CHICAGO COHOUSING NETWORK CREATING COMMUNITY through neighborhood design, resident participation and management,  and common facilities Cohousing An Introduction Chicago Area Cohousing Related Community groups Cohousing in the Midwest National Cohousing Organization Living in Cohousing Community Observations Activities PRAIRIE ONION COHOUSING CORE GROUP New people are encouraged to come- (All are welcome) WWW.PRAIRIEONIONCOHOUSING.ORG WORKING GROUP- Regular Meetings PRAIRIE ONION COHOUSING www.prairieonioncohousing.org NORMALLY MEETS ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH 10AM TO NOON FOR AUGUST 7, 2010 We will meet at Bronzeville Coffee and Tea 528 E. 43 st, Chicago 10am-noon NORMAL MEETINGS are at At Hall Library 4801 S. Michigan WORKING GROUP- Regular Meetings (New People are welcome) tenative future dates Saturday, September 4, 10 - 12 noon Saturday, October 2, 10-12 noon Plenty of parking is available at this library a short introduction to prairie onion and cohousing will be available noon to 12:30 pm on each of these saturdays. NOTE Check on dates, times, places of each event as these are all subject to change. Call : Jolynn 773-764-4914 There will be other events scheduled Check with web sites for changes and up dates to the schedule: www.chicagocohousing.net www.prairieonioncohousing.org The Prairie Onion Cohousing Story (up until now) Prairie Onion cohousing is a small group (currently 6 households) that has been together since late 2003 dedicated to building an affordable, intergenerational, and "green" cohousing community in the city of Chicago. Our group has been together long enough to have a story to tell. We have held regular introduction to cohousing workshops during this time to recruit new members and have looked at a number of possible buildings and sites for a cohousing community. During this time over 400 people have become aware of Prairie Onion and over 150 have attended one of our presentations. Finally earlier in 2009 we seem to have found a developer to work with (Benjamin VanHorne of Greenline Development) and a potential site to build on (a 1/2 acre site) in Bronzeville area near 46th and Vincennes on the south side of Chicago near Hyde Park. We have met with the alderman and a local block club in the area to get acquainted and have worked with the block club to help clean up the surrounding neighborhood. Our community if successfully completed will have around 20 households. - Can you afford to join us?! - Our developer Benjamin is involved with a program with the City of Chicago that provides upfront subsidies to the buyer but comes with some restrictions on income levels. The land that we hope to build on is owned by the City of Chicago so that land price can be very low. BECOME PART OF OUR STORY There is much more to tell in Prairie Onion's continuing story - we need your help to tell our story and become apart of the story. Join us - We are especially interested in having some families with children-(currently we do not have any). BE an ally - If you yourself cannot be apart of the Prairie Onion community, we can still use you as an ally to spread the word about our effort in creating a cohousing community in Chicago to your friends. Contact us - 773-854-6879, www.prairieonioncohousing.org (If all goes well - the City of Chicago approves our plan, we have enough members, our financing is right, construction for the project could begin in 2010. "NEW NORMAL: Cohousing on the Cusp of Change" Dave Wann Opening presentation at the 2010 National Cohousing Conference Sustainability through Community - June, 2010 , Boulder, Colorado Dave’s presentation, “NEW NORMAL: Cohousing on the Cusp of Change,” explores how only “social software” can steer humanity toward a more sustainable future. The challenges we face are not just technical – they are also social, biological, political, and even spiritual. Only when we re-program this software – based on timeless core values like security, meaning, and social connection – can we expect technologies, policies, and behavior to move in the right direction. Dave argues that we can’t change the realities of resource scarcity and population increase, so we need to change our way of life instead. We are a social species that uses status to organize the group, but there are many other ways of awarding status besides material acquisition. These methods include trustworthiness, knowledge, kindness, and integrity. The “new normal” reminds us that a leaner way of life is healthier. We are choosing not just products, he says, but whole new ways of thinking and designing. We’re choosing not just hybrid cars but also hybrid systems that provide food, mobility, wellness, shelter, energy, and employment synergistically. The overall goal is not arbitrary, anything-goes growth – often burdened with dysfunction, illness, and waste – but growth/improvements that meet essential needs fully. We don’t need growth but improvement – like a well-practiced concerto or basketball play. Major historical shifts occur, he observes, when a majority of the population understand that the old system isn’t working and that it is easier to adopt a new way of life than prop up the broken one. Therefore, the “bad news” we’ve heard over the past few decades – that many have called alarmist – is not really negative but rather useful evidence that system change is necessary. Dave's presentation is commentary about cohousing’s role in this mega-change that is now unfolding. He says, “The ball’s in our court, and that ball is the Earth itself.” Dave co-designed the cohousing neighborhood where he’s now lived for 12 years – Harmony Village in Golden, Colorado. He’s taught at the college level, worked more than a decade for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. COHOUSING IN THE US There are now 113 completed Cohousing communities with 5,576 Cohousing residents. 94 new cohousing project area in formation- 7 newly built to be completed in 2008 Time necessary to build 1-5 years-55%, 6-10 38% Average number of units 24, average size 51 people Cohousing in urban settings 40%, rural 21% suburban 17% small town 22% THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT By 2025 with current projections there will be 200 to 300 new Cohousing communities. Most of the projects work with a developer to get the community up and running. PUBLICATIONS CHICAGO COHOUSING NETWWORK NEWSLETTER Plant the seeds of community now - enjoy the fruits of community later The Chicago Cohousing Network has published a small monthly newsletter since the early 1990's. (As of January 2002 the newsletter is now published every 2 months.)  The newsletter includes dates of local cohousing events, local contacts,  and information on cohousing activities locally, in the midwest, and nationally.   Send $10 check payable to the Chicago Cohousing Network for a one year subscription for the newsletter. (The Network does not take credit cards) Chicago Cohousing Network c/o Hal Mead 2205 Maple C-1 Evanston, IL 60201-2729 Contact the network: Hal Mead, Secretary , (847) 869-8493, halmead@comcast.net Reinventing Community: Stories from the Walkways of Cohousing - David Wann (Ed) Stories covering everything from planning a community to moving in to the joys and challenges of daily life. From an Amazon review: "Dave's book is the best I have read for giving you a real feeling for what it must be like to actually live in a cohousing community. COHOUSING - A CONTEMPORARY APPROACH TO HOUSING OURSELVES  (1994 2ND EDITION) BY KATHRYN MCCAMANT AND CHARLES DURRETT The Cohousing Handbook Build A place for Community Chris and Kelly Scott Hanson $26.95 Creating a Life Together Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities Diana Leafe Christian $22.95 SENIOR COHOUSING:  A Community Approach to Independent Living by Charles Durrett  $29.95 WHAT IS COMMUNITY? Community is more than a place where people live, work, and raise their children. A true community is made up of relationships among and between people living whole and interdependent lives. It includes, too, the natural world-plants and animals, the earth and the elements-as well as the human and built world. An ideal community is the locus for education, economy, culture, and our civic, social, and spiritual life. There, the best in each of us is nurtured and encouraged; there, we are supported during our difficulties and accepted always. There we feel we belong. Community Service - Yellow Springs, Ohio 1997 National Cohousing Conference - Seattle, Washington Organized society grows out of community,  and can thrive only so long as the spirit of community pervades and vitalizes it.

