About 5 Saves Lives
Revolutionary Movement
Birthed out of relentless resistance and research, 5 Saves Lives is a grassroots Black-led movement, rooted in West Baltimore, committed to dismantling systemic exploitation and eliminating the forced dependency of Black communities on government and corporate systems. Through hands-on programs and collective action, we empower our people to reclaim and control the five basic human needs: nutrition, education, protection, health care, and finances— in order to feed, educate, protect, heal, and finance ourselves. By building sustainable, collectively Black-owned and community-managed institutions, we work to restore power, dignity, and self-determination—laying the foundation for thriving, liberated communities. Born from decades of institutional abandonment, structural racism, and economic exploitation, 5 Saves Lives exists to build, defend, and pass down community-operated systems that break the cycle of dependency and restore dignity to our people — by any means necessary.
Our Mission
To train and organize Black people — especially youth — to build and control community institutions that meet our needs without interference or exploitation from government, corporate, or predatory outside forces. We believe that freedom is not granted, it is built for the taking. And we’re building it — block by block.
The '5' in 5 Saves Lives represents a core need that our communities must systematically reclaim: Nutrition, Education, Protection, Healthcare, and Financial Security.