Mid Maine TimeBank

Dr. Edgar Cahn, the founder of timebanking, is coming to the University of Maine at Augusta on April 13, 2010! He will serve as keynote speaker for UMA's Economic Symposium, explaining the wealth of opportunity outside the market system available in every neighborhood. If you would like more information regarding this event, please e-mail: info@midmetimebank.org. Space is limited. Edgar will also be available to help steer our timebank, and we'd like to show him a warm welcome. If you would like to help plan his welcome, we would greatly appreciate it.

Edgar Cahn: Soldier in the War on Poverty and Injustice

Dr. Edgar Cahn is a civil rights lawyer and social innovator. As an activist, he has made significant impacts in areas as diverse as hunger and malnutrition, poverty, indigenous people's rights, public services, community health, public housing and social welfare.

His work began in the 1960’s with the Kennedy Administration, helping to develop Americorp VISTA as an offshoot of the PeaceCorps. He began the National Legal Services Program, drafting legislation for the “War on Poverty” during the Johnson Administration using innovative concepts of co-production with community partners. In the 70’s, he founded Antioch Law School in the District of Columbia (now the David A. Clarke Law School), fostering public interest law and a new breed of lawyers working for the common good.

Dr. Cahn is perhaps best known for his latest idea, “Time Banking,” which began in the early 80’s as an innovative alternative economy, using co-production and the theme of equality to foster self-reliance and a new way of delivering services to the needy while engaging them to help others. His book, “No More Throwaway People,” explains the concept of a core economy underlying the market economy, placing tangible value on time. The TimeBank model has been adopted by enterprises in more than 300 communities in 23 countries in North America, Europe and Asia. The smallest has fewer than 15, the largest over 8,000. Internet capabilities have grown to help timebanking evolve into a vibrant networking tool and the future is bright for this expanding program.

If you are interested in attending this event, e-mail us your contact info and we will add you to our general mailing list. Space is limited. E-mail: info@midmetimebank.org, subject: UMA Economic Symposium.

Edgar Cahn is a captivating speaker and a distinguished scholar. If you are interested in having Dr. Cahn speak for your group at your convenience while he is here in April, please contact Stacey Jacobsohn, Coordinator of the Mid Maine TimeBank:

info@midmetimebank.org