Mutual aid as personal ethic

iO has spent over 20 years doing direct relief organizing work. Below are some examples. His current focus is Post Fire work in Los Angeles, where he also lost his home.

Renegade sandy relief (2012)

iO co-created and spearheaded a large scale communal aid relief operation after Hurricane Sandy in New York City, delivering urgently needed supplies and rations to residents who had lost power, and bringing volunteers to dig out homes that had suffered flooding.

Panda Chinese (Stop Asian Hate)

Followers of iO’s instagram contributed nearly $8k to replace Yucca Valley restaurant Panda Chinese’s front window after it was smashed in during a hate incident, and support their business.

CA Wildfire relief (2021)

iO collected donation funds and spearheaded supply drives from Los Angeles for CA wildfire survivors.

jacumba, CA (migrant camps)

Followers of iO’s instagram contributed nearly over $10k to purchase sleeping bags, tents, warm clothing and other urgently needed supplies for migrants who were trapped outdoors at the San Diego border awaiting immigration processing.

queer covid relief (2020)

During Covid iO created a direct cash relief program for queer people who fell outside the governments relief scope. Via PayPal direct deposits, he funneled $90,000 from donors and t-shirt purchases to queer people in need.

Black lives matter

iO helped rally contributors with means to supply BLM LA leadership with needed stage and audio equipment during the 2020 protests. He co-organized BLM’s 7 year birthday block party and spearheaded several initiatives to support BLM leadership.