Strengthening Communities – The Integrative Potential of Time Banking
Strengthening Communities The Integrative Potential of Time Banking ver8.18.13 A Guest Post by Marie Wilson Nelson Time Bank Mahoning Watershed (https://tbmw.org/) is a community service exchange or “Time Bank,” a collection of people and organizations who connect unused resources with unmet needs. Time Bank Mahoning Watershed is part of an international social change movement grounded in five core values articulated by founder Edgar S. Cahn in No More Throwaway People: The Co-Production Imperative: Assets: We are all assets. Every person has something of value to offer. Redefining Work: Some work is beyond price. Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two-way street. Social Networks: We need each other. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength and trust. Respect: Every human matters. When respect is denied to any, all are injured. Acting on these values our Time Bank fulfills its mission--promoting equality and building a caring, just and sustainable community economy through inclusive exchange of time and talent. The concept is simple. Members help someone for an hour, earn an hour of credit, and spend the credit on services offered by any other member. Reweaving community one exchange at a time, they document exchanges in an online database (http://sandbox.timebanks.org) and revitalize what Cahn calls “the core economy” on which the Market depends. The core economy includes: Raising healthy children Revitalizing neighborhoods Making democracy work Nurturing the spirit Building strong families Strengthening local economies Advancing social justice Making the planet sustainable In the PBS documentary Fixing the Future, time bankers help each other weatherize homes, access medical care, eat healthier food and take sailing lessons (8-minute clip: http://video.pbs.org/video/1646871620/). They contribute to low-carbon lifestyles, reduce transportation costs and provide services within neighborhoods. They grow capacity for community groups, non-profits, small businesses, and government groups, serving schools, hospitals, churches, libraries, and court systems. They do so by Offering groups an expanded pool of volunteers. Providing something valuable groups can give back to volunteers. Identifying and connecting unused community resources with unmet needs. Incubating new businesses. Facilitating restorative justice. Lowering operational costs. Keeping prices low for businesses, clients and customers. Reducing medical expenses. Helping elders age in place. Mentoring & tutoring. Offering internships and on-the-job training. Reducing tax burdens. Containing administrative costs. Tracking volunteer hours for reporting in funding proposals. Each of these benefits reverses the opportunity costs of not banking time. In addition, paying volunteers in Time Bank Hours could support start-ups in underserved communities. A few potential examples come to mind: Weatherization projects Solar installations Urban farms Plant nurseries Food preparation and distribution Canning and preserving Water catchment Backyard garden installation Home building Home repair Any group aligned with the five core values may partner with a time bank: A D.C. time bank partners with a Youth Court, keeping juveniles out of the adult system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqp8MzJzm4M&feature=youtu.be Homecoming Academies meet community needs and reduce recidivism by helping people returning from prison reintegrate into their communities. http://nationalhomecomers.org; http://www.danecountytimebank.org/homecoming---community-justice.html United Way and local physicians join Maryland Partners in Care to offer seniors companionship, transportation,…