James C. Childress, FAIA

James is a partner at Centerbrook Architects; Planners, a Connecticut firm known around the world for expertise is sustainable design, is the lead architect on the Rocky Corner project. 

Jim received his Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1977 and 1978 respectively. He joined Centerbrook Architects in 1979, becoming a principal in 1992 and a partner in 1996. In 1994 he was selected as one of the decade’s “40 National Architects under 40” by the Architectural League of New York and Interior Magazine. Jim’s work has been recognized with 60 design awards including the American Institute of Architects 1998 Architecture Firm Award. He was invested into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2001. In 2015, Jim served as the Chair of the AIA Committee on Design.

Dick Margulis

Dick grew certified organic vegetables and herbs in Upstate New York for eighteen years beginning in the mid 1970s. He has done stints as a butcher, a baker, and briefly as a candlestick maker. These days he cooks and eats in New Haven and is looking forward to cooking in the community kitchen at Rocky Corner, planting and harvesting food crops, and talking food with anyone who will listen. In real life, Dick edits and designs books.

Ted Rau

Ted has lived in Pioneer Valley cohousing since 2010 and is part of their Community Life circle as well as the governance improvement circle there. He is a song-writer, plays in video-editing, and he is a transgender parent of 5 kids.

In his work life, he supports workplaces and volunteer organizations in using sociocracy, as a trainer, coach and writer. He is co-founder of Sociocracy For All, an international organization with more than 130 members worldwide. He is co-author of the sociocracy manual “Many Voices One Song: Shared power with sociocracy”.

www.sociocracyforall.org  @sociocracyforall.org

Gina Simm

For over 30 years Gina has been teaching in early childhood education. Most significantly, her knowledge of Nonviolent Communication has transformed her classroom into a place where systems of the heart create a child-centered environment for moving through conflict. She was asked to write a book about her systems for staying connected and has recently published Heart to Heart. Gina lives in the Pioneer Valley Cohousing Community in Amherst, Massachusetts, where she is the leader of the Care and Counsel Circle.

Connor Stedman, M.S.

Conner is an ecological designer, farm planner, and educator working to mitigate climate change while strengthening viable farm businesses and land-based communities.  Connor is a lead designer with AppleSeed Permaculture and Terra Genesis International, lead faculty at the Omega Institute’s Center for Sustainable Living, and an instructor and advisor in UVM’s Leadership for Sustainability program.  He teaches and consults regionally and nationally on responding to climate change through policy, planning, and design.