Hour Exchange Portland is a service exchange based on Time, the currency of equality
that empowers individuals to utilize their assets and enhance their lives, neighborhood and
community.
Assets: We are all assets. Every human being has something of value to contribute.
Equality: At the heart of every time exchange is equality. One hour of service equals one Time Dollar, regardless of the service. All people are
valued equally.
Reciprocity: Helping works better as a two way street. The question, “How can I help you?” needs to be changed to, “How
can we help each other build the world we both want to live in?”
Redefining Work: Work is beyond price. Work must be redefined to include all of the activities it takes to sustain families, neighborhoods and
communities, to help democracy work and to advance social justice. This kind of work needs to
be honored.
Respect: Everyone matters. We must respect where people are in the moment, not where we hope they will be at some
future point.
