FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

"Calls for a 'new' economy in lower-income communities and communities of color are not new. In fact, our communities have long innovated collective strategies for survival, such as mutual aid, community organizing, self-help, and cooperatives of all kinds, showing us that not only is another world possible but it is already here in bits and pieces." 

- Solidarity Economy Initiative, Massachusetts (2017)

Bartering is a long withstanding ancestral tradition based in the exchange of material goods, knowledge, and services to meet our needs, making our communities (ideally) less reliant on the dollar. While this theory is a fundamental part of our mission, Bartering Babes challenges community members to strive for reciprocal relationships of quality and care for one another's wellbeing rather than transactional relationships measured by quantity or obligation. 

This organization grew from a seed of curiosity, knowing that not everyone has the privilege to pack up and "escape" capitalism. Knowing that we can't claim to advocate for community care if we are comfortable leaving a neighbor behind for self-preservation. Bartering is not the end of a long, hard-fought, tiring battle against capitalism; it is the beginning of evolutionary change...changes that we can see in real time in our present realities. Bartering may not be an escape, but that doesn't mean we can't use it as a model to help us return to our roots and rebuild a system that can sustain future generations. 

What may start off as a small group of people trading clothes they don't wear anymore or recipes for the best hot chocolate, can easily transform into offering a basket of produce from your backyard in lieu of rent or babysitting someone's kids in exchange for medicine. We create a culture of possibility where we focus less on "how much does that cost?" and more on "what do you need & how can I help you acquire it?" When we can access resources that help us meet our basic needs, we maximize our leverage against oppressive systems. We can effectively resist policies that try to frame human rights as negotiable. Furthermore, "we [are] creating economic alternatives and prototypes for producing, exchanging, consuming, and investing in ways that are more just, sustainable, and democratic" (Solidarity Rising in Massachusetts, 2017).

Capitalism and other societal ills rooted in white supremacy pressures us to isolate ourselves from one another. By encouraging folks to be outside in spaces that are owned by no one and meant to be enjoyed by everyone, eliminates some of the power dynamics that prevent us from seeing our humanity reflected in the ways we treat our neighbors. Bartering Babes encourages everyone interested in bartering to do their own research and offer questions & resources to our meeting spaces, so that we may all learn together. 

Please familiarize yourself with our community guidelines before joining Bartering Babes or participating in an event.

Bartering Babes is community-led, first and foremost. It is comprised of organizers and community members who respond to our call to action and support the sustainability of the organization in different capacities. The founder and primary organizer of Bartering Babes is The Fairy Godfemme (any/all pronouns). They identify as a black woman, nonbinary femme, grey-ace lesbian, multi-hyphenate creative, and autistic-ADHD pleasure activist. They love magic, community education, mutual aid, and organizing spaces for multigenerational healing & collective liberation. 

Currently, they hold the most responsibility for catering to the organization's evolving needs; like outreach, logistics, team coordination, conflict-resolution & mediation, accessibility accommodations, capacity building, crowdfunding & grant-writing. They do it because they know that they don't walk this world alone. Claiming a sense of ownership for the work is critical to demanding justice for our ancestors and loved ones. We need your help!!! so please submit the survey to let us know how you can support!

Everyone is a valuable part of the team, and we are so happy to have you here, babe!

A Bartering Babe is more than just a moniker. It's a conscious choice to show up as our best selves and hold our communities accountable for reciprocation. Bartering demands a level of social awareness that engages open communication, respect for autonomy & consent, conflict-resolution skills, non-performative activism, and care for community that supersedes self-interest. 

Most importantly, Bartering Babes are expected to lend a hand when they can, ask for help when they need it, and be comfortable with owning up to their mistakes. Bartering Babes seek to disrupt cycles of harm, dismantle barriers to joy, and ensure our most marginalized neighbors can enjoy the fruits of our collective labor. Bartering Babes strive to uphold the community guidelines and values of the organization in all sectors of their daily lives. 

If that sounds like you or a version of you that you aspire towards, come thruuu!!!

You're already halfway there, babe! By getting this far, you've set an intention. Now, we just gotta put it into action! 

