About Us

The Michigan Alliance of TimeBanks is an umbrella organization linking and supporting TimeBanks across the state. We help individuals, organizations and communities establish and run TimeBanks.

Time Banks & Our Beginnings

Our journey for time banking began with our neighbors and friends who continue to contribute every day.

Our Vision

As the Michigan Alliance of TimeBanks, we envision sustainable communities across the state of Michigan that are attractive, vibrant places to live because of the strength of their social networks, and their ability to match unmet community needs with untapped community resources. Ultimately, TimeBanks create communities where people want to live, and TimeBanks add both intrinsic and monetary value to the communities where they exist.

How we help individuals and organizations create TimeBanks:

Educational materials introducing TimeBanking and how to use TimeBank software
Tutorials for individuals and groups seeking to set up a TimeBank
A website where people can access resources and connect to other TimeBank enthusiasts
Moderated discussion groups
Promotion of best practice and quality standards
Shared publicity and media resources and
Fostering TimeBanking strategic alliances.

TimeBanks exist to promote exchanges that honor five core values.

Assets – We are all assets

Every human being has something to contribute.

Redefining Work – Some work is beyond price

Work has to be redefined to value whatever it takes to raise healthy children, build strong families, revitalize neighborhoods, make democracy work, advance social justice, make the planet sustainable. That kind of work needs to be honored, recorded and rewarded.

Reciprocity – Helping works better as a two-way street

The question: “How can I help you?” needs to change so we ask: “How can we help each other build the world we both will live in?”

Social Networks – We need each other

Networks are stronger than individuals. People helping each other reweave communities of support, strength & trust. Community is built upon sinking roots, building trust, and creating networks. Special relationships are built on commitment.

Respect – Every human being matters

Respect underlies freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and everything we value. Respect supplies the heart and soul of democracy. When respect is denied to anyone, we all are injured. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some future point.

Testimonials

TimeBanking is a wonderful initiative started locally by Kim Hodge, that enables neighbors to reach out and help one another. Creates bonds and community while providing purpose to our Seniors our Youth the unemployed and disabled, all who have skills and talents to share. In the foreseeable future, TimeBank volunteers could help assist Service Agencies and municipalities provide at risk services due to decreased funding and tight budgets to our communities helping there as well.

Janet Jackson

Oakland County Commisioner

The MATB training took the mystery out of starting a TimeBank by teaching me how to talk to others about TimeBanking, how to assemble a “Kitchen Cabinet”, and identify Leadership roles. Also, we discussed possible issues that may appear and how to avoid them. Also, a check list of tasks to be completed prior to launching my TB was invaluable.

Rhonda Catt

Kalamazoo Resident

Our Story

Kim Hodge read about TimeBanking in the Detroit Free Press in September 2007 and realized it was a tool she could use to get to know her neighbors. She researched the concept, found TimeBanks USA, bought their Start Up Kit and took it to her neighborhood Homeowners Association’s annual meeting in January 2008. About 20 people said they were interested in learning more, so Kim hosted a potluck meeting at her home the next week. From there, sprang the Lathrup Village TimeBank, one of the first community TimeBanks in Michigan.

When the organization began receiving kudos and stories in local newspapers, residents from other communities wanted to join a TimeBank. Lathrup Village TimeBank Coordinators Kim Hodge and Richard Reeves wanted to find a way to spread the concept of TimeBanking to those who were outside their neighborhood, so they founded the MI Alliance of TimeBanks in May 2009.

Since then the MI Alliance of TimeBanks has helped to start and support several TimeBanks throughout Michigan, as well as introduce more communities and organizations to the core values of TimeBanking.

Reasons for people’s interest in TimeBanks has shifted over the years from initial interest in filling financial gaps during the Great Recession to fighting isolation and political divisiveness to supporting those in need during the pandemic to addressing climate change emergencies to providing mutual aid amongst marginalized communities. Regardless of people’s initial interests, TimeBanks create communities that are more resilient to the challenges of our time.

