Online registration is now closed. There are limited spaces still available in some pre-conference events. You may register for any open workshops when you arrive.
Registration, check in (Friday, 7:30 am to 2 pm) and location: Cobb Hall at 110 Country Club Road, north of the intersection with South Road (Route 54 to/from Raleigh). UNC campus maps
Bus Tour of Four Cohousing Communities
(Joani Blank)
We will travel on an air-conditioned bus to visit Solterra and Eno Commons, both in Durham, and Arcadia and Pacifica Cohousing, both in Carrboro, NC. You will receive written materials about each community and be shown around by several of its residents at each stop. Tour leader Joani Blank has lived in cohousing for 14 years and has visited 61 of the 85 built communities in the US. She should be able to answer 95% of the questions about cohousing that you throw at her.
Cohousing Site Design Workshop
(Laura Fitch)
Come see a great slide show on cohousing site design features, including examples from many communities. We’ll have an open discussion about cohousing site design – answering questions from both the viewpoint of design for community and my experience living in community (e.g. maintaining pedestrian ways, interacting with neighbors, etc). We’ll also do a hands-on exercise and evaluate the designs you create. Bring your toughest site design questions.
Working with Conflict (and Not Having Anyone Die)
(Tree Bressen and Laird Schaub)
Conflict is sort of like the weather: everyone complains about it, but there's no stopping it. Our only real choice is how we respond. We'll examine what conflict is, why you can't afford to not work on it, why work on it in the moment, why work on it in a group, how to work with it constructively, the amazing variety among how people define safety, and the importance of having agreements about how your group will respond to conflict. (And we'll finish before lunch.)
Cohousing Development – a Primer
(Neshama Abraham and Zev Paiss)
This workshop will give you an overview of the basic steps involved in taking a cohousing project from vision to reality, all the way from developing the core group to marketing, working with professionals to get it designed and built and finally moving in. We will define the various types of cohousing and explore the many ways it gets developed. So, if you are new to cohousing, either as a professional or a group member, or even both, this workshop will provide you with a variety of tools to get you started on the right track.
Bus Tour of Four Cohousing Communities
(Joani Blank)
Identical to morning tour; see description above.
Cohousing Project Management
(Katie McCamant and Jim Leach)
A project management primer from top cohousing professionals who will share lessons learned from a decade plus of working with dozens of cohousing communities. This workshop is for members of cohousing groups that will be working with design and development professionals, as well as aspiring cohousing professionals. Topics will include construction and financial management, options and upgrades, partnering with developers from a distance, and project managers who are also group members. Participants will have the opportunity to raise questions and discuss issues they are facing.
Good Facilitation: The Secret Ingredient in Building Community
(Shari Leach and Annie Russell)
Join us for this engaging, experiential workshop. Learn how communities develop and how facilitators and leaders can help them mature. Bring the toughest issues you’re facing and we’ll use these live examples to help you sharpen your facilitation skills.
Working Cohousing into Larger Projects
(Charles Durrett and Greg Ramsey)
How can cohousing help us create a master plan for conserving our natural resources? Chuck and Greg will go to the heart of the matter showing you how to preserve precious land, reconnect and regenerate eco-systems, develop community supported agriculture, integrate community businesses, tap into solar and other alternative energies and utilize green materials. With years of experience in developing cohousing and conservation communities, Chuck and Greg will show you a variety of projects and applications, including fitting cohousing into larger development projects and fitting cohousing into New Urbanist projects. Whether you are interested in a single cohousing development or stemming the tide of sprawl, ecological fragmentation, or enhancing the city in your region, this seminar is for you.
Online registration is now closed, but the conference is still open. Register in person beginning 5:30 pm on Friday, July 21 in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union (at the intersection of South Road and Raleigh Street).
in the Frank Porter Graham Student Union at the intersection of South Road and Raleigh Street UNC campus maps
5:30 pm - Registration begins
7:30 to 9:30 pm - Opening night author panel with:
9 to 10:15 am - Opening session with State Senator Ellie Kinnaird
Breakout sessions
The preliminary breakout titles are grouped by special interest track for your convenience. You are most welcome to attend any sessions that interest you.
Living in cohousing
New forming groups – looking for a site
We have a site, now what?
Professionals
General interest
12 to 1 pm - Closing general session
Katie McCamant on "Where are we headed: challenges & opportunities" and closing exercise.
Post-conference community open houses
All four local communities will be open for visitors between 1:30 and 4:30 pm. Fact sheets, site plans and directions to the communities will be available at the registration table. We will not provide transportation but will facilitate the formation of car pools.