• Read this FAQs page and do some independent research on bartering (resource library coming soon!)

• Take 5 minutes to fill out our Interest Form here

• Follow us on Instagram/Facebook and subscribe to our cute lil linktree for event updates

• Join our group chat on the Lex mobile app and introduce yourself to The Babes (plz note: the link only works if the app is downloaded beforehand)

• Register and claim your free tickets to an event when they go live on Eventbrite

• Invite your loved ones! We're excited to meet uuu <3

Your lived experience and willingness to hold space for experiences that differ from your own is more than enough! Our goal is to bridge connections between people of different backgrounds to teach one another concrete skills for sustaining our pleasure and wellbeing beyond the demands of capitalism. We believe everyone has something to offer, everyone has something to gain, and together we can change our realities for the better <3

Chances are you do! We believe everyone has something to offer, whether it be a fun fact about a special interest, a sea shell you found at the beach, or a willingness to be someone's friend. Bartering isn't solely about making a profitable transaction or getting the most gain for the least input. It's about being in community with others and building bridges between people you may have not otherwise connected with.

If you still don't think you have anything to offer, that's okay! We encourage you to come to one of our meet-ups to gain some more perspective, talk to others who may relate to your truth, and experience what collective wealth can feel like.  

if it's a matter of accessibility...

• let us know via the Interest Survey

• let us know via the Feedback and Suggestions Form

• OR reach out via email (thebarteringbabes@gmail.com) and we'll brainstorm solutions together! 

if it's a matter of needing knowledge or experience, 

• lean on the community

• ask questions with curiosity

• listen actively rather than with a quickness to respond

• be conscious of how your ego or a need to be "right" may be obstructing constructive dialogue

if it's a matter of preference, then perhaps our core values just aren't aligned at this time and we are both better off exploring why that is from a distance. if you choose to part ways and decide later that you want to learn how to be in community together, you are always welcome back as long as you can demonstrate respect for our boundaries.

The Mutual Babe (Mutual Aid) Fund empowers Bartering Babes to meet the accessibility needs of its community. Monetary contributions to our growing bartering economy offsets organizing costs, such as...

• complimentary masks

• materials for group bonding activities

• complimentary food/beverages

• extra park blankets

• transportation stipends

• sensory relief tents & beach umbrellas

• adaptable seating

• reusable gift bags

• compensation for our organizers' labor

• and more!

We are actively dreaming of a world free of the capitalist dollar while simultaneously acknowledging that a lot of us need our basic survival needs met in order for that to feel like an accessible reality. 

For a more detailed breakdown of how funds are used, please refer to the Donations, Collaborations & Partnerships section of the FAQs page and review our publicly accessible Fundraising Log.

This response is destined to evolve with time and the growth of our community, but presently and generally speaking WE NEED YOU! 

It truly takes a village to make mutual aid, bartering, community education, cultural shifts, and access to third spaces a concrete reality. We need Babes with curiosity, openness to different perspectives, diverse lived experience, and commitment to equity for all of our neighbors.

Furthermore, we rely on an "all hands on deck: do what you can, ask for what you need" approach. With your support--no matter how big or how small--we can ensure that the workload of caring for our community is equitably distributed rather than resting on the shoulders of a select few facing burnout.

Lastly, we need resources to afford programming costs and connections with organizational collaborators! We rely on monetary and material/in-kind donations from the community to make our events educational, free of charge, and as accessible as possible to the public. 

We seek collaborations with other organizations and entities that share complementary values to facilitate our community education circles and bartering economies. We also pursue grants and interviews with local info-sharing networks to help us build a stronger rapport with the communities we intend to serve.

We welcome direct feedback at our in-person bartering socials or virtual community building events—just ask around for an organizer to help you or a Babe who has volunteered to assist with periodic wellness check-ins at our events. 

Additionally, you may use this anonymous Google form and indicate if you would like to leave contact info to have an organizer follow-up with you. If the form is not accessible to you, we suggest email as our social media dm's may be subject to extensive delays or lost messages.

Our Lex app and Instagram group chats! Also exchanging contact info with friends you make at our in-person or virtual events! Check our Linktree for more info.

