A new year and new opportunities

By Carolyn Pruitt, Program Director

The beginning of a new year is often a time for rest and reflection. It’s also a time to set goals for the months ahead and to look back on the successes (and challenges!) of the year that has passed. Here at CohoUS, we’re thankful for the opportunities that we had to grow and learn along with many of you.

Looking ahead to 2024, we have so much on the horizon - new educational programs, expanded opportunities to support launching communities, a national conference, and more. We’re excited for you to join us!

In late 2023, we launched our updated Membership Program, hosted many wonderful educational programs and continued developing our training platform The Cohousing Institute. We welcomed new and returning supporters to our growing community of cohousers.

Looking forward to the bright year ahead, we’re excited to continue this momentum. We recently announced our spring programming. Over the next several months, we’ll be hosting a variety of one-time events and multi-week trainings designed to support cohousers at all stages of their cohousing journey.

In a few short weeks, registration will open for the 2024 National Cohousing Conference. Mark your calendar for August 2-4, and join us in Denver, Colorado for a very special opportunity to connect with other communitarians and professionals, further your cohousing education, and access a variety of resources including workshop recordings, templates and consultation. Don’t forget that CohoUS members receive an exclusive $100 discount on registration.

Thank you again for joining us for another year of cohousing community. We’re glad that you’re here!

Join us this spring for a series of events and trainings on the topics most often requested by the cohousing community!

Members remember to log in to your Cohousing Institute account to apply your discount. If you're logged in and your community has renewed their membership, your discounts will be automatically applied at checkout!

Non-members consider becoming a partner for $150 to access upcoming programs as well as a library of over 200 on-demand recordings, learn more here.

Group discounts are available for our multi-week trainings and our need-based scholarship application is always open to everyone. Apply here !

If you have any questions about how to register for an event, set up your Cohousing Institute account, or take advantage of a group discount, please reach out to cohousingassociationofus@gmail.com.

Facilitation- A 12 Week Course, February 22- May 9, Thursday at 5pm MT
Cohousing 101, March 26-April 30, Tuesdays at 5pm MT
Mastering Marketing Basics, Wednesday, March 13 at 5pm MT
Creative Financial Strategies, Tuesday, March 19 at 4pm MT
Diversity 101: Microaggressions, Wednesday, March 20 at 4pm MT
Starting an Aging in Community Conversation, Monday, April 8 at 6:30pm MT
The Art of Calling In and Calling Out, Wednesday, April 17 at 5pm MT
Work and Participation as We Age: Myths & Realities, Tuesday, April 30 at 5pm MT
Accountability and Harm in Communities, Wednesday, May 8 at 6:30pm MT

Learn More

2024 membership registration is still open, don't forget to renew!

In 2024, members will enjoy a variety of enhanced benefits that will support your community journey, including an exclusive $100 discount for the 2024 National Cohousing Conference.

All 2024 CohoUS Memberships Include:

Free access to all online events
$100 off 2024 National Cohousing Conference in Denver, CO (for each member of your community)
25% off trainings and coaching through The Cohousing Institute
200+ recorded event sessions, sorted by event or topic
Highlighted Directory listing (available only to our members)
Support for the cohousing movement, CohoUS, and the many public services we offer

We have streamlined our system which means you do not have to wait for an invoice. Instead, you can pay directly through The Cohousing Institute platform by clicking the "Sign Up" link on our membership page. With your payment, you'll receive an invoice for your records and information on next steps to ensure you and your members can take full advantage of The Cohousing Institute platform.

If you have any questions, reach out to our Program Director Carolyn Pruitt at carolyn@cohous.org.

A new community on the cusp of completion

Construction of Heartwood Commons in Tulsa, OK, the newest 55+ cohousing community to be built in the nation, is almost done, and members expect to move in early this year. The great news is that they still have a few homes left for sale!

One of the advantages of joining an existing community is that you don’t need to invest the time and energy to develop one from the ground up, which usually takes at least a few years. Our March newsletter will include a detailed profile of Heartwood Commons, but if you’re eager to learn more, check out their website.

Read the full article here

Upcoming events

Feb. 8 — Zoom orientation to Heartwood Commons, 6:30 p.m. CT; RSVP here.

Feb. 10 — The Commons, a free monthly gathering for the cohousing curious and experts, too; 10 a.m. MT; repeats on the 10^th of each month; Register here.

Feb. 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. MT; repeats on the 20^th of each month; register here. Once registered, you’ll receive an email before the meeting with a link to join the call on Zoom.

March 15 — Grass Roots Organizing: How to Get Your Cohousing Project Launched; 3-hour online workshop starting at 9 a.m. PT, 12 p.m. ET; by Chuck Durrett, The Cohousing Company; $125; register here.

April 8 — Starting an Aging in Community Conversation; CohoUS Seniors in Cohousing Committee; 5–6:30 p.m. MT; $45; more information and registration here.

April 30 — Work and Participation as we Age: Myths & Realities; CohoUS Seniors in Cohousing Committee; 5–6:30 p.m. MT; $45; more information and registration here.

In addition, the Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) offers a wide range of on-demand and rerun online courses. Check them out here.

Save the date!

Coho US’s 2024 National Cohousing Conference will take place Aug. 2–4 in Denver, CO. Early bird registration will start in early 2024. Come join this gathering of community builders, seekers and cohousing professionals who are committed to a more connected, sustainable and democratic future.

This year’s themes will include:

· Diversity, equity and justice in cohousing

· Innovation in pursuit of affordability

· Environmental sustainability

· Designing and fostering spaces of belonging

· Practical skills for the life cycle of a community

· Intergenerational connection & aging in community

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 Evergreen Neighbor, 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.