A group in Rochester is working to build community by changing the way we buy things from one another.
Alternative economy may sound like a euphemism for communism, but the people at Roc Share say it doesn't have to be anti-capitalist. People are still trading goods and services, they're just adjusting their currencies. The organization wants to introduce people to this idea, but slowly. Their first step is ShareFest.
ShareFest is a week-long event that will showcase businesses, groups, organizations, and individuals all tweaking and hacking the traditional system of commerce. There will be potlucks, seed swaps, and other events, and a lot of these programs operate under barter systems or pay-what-you-can models.
The highlight of the event is a Free Market where people can donate used items as well as services or skills for a big party-meets-free-yard-sale.
Andre Primus is the co-founder of RocShare. He says this event is intended to build community.
"Sharing systems aren't based on money, they're based on relationships. They form strong bonds between people of different cultures and it helps to reduce the sort of frictions that happen when you have a lot of people coming into contact like that."
He says ShareFest is just the beginning of their long-term vision for the future of the city.
"We believe that an economy is an outgrowth of a culture. And that if we can change the economic culture in Rochester that we can change the direction that Rochester is going, that we can push it farther into good directions, and that we can really make it more equitable for everybody."
Primus says one of the goals of the organization is the work toward creating a better standard of living for the city's poor.
ShareFest starts next week. You can get a full calendar of events at their website.
