Time Exchange Project

It's About Time!
A New Chicago West Side 

The Time Exchange Project offers a simple approach to solving the big problems of our time (like crime and jobs disappearing). Big problems that stem from lack of money and social isolation.

How can we solve these problems? By using a second currency that is based on TIME.

 

Time exchanges offers meaningful work in which people help one another. While they don’t offer traditional jobs paid in dollars, they do offer countless opportunities for people to serve and be served, to learn and to teach, to repair and produce, and to care for one another.  (While jobs paid in dollars are being automated, outsourced, and becoming ever-harder to find, people need each other more than ever in the face of our turbulent times and growing inequality.)

 

Simply put, time exchanges are a matchmaking tool that brings together people who need each other.

 

A time exchange has the blessings of "Pay-It-Forward” and is used among members of an organization like a church. And it has the accountability of a credit card.  When I help you for an hour, I credit my account that hour and debit yours.  I can spend the hour I earned by asking someone for help. You can clear the hour you owe by helping someone.

 

Churches, not-for-profits, and other organizations can use these time exchanges wherever needed.  Examples: 

• Run programs
• Raise funds and expand your base of support (asking for hours and/or dollars)
• Strengthen applications for grants and public dollars (eg, dollars received can be used to stimulate time exchanges)

Here are four vital areas where they can transform our community —

 

1. Food. People are growing gardens — planting seeds, watering, weeding, and harvesting fresh food. They’re canning, cooking, serving, and cleaning. In winter, you see plants growing in windows.

 

2. Tramsportation. New ways of getting around and services are appearing — bicycle taxies, church buses and vans, and Jitneys (that follow a rough service route).  Bicycles and cars are repaired and shared. Uber-like apps appear.

 

People are able to get to food sources outside their neighborhood, eg, vans bring people to Costco to buy food for themselves and/or others.

 

3. Learning & teaching. Folks teach each other — one-on-one and in groups. Sample topics are:

• Healthcare (blood pressure, home remedies, homeopathy, nutrition, growing food)
• Safety & security
• Computers
• Leadership (organizing, planning, passing on wisdom)
• Traditional skills (sewing, cooking, fixing, story-telling)
• Caring (for oneself & one’s things, and for neighbors and community)

4. Distribution of essential stuff. Eg, food, clothing, over-the-counter medical supplies, household items, and heaters.

 

Exchanges can be facilitated in our online Chicago West Side Marketplace & Time Exchange where time transactions can be recorded and free ads placed. 

 

Bring time exchanges to your church or organization.
It's free and makes us less dependent on scarce dollars.

JOIN the Time Exchange Project

 

Need more info? –

• See an article about us on Occupy.comr — "For Economic Justice, Is It Time for Time Exchange?"
• 
• Time exchanges (often called TimeBanks) are a worldwide phenomenon.  

 

 

	Date / Memo	Hrs Credited (+) / Hrs Debited (-)	Balance
JoAnne Willis	3-19-21, 11:42am Preparation for meeting on 3/19/21	+1:00	-10:30
Steve Robinson	2-2-21, 10:02pm Focus group discussion	-2:00	-11:30
Steve Robinson	7-3-20, 10:25am June 2020 For TEC analysts and support with Barry	-9:18	-9:30