INTRODUCTION:
Mutual aid—the collective practice of communities coming together to share resources and support one another—has a long and universal history, emerging wherever people face unmet needs¹. From neighborhood food-sharing to community health defense, mutual aid networks embody reciprocity, solidarity, and resilience². During the COVID-19 pandemic, they became especially visible in urban centers worldwide³⁻⁵. While mutual aid groups often fill gaps left by formal health systems, structured collaboration between these grassroots networks and health systems remains underexplored. Such partnerships can expand reach and responsiveness but also raise challenges around power dynamics, trust, and sustainability.

METHODS:
This interactive workshop is informed by prior delivery with health professionals and mutual aid organizers, and uses case examples, structured scenarios, and small-group discussions to introduce the history and principles of mutual aid, examine the value and risks of collaboration with medical institutions, and engage participants in co-creating strategies for equitable partnership.

RESULTS:
The workshop identifies three central themes: (1) collaboration can extend access to care for migrants and marginalized populations often excluded from health systems; (2) barriers include institutional bureaucracy, cultural and structural differences, power imbalances, institutional mistrust, and risks of co-optation; and (3) strategies for effective partnership include centering community priorities, practicing relational rather than transactional care, and building structures that safeguard autonomy and trust. We discuss practical frameworks for negotiating conflicting priorities and cultivating long-term relationships.

CONCLUSIONS:
Mutual aid is a universal, historically rooted practice that offers vital lessons for public health and community engagement. Medical–mutual aid collaborations represent a promising yet complex strategy for advancing health equity. By acknowledging power imbalances, prioritizing community voices, and investing in sustained relationship-building, public health systems can integrate the strengths of mutual aid to foster more inclusive, responsive, and equitable models of care.