Edgar Cahn and clock from Timebanks Korea FB post
Edgar Cahn
The world has lost a wonderful pioneer and trailblazer to the TimeBank movement on Sunday morning, January 23, 2022. Dr. Edgar Cahn, age 86, author of Time Dollars and No More Throw-Away People, and one of the founding fathers of TimeBanking, embodied the highest ideals of both mobilizing communities to come together to express their strengths and to restore mutual care. He created a new way to link untapped social capacity to unmet social needs and for communities to come together to help promote trust, reciprocity, and citizen engagement.
In the most beautiful way, Edgar moved people from his heart. He made each person feel that their problem is important and that he has all the time in the world for them. Thank you, Edgar. On behalf of our entire team and board at TimeBanks.Org, please accept our deepest sympathies to not just his family but all of us that have been deeply touched by him.
Edgar Cahn, the world wasn’t ready for you to leave. TimeBanks.Org and those that pioneered along with you will continue to carry out your vision. As Edgar would say, “Yes We Can”.
Just Released
The Other Pandemic: Social isolation and timebanking
by Edgar Cahn and Christine Gray, 2021
In 1980, Edgar Cahn dreamed up a new kind of money. This new money would have no price: every hour would count the same. 1 hour = 1 hour.
Passionate about social justice, Edgar saw timebanking as a way to restore community, to recognize and reward civic engagement. In the decades that followed, he became its strong, persistent champion, promoting timebanking as a tool for creating a more just, more caring world. In 1995 he founded the Time Dollar Institute — now known as TimeBanks.org — to promote timebanking in the US and around the world.
In his book No More Throw-Away People, Edgar listed four core values for timebanking. He later added a fifth. These values have come to be widely shared, and many timebanks strive to follow them.
The 5 Core Values
Asset Every one of us has something of value to share with someone else.
Redefining Work There are some forms of work that money will not easily pay for, like building strong families, revitalizing neighborhoods, making democracy work, advancing social justice. Time credits were designed to reward, recognize and honor that work.
Reciprocity Helping that works as a two-way street empowers everyone involved – the receiver as well as the giver. The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “Will you help someone too?” Paying it forward ensures that, together, we help each other build the world we all will live in.
Social Networks Helping each other, we reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built by sinking roots, building trust, creating networks. By using timebanking, we can strengthen and support these activities.
Respect Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. We strive to respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.
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