Brooklyn Torch Project » Updates

Wanna Hang Out?

Mary — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:05:52 +0000

Stephen Burke, the president of the Ithaca Hours local currency recently got in touch to say he’s coming to Brooklyn! If you want to meet him and ask some questions about what it’s like to live and work with alternative currency, get yourself down to Red Hook. Details from Stephen:

Hello Brooklyn (Torch, and other) friends -

Some Ithacans with ties to Brooklyn (we’re natives) and to Brooklyn Torch (we work with Ithaca Hours community currency) are coming to Brooklyn to play energetic old-timey music, at Rocky Sullivan’s, in Red Hook, at 9 pm on Saturday 22 October.

Evil City String Band are hoping Rocky’s, which we love, will be a regular NYC destination for ourselves and other good acts we know. Come have fun and help make it happen! We would love to meet you! Thank you!

Open Call Line

Mary — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:40:39 +0000

Now that we’ve had a few local events and we have met some challenges and opportunities with a degree of success and mixed-success (always forward, never straight!) We are working on a mission statement and future goals and overall ideals to improve how we say what we do. I’d love to hear what you guys might want to know about the project. I.e., what the hell are you talking about? Or, what is the internal rate return for investing in a project like this? Or, what does the bill look like? You know, anything. As I draft and come up with language on what we are, I will post semi-non-regularly here and at Clusterflock a friendly blog I am a part of. Just letting you know, there’s more on the way. For now, our lines are open. Call up and ask!

We’re in the News!

Mary — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:01:55 +0000

Check out our recent stories below:

January, 2012
CNN Money included Brooklyn Torch among 11 local currencies available (or in development,) in the U.S.

December, 2011
Brooklyn Based, the great email newsletter (you should subscribe!) shares a well-researched thoughtful thirteen paragraphs.

July/August, 2011
The Brooklyn Rail reviews Bushwick Open Studios and names The Brooklyn Torch in a conclusion about how to make Bushwick grow.

July 5, 2011
WFMU with Bronwyn and Jay host a show about patriotism and money. Founder, Mary Jeys is later joined by BerkSHARES founder, Susan Witt to talk about local currencies.

March 11, 2011
German Radio Anyone care to translate?

May 12, 2010
L Magazine explains DIY Money to Brooklynites

April 17, 2010
Good mentions us at the bottom of an article in a wonderful Neighborhoods Issue.

February 16, 2010
Blogging Stocks on how a local currency might not be that crazy after all.

February 1, 2010
MSN Money shares Smart Money’s article with links to us. Hi, MSN visitors!

January 15, 2010
Smart Money on Real-Life Monopoly Money.

December 7, 2009
Sheepless.org on local currencies.

November 26, 2009
Macleans on Making Money.

November 4, 2009
Zeit, a German article on the state of the US economy, leading with the Brooklyn Torch.

August 25, 2009
WNYC radio segment with Mary Jeys, Brooklyn Torch founder; Paul Glover, Ithaca Hours founder and Susan Witt, BerkSHARES founder

August 18, 2009
NY Times Freakonomics Blog asks Cash, Credit, or Torches?

August 18, 2009
Fast Company What Would Neighborhood Currency Look Like?

August 12, 2009
The Daily News Brooklyn Feature that broke the story of our project to the world.

Help Design The Brooklyn Torch!

Mary — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:39:16 +0000

This Saturday, August 8th at 5pm we will be at FEAST hosting a table in McGolrick Park/Church of the Messiah on Russell Street in Greenpoint. We invite you and your friends and family can come and help us brainstorm about what should be on our paper money. FEAST is a great event that encourages you to be an art benefactor by paying a sliding scale entry fee for dinner and a ballot. The ballot is for you to vote for the proposal of your choosing. It should be fun, and we’re looking forward to meeting you and seeing your ideas!

Burning Through the Summer

Mary — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:44:21 +0000

The Brooklyn Torch project continues through the Summer of 2009. We are still looking for collaborators in participation and design.

We are also finding plenty of inspiration from The Summer of Fun Manifesto. It is in this spirit that we burn our Brooklyn Torch well into the summer nights. Please contact us at committee [at] brooklyntorch [dot] org for more information.

We won a FEAST Grant!

Mary — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:06:56 +0000

Thank you to all the FEASTers who voted for the project on May 9th. It was a wonderful evening of delicious food and conversations. Happiest of all, we had a great show of support for a local currency for Brooklyn. We are well on our way now to producing something to keep our wealth flowing for us!

How Can I Participate?

Mary — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 18:55:43 +0000

We need participants at every level. In order for this project to succeed, we need as many users involved.
Steering Committee
Brooklyn Torch Project needs volunteers to help plan and implement the currency. We are looking for a diverse network of contributors. For example, if you are someone with experience with large scale civic planning, or a local organizer, we are looking for you.
Local Business Owners
If you own a local business in North Brooklyn, please speak to us about joining the network. We would love to list your business among our participants and send trade through your doors.
Artist/Designers
We are looking for artists to help design the paper currency. The design will be on a physically traded object, used by everyone in the system. Designers should be up for collaboration and ready to meet the challenge of counterfeit proofing.
Local Printmakers
We are looking for local printmakers to collaborate with the Brooklyn Torch Project to print a counterfeit proof paper bill set.
Public Relations
Calling all media outlets such as local papers, blogs and email newsletters to help spread the word of our project. The more people that understand the mission of The Brooklyn Torch project, the more chance of its success which is directly tied to the improved success of our community.

The Brooklyn Torch Project Begins!

Mary — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:11:46 +0000

What is the Brooklyn Torch Project?
The Brooklyn Torch Project aims to create a local currency to benefit the local area businesses and artists. The project will bring together both artist communities and immigrant communities in our area to improve integration of social groups and economies and boost our pride.

What is a Local Currency?
A local currency is a method of trading goods and services meant to supplement other means of trade while improving the community wealth. Local currencies circulate in a defined region. Money does not leave the area because trade is restricted by the currency boundaries.

Where have Local Currencies Succeeded?
In Ithaca, NY. Founder, Stephen Burke describes, “An Ithaca HOUR will generate 30 times more economic activity than [a dollar] will,” This means more money for their community. Some communities even have wages paid in the local currency because the local money is worth more in the community than Federal dollars.

Is a Local Currency Legal?
Yes. The IRS, FBI, US Secret Service, Federal Reserve and Treasury Department have all declared the printing and use of local currencies to be legal.