The Marketplace brings to life our interconnectedness by acknowledg-

ing that we all have gifts and we all have value. When a diverse group

of people gather to engage in real life, real time exchange we take the

time to:

• see each other as part of a support network

• learn to ask for what we need,

• continually explore and reveal the value that we have in our com-

munity.

As a result we increase abundance in our community and build relation-

ships across differences.

How does it work?

Members sit in a circle. The market leader goes around the circle as

members bid for time. Members can also choose to “pass.” When every-

one in the circle has had a chance to bid for time, the leader gives each

person who bid for time an opportunity to make an offer, a request, a

declaration or an announcement. During their time, members can also

receive responses.

NEIGHBORUP FRESH PRACTICES

The Marketplace

Roles:

• Marketplace Leader

• Market Time Keeper

• Market Recorder

• Market Helper

Materials:

• Flip chart paper

• Markers

• Explanatory Posters • Timing devices • Cards to exchange

info

Contact Lj at

(216) 229-0555

lsylvia@neighborhoodgrants.org

or come to our office at

1988 Ford Drive

MARKETPLACE KITS

AND TRAINING ARE

AVAILABLE

The Marketplace is a high energy, 20-30 Minute exercise that can be

used to help members identify and exchange gifts, favors, and advice.

Brief Description of the Exercise

1. Host calls members into a circle, standing or seated.

2. Host describes the exercise using explanatory posters.

3. Host goes around the circle asking people to bid for time: 30 seconds, 1 minute, or pass —to make

an offer, request, declaration or announcement.

4. Scribe records the names of the neighbors and the time that they requested.

5. The Host goes through the list one by one as the neighbors make offers, requests, declarations

and announcements.

6. The Timekeeper helps to keep people to time limit with a fun timing device - bell, applause etc.

7. Scribe records all offers, request, etc. and responses on the flip chart paper.

8. Helper distributes “match cards” for those who respond to offers and requests, and assists the

market scribe.

Marketplace Variations

• Based the amount of people in the group and the amount of time you have, you can change the

time bids available. We find that 30 seconds or 1 minute works well when we have a large group

(30 people and 20 minutes, for example). However, this doesn’t allow time for deep exchange of

information. If you have a small group with more time (10 people and 20 minutes, for example)

try allowing for longer bids of 1, 2 or 3 minutes. This will give folks the chance to hear responses

during their bid.

You can also tailor the Marketplace to be topic specific. With a group of returning committee members

and new committee members, we changed the marketplace so new members could request help

and returning members could offer advice specifically about the work of the committee.

We got a new stove and

need to know how to hook

up the gas. Can anyone

help?

I know how to hook

up a gas stove. I

can tell you how to

do it yourself! I work in college admis-

sions and I’m willing to

help people who are ap-

plying to college.

Could you come to our basket-

ball program and help a few

guys?

I had all my

needs met!

The Marketplace was developed by Frankie Blackburn and Bill Traynor whil working in Silver Springs, MD and

Boston, MA. They shared it with Neighbor Up in 2012 and we’ve been using it in Cleveland ever since. We hope

you’ll give it a try!