ACTS OF SERVICE 

• • VOLUNTEER your time, energy, resources, or access to wealth (in its various forms) 

  • SHARE our promotional materials, resource library, and other community offerings with your circle

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

• GIVE THANKS directly to your fellow Babes, through our feedback form, in our comment sections on social media posts, to our email, etc.

QUALITY TIME

• PARTICIPATE in our events and be present with us through our evolution as a member of the organizing committee or a neighboring supporter!

GIFT-GIVING

• DONATE to and/or help us solicit donations for our Mutual Babe Fund

• CONNECT US with potential sponsors, collaborators, and partnerships to maximize the impact of our work

CREATIVE TOUCH

• GET CREATIVE! BE IMAGINATIVE! DREAM BIG AND INVITE US WITH YOU <3

ABSOLUTELY NOT! Membership and e-tickets on our Eventbrite page are completely free of charge with an option to offer a donation of your choosing to our Mutual Babe Fund. Bartering Babes prioritizes accessibility, so registration is always free to make financial wealth less of a barrier to an anti-capitalist future. 

HOWEVER, if you are feeling generous, we have a sliding-scale ticket option alongside general admissions on Eventbrite. Our Linktree also features a PayPal tip jar and Venmo account that directly supports our Mutual Babes (Mutual Aid) Fund [for more info, see sustainability practices]. We also accept cash donations at our in-person events. 

We rely on crowdfunding and fiscal sponsorships to support the evolving accessibility needs of our community. Donations help us ensure we can continue to host events that are free to the public!

Yes! We ask all folks who are interested in attending our event--even if you are unsure if you will make it--to register for **free** tickets via our Eventbrite page. And here's why:

• this helps our organizing team make informed logistical decisions 

• this helps community members set boundaries & realistic expectations 

• this ensures we can contact prospective attendees with critical updates (like scheduling conflicts and unanticipated venue changes)

• this also helps organizers facilitate health and safety precautions in the event attendees are exposed to COVID-19

Yes, please do! This space is designed to be shared and enjoyed by the masses. Please ensure you and your guests are masked upon arrival, in agreement with our community guidelines, and have individually registered for free tickets through Eventbrite.

Families are welcome and encouraged to attend. We encourage Babes from all walks of life and all across the lifespan to be a part of our community. Depending on the availability of resources for a given event, we will provide games, park activities, and organizers offering childcare support. Please bear in mind that organizers will not be policing the use of explicit language in music or conversation, but we will readily address concerns regarding hateful or disruptive behavior when they are brought to our attention. 

For questions about pets, please refer to the venue's pet policy and know you are responsible for the conduct of your guests.

Not really! Events have tentative start and end times, so Babes can come and go as they please. Event preparations are primarily led by organizers, but day-of proceedings are community-led. 

Depending on the availability of resources, we would like to host board games, arts n crafts, chalk art, open mics/performances, temporary tattoos, snacks, open dialogue, and other community building exercises to help Babes mingle and find common ground throughout the bartering experience.

Please feel free to bring board games and/or facilitate group activities to share with the other Babes!

We Suggest Attendees Bring...

• a proper fitting mask --- MASKS ARE MANDATORY; limited supply available on a first-come, first-served basis

• ticket confirmation for you and each of your guests

• a blanket for lounging + bartering

• goodies, skills, and knowledge to trade

• curiosity and questions

• friends, loved ones, family <3

Bartering Babes Will Collectively Provide or Facilitate...

• masks ***upon availability***

• music

• free snacks and drinks

• games, group activities, and parallel play for various age groups & abilities

• bartering etiquette and resource sharing

• space to relax and rest

Fill out the Interest Survey, so our organizers can be made aware of your access needs!

We are a "come as you are" community. We may explore themed events where Babes can get dressed up, but generally: wear whatever you want as long as you also accessorize with a mask. 

Masks are non-negotiable at Bartering Babes events in order to prioritize the health and safety of our community members during an ongoing pandemic. If that's a problem for you, you are more than welcome to attend one of our virtual community building events (coming soon) OR stay home and keep your germs to yourself <3

Yes, with people's consent, Babes will be capturing moments throughout the event for our memories and social media. 

