“Cohousing really helps crack the nut of intentional community. We have plenty of privacy and the benefit of abundant community. It’s a great blend.”

“When you have people who’re watching out for you, you know you have them to rely on. That lowers your stress. Sharing activities increases your quality of life.”

“In a typical development, the parking lot is the main feature. That’s where people interact. In cohousing, spontaneous communication and exchanges [in a variety of settings] add to community life.”

On July 14th, Charlotte’s local NPR station invited members of Jubilee Cohousing (Walter), Charlotte Cohousing (Mira) & Durham Cohousing (Alice) to discuss their communities. The conversation constructed the nuances of cohousing from the ground up.

You can listen to the coverage on +WFAE Charlotte here.

I found it a great reminder of the importance of being actively in educator-mode. These three are certainly experts at it. Yet “cohousing speak” isn’t an internationally-recognized language (yet!) Even in an area dense with cohousing (15 North Carolina communities in various stages of development according to the Directory), there were a number of assumptions and preconceived notions floating around within the host’s questions. If we hope – as we certainly do – for cohousing to find a broader audience nationally (and beyond), sometimes starting from the ground up is just the right place to begin.

Walter’s words during the program stuck with me: “Cohousing is changing the way people typically operate.” Additionally, it’s demonstrating how successful, socially-fulfilling and ecologically-beneficial cooperation in community is!