{"id":247963,"date":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-07T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/one-hour-at-a-time\/"},"modified":"2014-11-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-11-07T08:00:00","slug":"one-hour-at-a-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/one-hour-at-a-time\/","title":{"rendered":"One hour at a time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Uptown TimeBank uses barter system to assist the mentally ill, elderly<\/strong><\/p>\n

Por BJ Coleman<\/p>\n

Times change. Terms change. Manic depression is now called bipolar disorder, the result of diagnostic research to create a more accurate term.<\/p>\n

\"Kerry<\/a>
Kerry Martin plans to start an Uptown time bank. (Courtesy Kerry Martin)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The psychological condition is characterized by wild swings between high energy, euphoria and self-confidence at one \u201cpole\u201d versus near incapacity to act, depressed mood and self-deprecation at the other \u201cpole.\u201d<\/p>\n

With such whipsawed emotional states, is it any wonder that about half of those diagnosed as bipolar attempt suicide? Fortunately, not all succeed. And now, increasing efforts in Uptown are geared toward making the current suicide rate of 20 percent among bipolar sufferers diminish, ideally until bipolar suicide vanishes completely from the community.<\/p>\n

Kerry Martin moved to University Heights in 2013 after living with her parents for a time in order to survive a major depressive episode caused by her bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n

The condition is no respecter of persons. Martin is a highly accomplished business and marketing professional with a Harvard degree, yet she nearly hit bottom without a bounce back. She had support from her parents, who reside in nearby Orange County, and her large family of five siblings. Martin fears for those without strong familial and social connections to fall back on, the forgotten ones she calls \u201cuntethered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now recovered from that extreme low with the support of her partner, she is initiating a neighbor-to-neighbor community effort to empower individuals perceived as marginalized or disconnected \u2014 such as bipolar people \u2014 to help themselves. In early October, Martin announced creation of the Hope Xchange Uptown TimeBank, in conjunction with the Bipolar Parenting Foundation and an online crowd-funding campaign, to raise awareness and funds for this mental-wellness initiative in San Diego\u2019s Uptown communities.<\/p>\n

Why Uptown? Martin explains that this area in the greater San Diego urban region is \u201cfriendly, open and receptive.\u201d She also notes that the area is home to a population of varied individuals who can mutually participate and benefit from her efforts. The persons she envisions empowering are vulnerable and socially isolated by age, disability or mental illness. Moreover, Martin points to Uptown\u2019s numerous non-profit organizations that work to improve the lives of the mentally ill.<\/p>\n

A \u201ctime bank\u201d? In an era of limited money and few jobs, exchanging volunteer work hours directly from person to person instead of mediated through financial exchanges, which may distort personal contributor value, is revolutionary and egalitarian in comparison.<\/p>\n

The hour-for-hour swap through time banking means that everyone\u2019s time is equal, and each individual is treated as an equal to every other. One hour\u2019s work \u201cpaid\u201d into the time bank yields a one-hour time credit that may be claimed and \u201cspent\u201d from another volunteer worker participating in the collaboration. A severely impoverished person can join without expending scarce cash. This works for the person who has nothing but time.<\/p>\n

The model for time banking was pioneered by Edgar S. Cahn, who saw the potential for time as a medium of exchange capable of bypassing economic valuations harmful to distressed populations. Martin cites studies indicating that the people benefitting most from time banks are elderly, mentally ill or disabled. Furthermore, the greatest levels of participation in time banking come from military veterans and seniors. Overall, participants typically put in more volunteer hours to the bank than they consume. The result: Time-bank participants experience better physical and mental well-being, and they become more employable in the process.<\/p>\n

Kerry Martin believes that the Hope Xchange Uptown TimeBank will make it possible to rebuild the community from the ground up, one person at a time, one hour at a time, to \u201creweave community ties binding neighbors to neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martin envisions a re-creation of the caring, small-town networks of bygone days, in which neighbors naturally intervened when anything seemed amiss with another member of the community. She understands that overcoming \u201ctrust issues\u201d will be one hurdle, which is why the project will include a physical presence to humanize and demystify the online presence, and begin the person-to-person reconnection.<\/p>\n

\u201cHope is what makes all the difference, in my mind,\u201d Martin said. \u201cNothing is so empowering for people who feel diminished as being able to give something of value in exchange for their own needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The technical build for the project will require an estimated $105,000. An early need will be a storefront office to serve as a drop-in center for enrollment in the program and for special events like monthly potluck dinners. Martin has her eye on a \u201cdream house\u201d on 30th Street to welcome possible participants, answering their questions and overcoming any doubts about the safety of exchanges with unknown neighbors.<\/p>\n

The Uptown TimeBank is expected to launch in early November. Visit the beta site at hopexchangeuptowntimebank.org<\/a>. To learn more about the Hope Xchange program, visit hopexchangenonprofit.org. Those interested in donating or corporate sponsorships may visit bit.ly\/donateforhope<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2014P\u00f3ngase en contacto con BJ Coleman en barshajo@netscape.net<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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