Our People

Our Board

Nancy Chinn, Treasurer

Nancy has a BS in education from North Texas State University and has lived in Royal Oak,MI for the past 43 years. She has two adult daughters and seven wonderful grandchildren. Her partner Vic Lupu of 29 years is a self taught metal sculptor. Nancy retired in 2005 from a career of 28 years as a claims adjuster for St. Paul Insurance Co., which later merged with Travelers. Since that time she formed her own business working with attorneys to represent insurance carriers who have no one in state when a “person with authority” is required at a court-ordered settlement conference or facilitation. She belongs to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Salvation Army, is a volunteer at the American Indian Health Services Clinic in Detroit and is on the kitchen cabinet of the Hour Exchange TimeBank.

Ruth Wilson, President

Ruth Wilson is a Madison Heights resident who was born in Detroit and spent many years in Royal Oak. She has worked in non profit healthcare and child development providing sales coaching and software training. Ruth currently provides life coaching to promote health, relaxation, and well being through intuition, hypnosis and meditation and volunteers as a prayer chaplain in a non-denominational church.

Ruth believes the current world environment is not well suited to most people’s basic needs for health and well being. One of the biggest unmet needs is community and connection among diverse people. She supports time banks as a way of fostering such connections.

Jennie Weakley, Vice President

Jennie is the deputy director at Bridging Communities, a Detroit-based community development organization where she’s been since 2010. She is the proud parent of a teenager who is preparing for the adventures of life after high school, and credits the network of support she was able to build within her local TimeBank for the parental successes she’s had. She was an organizer with the Unity in Our Community TimeBank for over a decade, and has served on the board of the MI Alliance of TimeBanks in several capacities over the years. Although she is currently residing in Dearborn, she was a long-time Detroiter and plans to return one day because of her love for the city and its people. Jennie has a love for grassroots organizing, encouraging equity, challenging systems to promote change, and building relationships wherever she can. As a former youth worker she also believes in life-long mentoring, and continues to guide young minds through meaningful and lasting relationships

Marwah Ayache, Secretary

Marwah is a part of Unity in our Community TimeBank and the LIT Collaborative. In addition to timebanking, Marwah works as a librarian and previously worked with high school students. She holds her BA in Social Studies with a minor in English and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate in Social Studies and English and a MLIS degree. In her free time, Marwah enjoy writing, reading, playing on the Nintendo Switch, doing yoga, reading tarot cards, listening to podcasts, hanging out in coffee shops/bookstores, riding my skateboard/bike, and catching up on TV

Our Staff

Alice Bagley

Alice grew up in Saginaw, attended college in rural Washington state, and then moved to Detroit in 2012. Alice is the Director of Operations at MI Alliance of TimeBanks as well as the Coordinator of Unity in Our Community TimeBank. When she isn’t doing TimeBank things she grows vegetables in Detroit that she sells through the City Commons Cooperative. Besides City Commons she has been involved in four other cooperative businesses. Cooperatives and TimeBanks are both about bringing people together to accomplish more than they could apart.

Join Our Board!

MI Alliance of TimeBanks is looking for new Board members!

The MI Alliance of TimeBanks has a small Board of Directors that currently meets every other month (January, March, May, etc)

Our small, grassroots organization is looking for new folks with a variety of backgrounds and talents to join our dynamic Board. If you fit one or more of the categories below we would love to talk to you about this opportunity to be more involved in our community. To better reflect our community and do better work we are looking for people

under the age of 30
living/working in rural communities
living with disability or acting as a caregiver for a person with disabilities
living/working in Hamtramck or Pontiac
with a storytelling/communications background
active in the arts community
with fundraising skills/passion
with experience creating professional development curriculum
with experience helping organizations with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice initiatives
with legal experience
of all genders

About the Board of Directors

The MI Alliance of TimeBanks has a small Board of Directors that currently meets every month (January, March, May, etc) on the third Thursday of the month at 6:30 PM. At these Board meetings we review active programming, set budgets, provide guidance to staff, and review the work of Teams/Committees.

The current Teams for the organization are New TimeBank Support, Outreach, Connections Between TimeBanks, Learning Circles, and Fundraising. All members of the Board are expected to be a member of a Team, but you can also join a Team without being a Board Member.

Expectations

Be informed about and aligned with the organization’s mission, goals, policies and services.
Actively participate in all board meetings, discussions and events, paying careful attention to your duties of care, loyalty, obedience and confidentiality.
Be well prepared for all board and committee meetings by reviewing the agenda and any supporting materials provided to you prior to the meeting.

Be respectful and open to the potentially conflicting opinions and points-of-view of your fellow board members.
Actively participate in fundraising activities.