Rooted and Renewed

By: Trish Becker-Hafnor, CohoUS Executive Director

It’s been a few weeks since the 2024 National Cohousing Conference concluded, and I’m still glowing. It was a joy to welcome our extended, vibrant network of community builders to Colorado – home of the Cohousing Association of the US and the 3^rd highest density of cohousing communities in the entire nation.

Over 250 people attended and over half were first time conference-goers. It was a weekend of renewal and reconnection – to one another, and to our community roots.

We were moved to tears by the poetry of Bobby LeFebre, former poet laureate of the State of Colorado, who gracefully wove narratives of community, displacement, erasure, and resilience in an exquisite performance on Saturday evening. We were fortunate to access an exclusive screening of Join or Die , a documentary on human connection and the future of our democracy. We learned that cohousing supports increased civic engagement and promotes a healthy democracy, and we deepened our understanding of how cohousing fits within the intentional community context. There were 4 days of engaging programming, tours, and workshops – over 200 hours of educational content from global experts on community, architecture, affordability, sustainability and justice.

We dreamed of a more connected and vibrant future, guided by the visionary perspectives of Sarah Wells (LiveWork Denver ), Pedro Silva (Younify) Mayor Aaron Brockett (City of Boulder) and Bryan Bowen (Caddis Collaborative), Watch their panel discussion here:

We shared, we listened, we learned.

And we had a ton of fun! We designed secret handshakes, gathered around a bonfire, shared meals, laughs and walks through the labyrinth that was our unique and historic venue. Over 100 people toured local communities, some in a neon party bus, and we danced the night away to the sounds of our local band, Good Company.

The enduring legacy of the 2024 National Cohousing Conference, however, will be the connections made between communitarians from around the globe. The conference served as a catalyst for community dreams to come to life. It was a microcosm of what we love most about community – connection, reciprocity, resilience and joy.

The 2024 conference was one for the books. I am emerging more connected, rooted and inspired. I hope you are too.

Photo Credit: Benjamin Hale

Preventing and undoing internalized ageism in cohousing

by Raines Cohen, CohoUS Seniors in Cohousing Committee

Hot on the heels of great aging-in-community conversations, sessions and connections at last month’s National Cohousing Conference in Denver, I recently had the opportunity to participate in “Summer School,” an in-person summit in Montreal. It was called together by This Chair Rocks author Ashton Applewhite and her co-creators of the Old School anti-ageism resource center. I found it an eye-opening experience, with lessons that we in cohousing, both in intergenerational and senior cohousing communities, can take to heart.

Read the full article

Upcoming events

Sept. 10 — The Commons, a free monthly gathering for the cohousing curious and experts, too; 10 a.m. MDT; repeats on the 10 th of each month; https://cohousinginstitute.org/courses/thecommons2023/

Sept. 20 — Seniors in Cohousing Q&A, an informal facilitated conversation for those who are interested in senior cohousing and/or senior living in intergenerational cohousing; 10 a.m. MDT; repeats on the 20th of each month; register here: https://bit.ly/seniorcoho. Once registered, you’ll receive an email before the meeting with a link to join the call on Zoom.

Sept. 18 – Oct. 30 — Sociocracy for Communities, Jerry Koch-Gonzalez, 7-week course, $140-$280 or $20-50 for individual classes; learn how to make fast, clear and inclusive group decisions in your community; https://www.ic.org/sociocracy-for-communities/ or check out our CohoUS on-demand program, Sociocracy for Cohousers with Jerry Koch-Gonzalez

The Commons

A (free) monthly gathering for the cohousing curious

(and experts too!)

Curious about cohousing but don’t know where to start? Want to meet with cohousing newbies and experts alike? This (free) monthly gathering will include a Cohousing 101 presentation and ample time to connect and ask questions. We’ll share cohousing lingo, best practices and more information on how to continue your cohousing journey. Join us once, or every time – we’ll be here every month on the 10^th at 10am MT.

Senior Cohousing Q&A

Want to learn more about what it's like to build, join, and participate in cohousing as you age? The Senior Cohousing Advocates Committee will be facilitating an informal conversation for those interested in senior cohousing and/or senior living in intergenerational cohousing. This (free) event will take place every month on the 20th at 10am MT.

Will you share your community stories with us?

Submit anecdotes, photos, videos and stories so that we can help tell the story of life in community.

SHARE YOUR STORY HERE

Cohousing is part of a more sustainable, democratic and connected future.

To date, CohoUS has helped enable the development of over 200 cohousing communities in the US. These communities serve as examples of the sustainable and community-based neighborhoods our country will need in the future. Please support CohoUS and help us double that number in the next few years.

Your monthly gift will both support new initiatives as well as the continued nurturing of our communities and growth of our movement. As an CohoUS Donor, you can take pride in creating a legacy that will live on to support future generations.

Donations, as a community or as an individual, are accepted year round and can be made to:

Cohousing Association of the US

3860 Chase St

Wheat Ridge, CO 80212

DONATE

Professional Services

The Cohousing Company

The Cohousing Company offers design and some key development consulting service from leading cohousing expert Charles Durrett to assist you in building a high-functioning cohousing community.

CoHousing Solutions

CoHousing Solutions provides development consulting and marketing services to help you create your cohousing community.

Studio Co+Hab

Studio Co+Hab is an architecture firm focused on innovative and sustainably-built environments such as cohousing and other intentional communities.