When making decisions in community, there seems to be tension between ensuring the participation of all members and getting things done. One approach that produces this balance is decision making by consent, an integral part of the Sociocratic Circle-Organization Method. Using consent, we shift our focus from pleasing everyone forever to finding “good enough” solutions everyone can live with for a specified time. When we practice community in this way, we discern much about ourselves, our neighbors, and our culture and process. Who knows? Along the way, we might just discover our good enough keeps getting better and better!

Community planning for affordable housing is at your fingertips. In this session, you’ll learn how to put together a clear and convincing case for a moderate- and low-income housing plan, including development implementation measures with your community planning office and elected officials. In an environment with declining resources, workforce, housing, and prioritization of local leveraged financing have never mattered more. Resources and case studies will also be highlighted for you to begin work when you return to your own communities.

This session will explore how a cohousing community can be uniquely positioned to push the edge of sustainability. Presenter Laura Fitch will give participants practical information about sustainable practices from site selection to energy conservation construction details. She will try to answer the following questions: Why is eco-programming essential in the creation of cohousing communities? What is inherently sustainable about cohousing, and how can you build upon that? What are some of the most important green design strategies? How do you pay for energy efficiency while maintaining affordability? How can you adjust your lifestyle once you are living in cohousing?

Good meeting facilitation can make the difference between pain and gain. In this session, Laird Schaub will look at the basic qualities needed to become a full-service facilitator, the process agreements needed to spread your wings, and how to recognize those magic moments when passion can be harnessed to transform binding into bonding. This workshop will give participants a taste of what you could learn if you enrolled in Laird's two-year facilitation training program. (Hint: it's not just about having good meetings; it's also about becoming an effective leader in cooperative groups.)