CHICAGO COHOUSING NETWORK

CREATING COMMUNITY

through neighborhood design,

resident participation and management,
and common facilities

JULY - AUGUST 2010

Updated JULY 30, 2010

NOTE- I monitor this web site regularly -

Please keep me posted on new and late breaking events.

Hal Mead - 847 869-8493,- halmead@comcast.net

Cohousing An Introduction Chicago Area Cohousing

National Cohousing Organization

Living in Cohousing

Community Observations

Activities

PRAIRIE ONION COHOUSING CORE GROUP

New people are encouraged to come-

(All are welcome)

WWW.PRAIRIEONIONCOHOUSING.ORG

WORKING GROUP- Regular Meetings

PRAIRIE ONION COHOUSING

www.prairieonioncohousing.org

NORMALLY MEETS ON

THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH

10AM TO NOON

FOR AUGUST 7, 2010
We will meet at

Bronzeville Coffee and Tea

528 E. 43 st, Chicago

10am-noon

NORMAL MEETINGS

are at

At Hall Library 4801 S. Michigan

WORKING GROUP- Regular Meetings

(New People are welcome)

tenative future dates

Saturday, September 4, 10 - 12 noon

Saturday, October 2, 10-12 noon

Plenty of parking is available at this library

a short introduction to prairie onion and cohousing

will be available noon to 12:30 pm on each of these saturdays.

NOTE

Check on dates, times, places of each event as these

are all subject to change. Call : Jolynn 773-764-4914

There will be other events scheduled

Check with web sites for changes and up dates

to the schedule:

www.chicagocohousing.net

www.prairieonioncohousing.org

The Prairie Onion Cohousing Story

(up until now)

Prairie Onion cohousing is a small group (currently 6 households) that has been together since late 2003 dedicated to building an affordable, intergenerational, and "green" cohousing community in the city of Chicago. Our group has been together long enough to have a story to tell. We have held regular introduction to cohousing workshops during this time to recruit new members and have looked at a number of possible buildings and sites for a cohousing community. During this time over 400 people have become aware of Prairie Onion and over 150 have attended one of our presentations.

Finally earlier in 2009 we seem to have found a developer to work with (Benjamin VanHorne of Greenline Development) and a potential site to build on (a 1/2 acre site) in Bronzeville area near 46th and Vincennes on the south side of Chicago near Hyde Park. We have met with the alderman and a local block club in the area to get acquainted and have worked with the block club to help clean up the surrounding neighborhood. Our community if successfully completed will have around 20 households.

- Can you afford to join us?! - Our developer Benjamin is involved with a program with the City of Chicago that provides upfront subsidies to the buyer but comes with some restrictions on income levels. The land that we hope to build on is owned by the City of Chicago so that land price can be very low.