If you take any photos or videos, please be sure to add it to our shared Google Photos Album and tag @thebarteringbabes on Instagram or Facebook if you post!

If you're unable to find where the Babes are gathering, we recommend checking our Instagram story for a visual guide to the gathering spot that will decide upon set-up the day of the event. Additionally, feel free to message our Instagram or Lex group chats for help from the community.

We will try our best to choose green spaces where that is accessible; however, we cannot confirm if there will be restrooms available for every venue. We recommend doing some research beforehand and planning accordingly!

We cannot confirm if there will be wi-fi or electrical outlets available for every venue. We recommend doing some research beforehand and planning accordingly!

If it is gloomy with little chance of rain, we will likely still meet! However, if it is raining or rained recently enough where the grass would be wet, we will reschedule our event for another day. 

Our organizers will reach out to community members via our IG and Lex group chats, Instagram/Facebook story, and Eventbrite contact list of registered attendees. So please ensure you and your friends are connected to those platforms ahead of time to receive important updates and access to scheduling polls.

While we cannot anticipate every emergency situation, we generally ask attendees to respond with their best judgment and look toward organizers for instructions on how to best help our fellow Babes get to safety. 

In many cases, Babes will be asked to clear space for those in crisis and leave room for those with training/lived experience in harm-reductionist, trauma-informed interventions to step forward when it is safe to do so. 

For medical emergencies, everyone should call 911, listen for instructions from those with first aid/CPR/clinical expertise, and please stay present if you can to ensure any harmed community members end up in trusted, caring hands. Check the person's phone to see if they have any medical information accessible or an emergency contact.

For weather emergencies, share your contact with the nearest person, pack up with a sense of urgency, and check on one another to ensure you all get to where you are going safely. 

In the event of a police sighting or encounter, please alert an organizer ASAP, so that we can collectively assess the severity of threat. Folks with bodies of privilege will be asked to step forward if confronted in order to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children and our most marginalized community members. 

Firstly, thank you so much for your support! It really means the world to our Babes and the sustainability of our organization.

We provide donation methods on our Linktree via Paypal Tip jar, Venmo (@barteringbabes), Eventbrite ticket registration where you may choose a donations-based, sliding-scale ticket, and cash tips at events.

For in-kind donations (non-monetary, material resources) like masks, food and beverages, programming equipment, subscription services, transportation service, etc.; please email us via thebarteringbabes@gmail.com.

Firstly, thank you so much for your support! It really means the world to our Babes and the sustainability of our organization. Please email thebarteringbabes@gmail.com with "DONATION/COLLABORATION/PARTNERSHIP INQUIRY" (whichever is most applicable) in the subject line.

Firstly, thank you so much for your support! It really means the world to our Babes and the sustainability of our organization. Please email thebarteringbabes@gmail.com with "DONATION/COLLABORATION/PARTNERSHIP INQUIRY" (whichever is most applicable) in the subject line.

Firstly, thank you SO much for your generosity. It doesn't matter how small it is; it really makes a difference in making our anti-capitalist dreams a tangible future for generations to come.

For the purpose of upholding values of transparency, Bartering Babes makes fundraising records publicly available [excluding any personal identifiers of donors out of respect for their privacy]. Here is a shareable link to our fundraising log via Google Sheets (also located in our Linktree).

Additionally, all donors should receive a thank you note for their generous contribution with an anonymous donor id that will match that in the fundraising log for their own records. You can use this ID to locate your donation and details about how it is being used to maximize the impact of the organization. 

If you cannot find an entry attached to your donor ID or have not received a thank you note, please reach out to thebarteringbabes@gmail.com for assistance.

Utilize our group chats found in our Linktree or email thebarteringbabes@gmail.com for support!

That is a question for the other Babes in attendance, so please ask and be clear with your intentions before doing so! If it's okay with them, it's cool with us. We just ask that you tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Tik Tok!

Yes, we greatly appreciate the enthusiasm and support! We just ask that you tag us on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Tik Tok!