A living wage is similar to a minimum wage with two notable exceptions:

1.  A living wage permits all full-time workers to live above the poverty line.
2.  A living wage is adjusted periodically to keep it in line with inflation
 

Here is a sample living wage ordinance, very similar to the one implemented in St. Louis:

Generic Missouri Living Wage ordinance

Here is some information on a local effort to improve wage levels throughout Missouri:

Missouri Standard of Living Committee

We will be generating more of our own literature on the subject soon, but until then, here are several links to more information on the subject:

ACORN
New Party
AFSCME
EPI Issue Guide
Harvard Progressive Student Labor Movement
Responsible Wealth
House the Homeless
The Living Wage Symposium

Here is some information on creating a local currency system:

The E.F. Schumacher Society

Just to be fair, here is some information on the opposing view:

Employment Policies Institute