Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro

Note- All of this money goes directly to the communities in Black Mesa, not to Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro; BLM is our fiscal sponsor, which makes your donations tax-deductible.

Black Mesa Resistance Camp was founded in 2015 by Salina Begay in response to sheep impoundments by Hopi tribal police. The group, led by matriarchs of the families living on the now labeled HPL, increased their scope when supporters from outside areas offered assistance and mutual aid. The group now delivers food staples, essential hygiene products, other home supplies, and fresh farm produce to over 40 families with the help of donations and fundraising efforts. BMRC also works with other resistance and supporter networks to provide sheep herding, sheep shearing, and wood cutting seasonally.

Most people who receive food boxes are elders who live alone, without running water or electricity, and who live on HPL and resist relocation. Those of us who are supporters follow the leadership of Diné people who guide us in this work and tell us what the needs on the ground are.

From/about the Phoenix supporters/volunteers:

We run supply drives quarterly from the Phoenix area. In the spring, we time it with Spring Sheep Shearing Camp and November Wood Camp, organized by another collective. In the Spring, volunteers go to Black Mesa to help families shear their sheep so they can process the wool for sale or make garments and rugs. Woodcamp is a woodcutting, food, and wood distribution event for families to support them through the long, cold winters on Black Mesa.

We bring nonperishable food, produce, some meat & eggs, bread, milk, and hygiene items, including hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, bleach, and other cleaning products. The work in Phoenix is led by a partnership with Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro and Mutual Aid Phoenix, we have been able to make the money last longer by holding food drives and only buying what is not donated. The money from this fundraiser allows us to buy the extras and specific supplies requested that we cannot get from donations; it also pays for the gas and supplies and sometimes rental cars needed for the drives up to Black Mesa from Phoenix or other cities. The trip from Phoenix to Black Mesa is 12 hours round trip. Generally, each trip costs $1,500-$2,000 depending on how many trucks we can get loaned and supplies we can get donated. We need additional support to fund these trips and stand in solidarity with the Diné people.

For more info about our work check out our Facebook (Black Mesa Resistance Camp) or Instagram (@blackmesaresistancecamp) page.

Message the page for more info on how the money is spent, our books are open for transparency and accountability.

This summer, people will die on our streets. There are many reasons why people become unhoused, but there is no valid reason for people dying due to heat

exposure. 2022 will be especially risky for all those who have become newly unhoused due to recent housing market inflation. Homelessness increases more every day.

Last year over 1,100 coolers were distributed to unsheltered people and other individuals most impacted by heat exposure. These coolers have proved to be a valuable resource, and many are still in use today.

This summer, UnshelteredPhx, The Tempe People's Budget and dozens of other community partners have teamed up to cover more ground and distribute 5000 personal insulated water bottles/coolers to the unhoused community.

We need to raise $30,000 to cover the cost of the coolers!

This effort intends to team up with as many small businesses and organizations as possible to create hyper-accessible distribution outlets throughout Arizona and engage community partners in conversations regarding climate change, equity, and reparations.

No one deserves to die of an unsafe body temperature or prolonged heat exposure. Funds will also be used to empower unsheltered individuals in their efforts to

design personal shade structures, including tarps, PVC pipe, ground stakes, rope, 2x4s, screws, etc.

Please share a few dollars if you are able and contact us to join the efforts of water cooler distribution if so desired.

Please Note: BLM Phx Metro is the fiscal sponsor for this project, and all donations will be tax-deductible. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the project's cost.