BECOME PART OF OUR STORY

There is much more to tell in Prairie Onion's continuing story - we need your help to tell our story and become apart of the story.

Join us - We are especially interested in having some families with children-(currently we do not have any).

BE an ally - If you yourself cannot be apart of the Prairie Onion community, we can still use you as an ally to spread the word about our effort in creating a cohousing community in Chicago to your friends.

www.prairieonioncohousing.org

(If all goes well - the City of Chicago approves our plan, we have enough members, our financing is right, construction for the project could begin in 2010.

"NEW NORMAL: Cohousing on the Cusp of Change"

Dave Wann

Opening presentation at the 2010 National Cohousing Conference Sustainability through Community -

June, 2010 , Boulder, Colorado

Dave’s presentation, “NEW NORMAL: Cohousing on the Cusp of Change,” explores how only “social software” can steer humanity toward a more sustainable future. The challenges we face are not just technical – they are also social, biological, political, and even spiritual. Only when we re-program this software – based on timeless core values like security, meaning, and social connection – can we expect technologies, policies, and behavior to move in the right direction.

Dave argues that we can’t change the realities of resource scarcity and population increase, so we need to change our way of life instead. We are a social species that uses status to organize the group, but there are many other ways of awarding status besides material acquisition. These methods include trustworthiness, knowledge, kindness, and integrity. The “new normal” reminds us that a leaner way of life is healthier.

We are choosing not just products, he says, but whole new ways of thinking and designing. We’re choosing not just hybrid cars but also hybrid systems that provide food, mobility, wellness, shelter, energy, and employment synergistically. The overall goal is not arbitrary, anything-goes growth – often burdened with dysfunction, illness, and waste – but growth/improvements that meet essential needs fully. We don’t need growth but improvement – like a well-practiced concerto or basketball play.

Major historical shifts occur, he observes, when a majority of the population understand that the old system isn’t working and that it is easier to adopt a new way of life than prop up the broken one. Therefore, the “bad news” we’ve heard over the past few decades – that many have called alarmist – is not really negative but rather useful evidence that system change is necessary.

Dave's presentation is commentary about cohousing’s role in this mega-change that is now unfolding. He says, “The ball’s in our court, and that ball is the Earth itself.”

Dave co-designed the cohousing neighborhood where he’s now lived for 12 years – Harmony Village in Golden, Colorado. He’s taught at the college level, worked more than a decade for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

COHOUSING IN THE US

There are now 113 completed Cohousing communities with 5,576 Cohousing residents. 94 new cohousing project area in formation- 7 newly built to be completed in 2008

Time necessary to build 1-5 years-55%, 6-10 38%

Average number of units 24, average size 51 people

Cohousing in urban settings 40%, rural 21% suburban 17% small town 22%

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

By 2025 with current projections there will be 200 to 300 new Cohousing communities. Most of the projects work with a developer to get the community up and running.

PUBLICATIONS

CHICAGO COHOUSING NETWWORK NEWSLETTER

Plant the seeds of community now - enjoy the fruits of community later

The Chicago Cohousing Network has published a small monthly newsletter since the early 1990's. (As of January 2002 the newsletter is now published every 2 months.)
The newsletter includes dates of local cohousing events, local contacts,
and information on cohousing activities locally, in the midwest, and nationally.

Send $10 check payable to the Chicago Cohousing Network for a one year subscription for the newsletter. (The Network does not take credit cards)

Chicago Cohousing Network

c/o Hal Mead 2205 Maple C-1

Evanston, IL 60201-2729

Contact the network: Hal Mead, Secretary , (847) 869-8493, halmead@comcast.net

Reinventing Community: Stories from the Walkways of Cohousing

- David Wann (Ed)

Stories covering everything from planning a community to moving in to the joys and challenges of daily life.

From an Amazon review: "Dave's book is the best I have read for giving you a real feeling for what it must be like to actually live in a cohousing community.

COHOUSING - A CONTEMPORARY APPROACH TO HOUSING OURSELVES
(1994 2ND EDITION)

BY KATHRYN MCCAMANT AND CHARLES DURRETT

The Cohousing Handbook

Build A place for Community

Chris and Kelly Scott Hanson $26.95

Creating a Life Together

Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities

Diana Leafe Christian $22.95

SENIOR COHOUSING:
A Community Approach to Independent Living
by Charles Durrett
$29.95

WHAT IS COMMUNITY?

Community is more than a place where people live, work, and raise their children. A true community is made up of relationships among and between people living whole and interdependent lives. It includes, too, the natural world-plants and animals, the earth and the elements-as well as the human and built world. An ideal community is the locus for education, economy, culture, and our civic, social, and spiritual life. There, the best in each of us is nurtured and encouraged; there, we are supported during our difficulties and accepted always. There we feel we belong.

Community Service - Yellow Springs, Ohio

1997 National Cohousing Conference - Seattle, Washington

Organized society grows out of community,
and can thrive only so long as the

spirit of community pervades and vitalizes it. -

Arthur E. Morgan