Our Vision

hOur Exchange is an integral part of a thriving community that values everyone and recognizes that our well-being depends on the well-being of everyone around us. We are one spoke in the wheel of a solidarity economy that supports a world of caring. We meet our members where they are and support them in creating the kinds of lives they want to live.

Our Mission

Hour Exchange is a network of neighbors dedicated to mutual support and resource-sharing, empowering individuals to utilize their unique abilities to enhance their lives and communities. We believe that everyone has something to offer, and we welcome members with a wide range of knowledge, skills, and resources. By joining our timebank, you will have access to a diverse community that can provide you with support and compensate you for your work outside of the traditional money economy. Our goal is to build a resilient community where everyone is valued and everyone's needs are met.

Our Purpose

hOur Exchange is a time exchange: a self-organizing, cross-fertilizing network of individuals creating regenerative ways to serve ourselves, each other and our communities outside the cash economy. Members share their talents and services, and record their hours, which they later exchange for services others provide. This is a love economy rooted in abundance, where everyone's hours are equal. Relationships, equity, reciprocity and justice are the heart of who we are and what we do.

We acknowledge...

That we are all participating in timebanking on land that was appropriated from the Wabanaki people who originally lived here. Since our activities are shared digitally to the internet, let's also take a moment to consider the legacy of colonization embedded within the technology, structures, and ways of thinking we use every day. We are using equipment and high-speed internet, not available in many indigenous communities. These technologies that are central to much of what we do at Hour Exchange, leave significant carbon footprints, contributing to changing climates that disproportionately affect indigenous people worldwide. I invite you to join us in acknowledging all this, as well as our shared responsibility to make good use of this time and for each of us to consider our roles in reconciliation, decolonization, and working to limit the negative impacts of our actions. Adapted from Adrienne Wong
We encourage you to participate in and support the many initiatives of the Wabanaki Alliance

At hOur Exchange we also believe that Black Lives Matter. We stand in solidarity with communities of color across the state and the country who are actively working to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacist culture. We encourage you to browse the many black owned businesses in Maine featured at Black Owned Maine

Our Time Bank History

In late 1995, Dr. Richard Rockefeller, the founder of hOur Exchange, had a transformative experience when he heard Dr. Edgar Cahn speak about Time Dollars. At that time, Richard's primary focus had been on environmental issues. However, after listening to Edgar's insights, Richard realized the interconnectedness between taking care of our environment and taking care of each other.

Driven by this newfound perspective, Richard was determined to bring the concept of Time Dollars to Maine. He passionately shared his vision and in 1997, Maine hosted an International Time Dollar Congress in collaboration with Dr. Edgar Cahn. This gathering brought together 40 Service Exchanges from around the world, providing a platform for participants to share their experiences and learn from one another.

For the Portland community, the Congress served as a catalyst for a new vision and direction. It marked the beginning of a local Service Exchange and laid the foundation for what would later become hOur Exchange. Over the years, HXP has grown and adapted alongside its members. It has undergone name changes, transitioning from the Maine Time Dollar Network to Portland Time Bank, and ultimately evolving into the innovative organization it is today.

Through its journey, hOur Exchange has introduced numerous pioneering programs, constantly pushing boundaries and exploring new ways to serve its community. The organization continues to evolve, guided by its commitment to fostering reciprocity and building a stronger, more interconnected society. For more information on the history of hour exchange organizations see our media resources and these links of interest.