Designing for Affordability and Diversity

Grace Kim 

Many cohousing groups start off with a strong desire to include diversity and affordability…but very few actually achieve these ideals by the time they move in. This session will address definitions of affordability and diversity; discuss intentions around inclusion; the pervasiveness of systemic racism and how it affects life in community; and the training and discussions required to prepare residents for success.

Top Tips on Converting Interested People to Members

Shelly Parks

Shelly will share her top tips including what to say on a first call, how to talk about your forming or developing community in a compelling way, what kind of effective follow up is needed after an event, how to have a “closing” conversation, and more.

Project Delivery Methods – You have choices 

Molly Jones and Bryan Bowen

This session will describe the various structures within which communities, architects and contractors can work together, explore the pros and cons of each and assist you in choosing the one that is best for your community. 

Who Does What? Roles and Circles to Spread the Load

Ted Rau, Sociocracy for All

In many forming groups, it’s the founder(s) or a small core group that makes many decisions and does most of the work – often burning out people. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Roles and clearly empowered circles are a way to provide clarity and to spread authority so all voices can be heard.

Location, Location, Location? How History Prevents Diversity

Crystal Byrd Farmer

Looking for land? Take a look at history first! Redlining and other forms of housing segregation continue to impact where people of different races and ethnicities live. If you want to create a diverse community, you might have to change your idea of what makes a “good neighborhood.” This workshop will give you tools to look at your potential properties with an understanding of history and eye for social justice.

Village Parenting: Attracting and retaining families with children

Trish Becker

This session will feature a moderated panel of parents currently living in, or seeking, a cohousing community. Together, we will explore the strategies and roadblocks to attracting and retaining families with children. We hope to create an enlightening and authentic space for both forming communities and parents exploring the possibility of raising children in community.

Working With Architects

Mary Kraus, Katie McCamant, Grace Kim, Molly Jones

So you want to get your cohousing community designed and built. How do you secure an architectural team to help you bring your visions into form, on time, within budget, and fostering positive relationships in the process? Learn from a panel of four seasoned cohousing professionals. Ample time for questions.

Introduction to Consensus

Martie Weatherly

This is a first level introduction to consensus, giving participants an idea of what it is like to use it.  Martie will walk you through a decision her community made using their Pathway to Consensus, using slides to illustrate. You will get the basics of consensus during the process.

Density and what it means for the form of your future community

Bryan Bowen

As your forming group searches for land, it’s helpful to know what fits on how many acres, so you know what you’re signing up for. We’ll take a look at several projects at different densities, from rural to urban, and quantify density in hard numbers.

Design with Climate: Achieving comfort, efficiency and community

Mathilde Berthe and Erik Bonnett

Homes which are adapted to their unique climate save energy and are more resilient. Not only is climate-adapted design a foundation of addressing climate change, it also supports a more meaningful connection with your environment and your community. This session will explore how.

Do we need a developer? Choosing your development strategy

Katie McCamant

How do we actually get our project built? How have other groups done this? Should we self-develop? Do we need a developer? What do developers do? How do we find one? What other professionals do we need? Katie McCamant, who has worked as an architect, project manager, development consultant, and developer with cohousing groups for the last 30 years will present how cohousing groups have gotten their projects built, outlining the pluses and minuses of different development scenarios, using real case studies of past and current projects to help participants evaluate the best way for their community to move forward. 

When should we hire a process consultant?

Karen Gimnig

Community and connection are reliably the most significant goals of any cohousing community, yet support for community relationships generally makes up less than 1% of the development budget. In this session we’ll talk about how and when to use that budget to most effectively build the communication, conflict and consensus skills your community needs.