We won the latest Delmar Divide SLOUP Microfunding Competition!!!

Today we received great news that the community voted for us to win the Delmar Divide SLOUP competition!  We will be using the awarded funds to jumpstart a marketing plan to spread the word about the collective -- in plain words, timebanking just makes sense/cents.  We will also be receiving advising from the selection committee comprised of staff at the Missouri History Museum, the Anti-Defamation League and the Pullitzer Foundation for the Arts and will be followed by the St. Louis Beacon throughout the coming year. In our case, second time was a charm, and we are so grateful to have won both in terms of money and backing.  Thank you to those who cast your vote and gave us positive thoughts that day. Stay tuned for some savvy marketing!

Putting a name to our work: Solidarity Economy

This week we had the opportunity to meet with Julia Ho of M.O.R.E. (Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment).  She introduced us to the term 'Solidarity Economy' which grew out of the occupy movement and as explained on the SolidarityNYC website,

"The solidarity economy includes a wide array of economic practices and initiatives but they all share common values that stand in stark contrast to the values of the dominant economy.

Instead of enforcing a culture of cut-throat competition, they build cultures and communities of cooperation. Rather than isolating us from one another, they foster relationships of mutual support and solidarity. In place of centralized structures of control, they move us towards shared responsibility and democratic decision-making. Instead of imposing a single global monoculture, they strengthen the diversity of local cultures and environments. Instead of prioritizing profit over all else, they encourage a commitment to shared humanity best expressed in social, economic, and environmental justice."

Timebanking naturally fits under the umbrella of solidarity economy practices and we are excited to see what a first 'meeting of the minds' will produce!  Like-minded?  Join the conversation, Wednesday, November 6th at 7:30 pm at the World Community Center.

If at first you don't SUCCEED?

We all know the answer to this one...Try, try again! Well, I wouldn't exactly call our presentation at the first Delmar Divide St. Louis Soup event unsuccessful.  After all, we did spread the good word of timebanking to an audience of 50+.  We later found out that we came in second place, and by a small margin.  So,we have applied again to present at the next event and will hear back mid-month.  A little money in hand to go toward our growing lending library and some polished marketing would be pretty sweet!    

In the meantime we continue to network and have connected to Gracehill, and M.O.R.E. and even found that we were chosen to be included in the Sustainable Neighborhood Toolkit for the City of St. Louis.  We also received training on the software offered by hOurworld and are just weeks away from beginning regular orientations to grow our collective!