When the Mountain View Solidarity Fund received a directive to distribute $1 million from the city of Mountain View to those who needed it most last year, leaders of the grassroots group didn’t follow the typical protocol. There was no complicated application process, no proof of citizenship required and no mandates for how recipients could spend the money.

Instead, the Latina-led Solidarity Fund (Fondo de Solidaridad de MV) used the connections they’ve been fostering for years to find the people most in need, many of whom had never received aid before, and remove all the typical barriers.

by Malea Martin / Mountain View Voice