Grappling and KruFit, I was able to visit Western North Carolina recently to take part in hurricane and flooding relief efforts. I cannot say enough good things about the members of our BJJ and Muay Thai gym. So many individuals came together and donated goods, tools, and funds to go to our friends and neighbors in the affected areas. The community we have built truly came together in a special way. Ultimately, we filled my Jeep front-to-back and top-to-bottom before I left (and we have since filled it twice more!) and headed south.
Why We Stand with Palestine
For nearly the past 10 months, Palestine has dominated the headlines and the news cycle. Unfortunately, many still remain misinformed and lacking basic understanding of the genocide currently taking place.
Many are still woefully unaware that Israel only exists due to an illegal declaration, not by the Palestinian people, but by the UK in what is known as the Balfour Declaration, which stole land from Palestine and gifted it to European jews. Without diving into books-worth of information, the basic run-down of what has happened since is this: Israel has continued to murder Palestinian people and steal their land via illegal settlements and occupations.
From Pancakes to Provisions: How We Became Mutual Aid Over Everything
Last November, we began volunteering with a local mutual aid organization, Because of Adam in order to provide food to our unhoused neighbors here in Indianapolis. The service we provide has since grown and expanded and shifted and I felt it would be good to update everyone on what we do and how we have changed our goals over the last year, and how we went from calling ourselves Indy Pancake Popup to Mutual Aid Over Everything.
Use Your Voice
I am tired of the lack of kindness from our city. I am tired of the lack of care or concern. I am tired of the lack of any sort of plan that doesn’t involve a badge and a gun and a jail cell.
Making Pancakes and why they Matter
It’s been quite some time since I’ve sat down to write a blog. However, our gym has recently started doing some mutual aid work that I thought deserved to be shared.
For those of you who know me personally or have just been following the gym on social media, you are likely aware that I recently started the Indy Pancake Popup. This little project is simple: I make pancakes and other breakfast foods for unhoused individuals in Indianapolis once a week. My children come with me and we set up a couple of propane stoves, throw a cast iron griddle on top, and get to work.