Conscientious Projector presents a screening of Shift Change: Putting Democracy to Work on worker-owner and cooperative business models.
http://shiftchange.org/

Thurs, May 8th at 7PM FREE

At Armory Center for the Arts 145 North Raymond Avenue Pasadena, California 91103 (1..5 blocks from the Metro Gold Line Memorial Station stop)

Save the date April 25th, 2014 6PM! Our first Community Revolving Loan Fund recipient Pacific Electric Coop will be having a launch party at the L.A. Eco Village 117 Bimini Pl L.A., CA 90004. RSVP at info@pacificelectric.coop

Help Shape the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund!

Community Meeting: Sunday, January 12th, 2014

Join us for a round table meeting as we shape the community criteria and loan approval process for the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund!

This meeting is open to all interested Arroyo S.E.C.O. Network of Time Bank members but will be most relevant for those whom:

• are considering applying for one of our community supported micro-loans

• have questions about how the fund will work

• are interested in shaping review policy

• are interested in serving on one of our Review Panels


Please join us for a very hands-on meeting in the New Year!

Sunday, January 12th, 2014
11am - 1pm
Armory Center for the Arts
Community Room
145 N. Raymond Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91103

Space is limited to 25 people. You must RSVP to Sarah at asecolocaleconomy@gmail.com if you'd like to attend.

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1401790446733541/

THANK YOU!!!

www.asntb.com

By Sarah McGowan Dear
Community Revolving Loan Fund Project Developer

Today’s mainstream economy leaves so much to be desired, and undoubtedly its failings are likely one of the many reasons we embrace and value our time banking community as much as we do.

Many of us have already come to the conclusion that money can’t buy happiness. And in fact, much research shows that it’s the quality of our relationships, sense of connection and engagement in community, and access to resources that will determine whether we feel like we’re living the life we want instead of the one allowed us by mainstream paradigms and systems.

In large part, the extractive economy asks us to bear the hefty burden of its machinations - as laborers making less than a living wage, as hopeful entrepreneurs who believe in the “American dream”, as people saddled with far too much predatory debt in the pursuit of education, happiness and an elusive quality of life. But time bankers are people of great agency and the tool we use to create community – the exchange of our time – is proof alone that by looking through a different lens, we can wrestle a great many beautiful things into being just by turning some of these parasitic systems on their heads.

It is in this spirit of innovation that the Community Revolving Loan Fund was created and particularly in partnership with the Permaculture Credit Union. In truth, it would be wonderful to have a local credit union working with us to administer our loan fund, but in our search for a local partner, we were met with blank stares. When asking local banks what they do for the community, we were told, “we give to the United Way.” Though charitable, it’s a strategy that doesn’t directly benefit the community in which they operate. That’s just one example but it says a lot about how little the financial world understands sustainability, community enrichment and human-scale economics.

The Permaculture Credit Union not only understands these principles, but is willing to participate in a loan fund for us that quite honestly is peanuts compared to their other programs. They understand why “small is beautiful” (E.F. Schumacher) and how even a small fund can make a very big impact over time if stewarded thoughtfully.

This week I’ve been working with the PCU’s president, Bill Sommers, on our Memorandum of Understanding that spells out the roles and responsibilities of our loan fund and their credit union. When I asked if we could have a 60-day grace period between signing and repayment, Bill answered, “yes.” When I asked if we could extend the default period to 120 days, Bill answered “yes.” And when I asked if we’d be allowed to get creative to help a borrower in trouble, Bill answered, “of course – you can design this program however you want.” And that’s the beauty of our particular loan fund – we are building it in a collaborative world of yes’s rather than the usual extractive world of patent no’s.

We’ve already done the hard part to give our members access to invaluable resources by leveraging those already present in our community. And by doing so, we’re able to stand together and make many small voices become loudly unified.

L.A. Eco Village: 20 Years as a Model of Sustainable Living By George Villanueva | KCET on December 19, 2013

Born in 1993, in the same 90004 zip code where I was born and raised, the Los Angeles Eco Village (LAEV) has embodied what cooperative living can be when a collective of people commit to ideals of community and sustainable urban space. Last week the LAEV celebrated its 20 year anniversary with a fundraiser event, marking their enduring pledge to sustainable living. LAEV is nestled within a two block stretch of Bimini Place and White House Place, off of First Street, just east of Vermont Avenue. The space includes cooperative affordable housing, native landscape, on-site food growth, micro social enterprises, a community land trust, pedestrian-friendly streetscape, bike-friendly amenities, and a host of democratic community-building activities. To visit is to not only feel the history of community transformation, but also be inspired about what a more livable L.A. can exemplify.

Read full article...

Funding a Better Future for Time Bank Entrepreneurs
Sarah McGowan Dear

Donate to the Community Revolving Loan Fund!

This fall the Community Revolving Loan Fund (CRLF) and Local Economy Incubator (LEI) launched, serving the Arroyo Seco Network of Time Banks (ASNTB). 

Intended to help our community of artisans, entrepreneurs, visionaries and worker-owned cooperatives gain access to resources that often come with a great price tag in the extractive economy, both new projects seek to educate, support and empower the ASNTB through micro-loans and access to professional development.

The CRLF is the first-ever loan fund of its kind to be created by a Time Bank! 

After receiving a development grant (that also capitalizes 50% of the fund) from the Metabolic Studio, a direct charitable activity of the Annenberg Foundation led by artist and foundation director, Lauren Bon, we’re now in the process of raising $5,000 in matching funds from the community to begin lending in January 2014.

Time Bank members are enterprising, resourceful and creative. Many have already launched local businesses, restaurants and worker-owned cooperatives. More of us have developed handmade products such as jams, jewelry, clothing, botanicals and bread. Our fund provides low interest micro-loans to scale up production, upgrade equipment or purchase materials and supplies. 

Loan requests in the amount of $500-5,000 will be considered through a Time Bank developed application and panel review process. From the incredible support of our financial partner, the Santa Fe Permaculture Credit Union, we will retain full control of the review, management and closing process, offering our entrepreneurs access to truly community-supported small business loans that will further help them either improve or establish their credit.  

The fund is especially supportive of women and the economically distressed, ventures that promote environmental and/or community sustainability, ventures that show direct and positive impact on the ASNTB community and social entrepreneurs or cooperatives with a social mission. We hope to see today’s borrowers become tomorrow’s mentors and donors. 

Help us crowdfund this pioneering project! 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today to support our enterprising members! Click here to donate. 

And click here to learn more about the history of the ASECO Community Revolving Loan Fund and its eligibility requirements, our financial partner, the Santa Fe Permaculture Credit Union, the Local Economy Incubator, our timeline for launch and the ways you can get involved!

Los Feliz Time Bank hosts the August Member Potluck on Sunday, August 11th!! All neighborhoods are welcome.

We will be screening an amazing documentary called Shift Change about the power of Cooperatives. Stories of secure, dignified jobs in democratic workplaces.
View the trailer here, http://shiftchange.org/video-clips/

This film is relevant to our new Community Revolving Loan Fund http://www.asntb.com/revolving-loan-fund.html AND our Local Economy Incubator http://www.asntb.com/local-economy-incubator.html

Come if you want to learn more!
When: Sunday, Aug 11th potluck begins at 7:30PM Movie starts at 8:00PM
Where: Mulholland Fountain near Griffith Park at the intersection of Riverside Dr and Los Feliz Blvd. Look for the Echo Park Film Center Cinebus http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org/filmmobile/filmmobile.html

Details: Earn a time credit for bringing a dish. Meet your fellow members and enjoy some delicious food. Bring your own cup, plate and utensil. zero waste.

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/341846045947679/