about
Our Mission
About us
WOAN is a group in progress, started by two friends who were feeling hopeless about what was happening around us. And we felt that hopelessness (and rage, etc.) from others around us too. So, we decided to join forces and start doing “the work.”
First we joined with SOMA mutual aid to take a week of collecting goods needed by the families visiting their loved ones at Delaney Hall. Through that, we heard from so many people that they wanted to do more. We took that energy and WOAN morphed into more: an email list, a Signal chat and now 8 working groups full of people dedicated to doing the work. And this is all since January!
Fundamentally, we want this group to be people-led that flattens the hierarchy of leadership. Our objectives are to learn what is needed by those who need it, and in the process, build community and solidarity. We want to invite in and empower those who have not been that involved before, and want to support and nurture those who have been doing the work for longer. We hope to both help people stay informed and get involved in whatever ways we can. And as things are moving so fast, we recognize that change and adaptation will be required. So, if this sparks an interest, please take a look at our website and the work we’re doing, as well as just what is going on—the work.
In solidarity,
R&T
our values
WOAN is a non hierarchical organization with the goal of connecting people with the resources we need to successfully support and take care of each other.
We aim to build a stronger community based on actively taking care of each other and solving needs that arise together.
The mutual aid model is sharing resources, time, and simply learning to take care of each other neighbor to neighbor by building a network of trust and support.
The process of any decision-making should be transparent so people know what is happening, why it’s happening, and how to help.