Program

Thanks to all of our speakers, volunteers and attendees for a great day together!  So much wisdom and connection was shared. It was a joy to be with you all.  


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Program Recordings

Recordings are posted below.

Keynote
Serving Differences
Avi Kruley

Avi Kruley, Co-Director of Community Well-being at Mount Madonna Center, will explore the role of belonging in community. What is responsibility of the community? What is responsibility of individual? And what are some actions that can be taken by both to cultivate a greater sense of belonging for all?


Session 1
Stories from BIPOC Cohousers
Crystal Byrd Farmer, Helena Cragg, Rosemary Linares and Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom

Helena Cragg, Joi Faison, Rosemary Linares and Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom will share their experiences of cohousing as women of color. Moderator, Crystal Bryd Farmer, will guide the conversation and take your questions. Bring your curiosity, you might just hear something that surprises you.

Class, Culture and Community
Yana Ludwig

We will take a brief look at how class and classism affect our attempts to create functional communities. Class differences and tensions are present in almost every community project, and when unaddressed, this creates a number of barriers for getting the culture we want, and to one of the most common community goals: affordability. Yana will offer some tips and exercises for getting into a productive conversation about class.

What’s in a Name?
Joe Cole

How a shift in values from diversity to racial equity guided a community name change process, while revealing that we still have a long way to go to overcome racism in ourselves and in our mostly white community. We’ll talk strategies for expanding racial awareness, addressing racism and white privilege, and building resilience for the path ahead.

Supporting Documents:
Beauty and Diversity
Fresh “Lev” White

Invoking and acknowledging the importance of the beauty and diversity in nature we’ll reflect on ‘us’ as a product of its brilliance. Looking at ways our culture is richer because of the diversity of people who contribute to it, we’ll learn to welcome our similarities, and honor are differences as opportunities for growth.


Session 2
Embracing Income Diversity in Urban Cohousing
Grace Kim, Emma Sutton, Kathy Sayers

For some, buying a home in cohousing is a real-estate transaction. They weigh the “value” of the home relative to price, square footage, neighborhood comps, and resale value. Three urban communities (one completed, one starting construction, and one forming) share their experiences of who shows up you prioritize community and diversity, over selling homes. Our session will pose a series of questions around embracing income diversity in cohousing to panelists from each of the three communities. There will also be time set aside at the end of the panel for audience questions.
Chat Notes

Allyship as a Core of Community Transformation
Daisy K. Birch

Anyone can aspire to, and become an ally; through consistent self-inquiry, research, egoless listening, and selfless service. Yet, allyship cannot be self-proclaimed. We’ll cover what allyship is, and isn’t; the do’s and don’ts, the A-Z’s, and why it’s an imperative part of any individual’s, community’s, and country’s enlightenment and healing.
Cultural Awareness Menu

What’s “Sexual Orientation” got to do with it?
Nancy Kelly

Why identify LGBTQI as an Intentional community?

For individuals who desire a greater understanding of why LGBTQI elders may desire a co-housing community dedicated to providing an authentic experience of safety and freedom to express oneself in relationship and identity. Currently, 31 states do not provide protection in employment and housing for LGBTQI people. Even people who support LGBTQI rights often unknowingly marginalize people who are not heterosexual through policies, marketing and language. A look at inherent societal heterosexual bias will cover why LGBTQI elders feel social isolation to a greater extent than their heterosexual peers, why they fear getting older and how an intentional co-housing community for 55 + LGBTQI people and allies is making a difference in their lives.

Lessons From The Token
Crystal Byrd Farmer

How do you build a diverse cohousing community? What do people from marginalized groups (different races, disability status, sexuality, and more) experience in community, and how do we change our words, actions, and policies so they feel more welcome? This workshop is based on the book The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization coming out in October 2020.

Supporting Documents:

Session 3
Addresssing Race and Privilege in Community
Tovah Melaver, Catherine Shiel

This workshop focuses on anti-racism work white folks can do in cohousing community and is open to everyone. We will share some of the struggles we’ve had in our own community and how we’ve addressed them. There will be time to share other communities’ experiences and time to brainstorm strategies together.

Supporting Documents:
Redefining our Comfort Zone: How to embrace people of ALL abilities in an intentionally diverse and inclusive community
Moderator: Grace Kim Panel: Deseree Kameka Galloway, Alicia DeLashmutt, Deb Finck, Marta Carlucci

Most cohousing communities value inclusion and diversity yet are uncertain of how to accomplish this within their community. And often don’t understand how welcoming people with diverse abilities, incomes, and backgrounds can positively impact their community. Join us in a candid conversation where we will discuss the benefits, challenges and misconceptions of what it means to live in an intentionally diverse and inclusive community. This will be a panel discussion with founders of cohousing communities that will be inclusive to households of all abilities. These founders have family members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Supporting Documents:
That’s Right You’re Not From Texas
Ty Albright

Ty Albright, a Cohousing USA Board Member and Texan – will share guidance on how to integrate into and best get along with “non-liberal big city” people. This would include most of Texas – and much of the mid-west “fly over” country. Do you want a bubba Trump Supporter as a neighbor? Maybe an opportunity has you moving to Trump Land and you don’t speak the language.
That’s right you’re not from Texas – Lyle Lovett

Multigenerational and Senior Cohousing
Annie Russell, Ellie Wilkins

The presenters will share their different experiences, one living in a multigenerational community, the other having lived both in a multigenerational and a senior community. Session about living within not just a variety of ages, but also life stages. They’ll share their experience of what needs can be filled and what challenges can arise.


Thanks to Our Event Sponsors

Cooperative Culture Handbook

an upcoming book by Yana Ludwig and Karen Gimnig

More information and presales available here.

Preview Excerpt


Recordings

Recordings and support materials will be posted here as they are processed. This means that the content will populate gradually over the next week or two. Refresh this window often for the latest available material. We will send an email to all registered participants when processing is complete and everything has been posted.


Session 1


Session 2


Session 3


Event Schedule

PacificMountCentralEasternSession
9:00a10:00a11:00a12:00pWelcome and Intro – Ballroom
9:20a10:20a11:20a12:20pKeynote with Avi Kruley – Ballroom
9:50a10:50a11:50a12:50pNetworking – Ballroom Prompts
10:15a11:15a12:15p1:15p Break (15 min)
10:30a11:30a12:30p1:30pSession 1 descriptions (60 min)
Options (Choose a room below):
– Stories from BIPOC Cohousers- Room 1
– Class, Culture, & Community Room 2
– What’s in a Name? Room 3
– Beauty and Diversity Room 4
11:30a12:30p1:30p2:30p Break (15 min)
11:45a 12:45p 1:45p2:45pSession 2 descriptions (60 min)
Options (Choose a room below):
– Lessons From a Token Room 1
– Income Diversity Room 2
– Allyship Room 3
– “Sexual Orientation” Room 4
12:45p1:45p2:45p3:45p Break (15 min)
1:00p2:00p3:00p4:00p Session 3 descriptions (60 min)
Options (Choose a room below):
– Race and Privilege – Room 1
– All Abilities Room 2
– Not from Texas? Room 3
– Multigenerational Cohousing Room 4
2:00p3:00p4:00p5:00pClosing and TakeAways Ballroom
2:30p3:30p4:30p5:30pOpen Discussions – Click here for options and zoom rooms or to add your own.
3:30p4:30p5:30p6:00pEnd of Event

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