⚖️ Ethical Dilemmas in Mutual Aid

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Why It Matters

Pods regularly face hard choices:

• Who to help first when resources are short (e.g., 5 shelter beds, 10 requests)
• When to risk escalation for safety or solidarity (e.g., do you intervene when police are targeting one of your members?)
• How to deal with internal conflicts or unsafe behavior (e.g., repeated boundary violations by a volunteer)

Without practice, these choices can fracture pods, endanger people, or compromise values.
Training on dilemmas builds shared frameworks so pods can respond with clarity and unity.

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Preparation

1. Read a short zine on mutual aid ethics.
2. Reflect on a past dilemma your pod or group has faced.
3. Bring notes on your core values as a group (solidarity, safety, equity, etc.).

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What You'll Learn

1. Case Study Analysis – Reviewing scenarios involving resource strain, police pressure, or pod conflict.
2. Values Mapping – Identifying the core principles guiding each decision.
3. Consensus Tools – Quick decision-making frameworks for high-stress situations (e.g., dot-voting, modified consensus).
4. Accountability Practices – Using transformative justice steps and pod mapping to repair harm.
5. Building Muscle Memory – Practicing simulated dilemmas so responses feel natural in the field.

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Content Note

Some case studies involve violence, oppression, or community harm.
Facilitators should:

• Allow self-care breaks
• Use a "pause" signal if discussions get overwhelming
• Debrief after each scenario with a focus on healing, not blame

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Scaffolded Case Studies

• 🌱 Foundational: Handling repeated no-shows for resource distribution.
• ⚡ Advanced: Dealing with suspected infiltration by hostile actors.

Pods can choose which scenarios fit their experience level.

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Getting Started

1. Hold a pod workshop using 1–2 case studies per month.
2. Practice quick consensus tools (dot-voting, modified consensus).
3. Develop simple decision trees for recurring dilemmas (resource allocation, withdrawal, escalation).
4. Always debrief and document lessons after major incidents.
5. Create a pod-specific protocol for handling future dilemmas.

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Risks & Things to Watch

• Forcing consensus can delay urgent decisions — use tools designed for speed.
• Rehashing past mistakes without care can retraumatize volunteers.
• Overemphasis on speed can silence voices of those most impacted.

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How This Connects

• Required for Movement Strategy & Ethics Track.
• Required for Pod Leadership & Organizing Track.
• Complements Decision-Making Simulations, Risk and Responsibility, and Training the Trainers.

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Checklist

• Can analyze a case study and identify the key values at stake.
• Can use at least one quick consensus or decision-making tool under pressure.
• Can facilitate or participate in a trauma-aware discussion of dilemmas.
• Created a pod-specific protocol for handling future dilemmas.

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Further Learning

• Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown
• Conflict Transformation Guide by The Icarus Project
• Local pod mapping and transformative justice toolkits (provided in resource links)