Monday, August 31, 2015

THIS Is How To Support Evolving And Emerging Economies!


I founded The Cowry Collective five years ago out of the strong desire to feel
limitlessly abundant even when I was feeling the pinch of living a full life
while being a new, working mother. I continue the work today -
spreading the message of capitalizing on our human currency so we can
ALL experience a high quality of life. This is my piece of seeking
(economic) justice. I believe in timebanking and I need YOUR support
to attend a priceless experience
- a Jam! Read below, spread the word
and support how you can!

With Gratitude,
Chinyere




I am excited to announce that I have been accepted to attend the
Evolving & Emerging Economies Jam and Bioneers National Conference
in the Bay Area October 13 - 18, 2015
. The Jam is a gathering for three
different levels of change: the internal (self), the interpersonal (relationships)
and the systemic (the whole). It is NOT a conference, seminar or typical
meeting....it is a place for participants to share and reflect on their journeys
...participants come together to share our cultures, our stories, our struggles,
to deepen in our understanding of each other and ourselves...we become
clearer about our vision and work in the world. The Bioneers Conference
is a gathering of over 500 leaders, activists, doers and movers-shakers in
the fields of ecology, economy, education, arts, and culture. I am truly
humbled and elated to have been chosen to be a part of this experience.

Between September 1 and October 1, 2015 I aim to raise $2500 to cover 

travel expenses and tuition to attend the EEE Jam. 

be used to strengthen the breadth and reach of The Cowry Collective. 
At the Jam I'll make priceless and timely connections while highlighting the great 
work we are doing here in St. Louis in a restorative setting. Alternatively, 
checks may be made out to The Cowry Collective and mailed to 
P.O. Box 18711 / St. Louis, MO 63118.  Please reference ‘EEE Jam.’ 
Thank you for your consideration and support! I will return to St. Louis 
re-energized to continue to build the infrastructure of a timebank I founded 
5 years ago!  Read more about the cooperative economic connections I am 
forging between St. Louis and the Bay Area! 



Monday, August 17, 2015

The Cowry Collective Works For The MAN!







The Cowry Collective will travel with other Solidarity Economy St. Louis comrades to Madison Wisconsin this week to take part in the MAN Up Summit and solidify plans for our pilot site launch in St. Louis.  This article was posted originally at Shareable where you can read more from Stephanie Rearick.
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The move to a new economy is underway, whether we like it or not. The many cracks widening in latter-day capitalism are creating new pressures and opportunities for people to do things differently. The real question is whether we patch over those cracks with more of the same, or nurture the seedlings for a more beautiful world that are sprouting up and breaking through.
The amount of work we need to do to solve our social problems, take care of everyone who needs it (all of us), redesign our systems for sustainability, and restore built and natural environments, is vast. But we often have little to no ability to make a living doing this essential work.
Now we're launching a way to change that! Mutual Aid Networks are a new type of cooperative, designed to connect us in a network of mutual support that creates means for us to do exactly what we want to do with our lives, from solving hard problems to taking care of loved ones and neighbors to making art. To launch this effort we will host a MAN Up Summit in Madison Wisconsin August 20-28.
First, we have MAN pilot sites lined up in 16 locations, mostly around the US (including Detroit and St. Louis) but also in UK, Sweden, and France. With interest in Zambia and other farther-flung locations. We are connected to timebanks, transition towns, permaculture practitioners, restorative justice activists, health and wellness projects, and solidarity economy activists. I’m personally most excited by our collaborations with activists against police brutality and the prison industrial complex.
And many of these folks are coming to Madison! This summit will provide opportunities for in-depth exploration, learning, working, and getting to know each other, a rare and valuable treat.
If you can't be here in person you can join some of the activities online, and you're more than welcome to join the Main MAN – the umbrella Mutual Aid Network that connects all of the pilot sites and supporters of the new economy. And you'll see the fruits of the summit as all the pilot sites come online and start sharing their work and learning.

We need all the help we can get raising funds to put on this amazing event! Please contribute and share our crowdfunding site: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mutual-aid-network
Funds go to pay for travel for our out-of-town trainers and co-creators, plus space and food for gatherings.

Friday, July 24, 2015

Learn How To Begin Using Your Human Currency!

We are excited to now be offering two monthly Timebanking 101 Classes.  

Check out the dates in the flyer below and plan to join us one Wednesday evening or Saturday morning.  

These classes give you a quick introduction to timebanking and hands-on experience with Time and Talents, 
the free software we use to track our exchanges through hOurworld.  Timebanking is a way to meet others, 
get help in the home, learn a new skill or trade and participate in local economy, all the while honoring your
own talents and using your human currency.  

This is a great refresher for members who have joined in the last year and half, too!


Monday, July 6, 2015

Summer Social July 19th!

Join us for our Annual Summer Social!

We meet Sunday July 19, 2015 at Tower Grove Park in the Humboldt South Pavilion.  We enjoyed great food, a music circle, games and children's activities last summer.  Come out and help us make new memories this year!
Earn cowries for attending, bringing a potluck dish to share, games, instruments or a friend!  Active members pick up your new Cowry Collective button!

  



Timebanking 101 With The Cowry Collective At Our New Northside Hub!


























We will be meeting in the computer lab in Room 209.  Meet others, gain hands-on experience with hOurworld software, set up    your account  and be on your way to money - free exchanging with 130+ other members this summer!