Culture: Singing in Community

Catya Belfer-Shevett & Craig Ragland

Would you like to sing more in your cohousing group? Come experience how groups use song to grow community. Combining conversation and singing, we will share some great songs that really work well for different cohousing groups. Learn about why "having a good voice" doesn't matter. Learn pitfalls to avoid when selecting songs. Learn about bringing singing into your group's culture. We will create space for songs from participants, so bring your favorite. If possible, contact Catya beforehand to teach us your song. (Note: we'll not be sharing explicitly religious songs.)

Craig Ragland lives at Songaia Cohousing and loves working/playing with cohousers. He is project manager for a forming group, New Earth Song Cohousing, which is creating more cohousing on adjoining property. Craig joined the Coho/US Board in 2006, working with staffing and technology planning. In December 2007, he retired from the board to become the Coho/US Executive Director. Craig is committed to community and action – to helping the association better meet the needs of forming groups, established communities, and cohousing professionals.

Catya Belfer-Shevett is a cohousing 'burning soul'. My cohousing community, Mosaic Commons, is completing construction in Berlin MA and we will be moving in this fall after 8 years of work. I create websites for cohousing communities and others, including www.cohousing.org On the non-technical side, I am fascinated by how we build community through ritual, tradition, and song.