Newsletter October 2024
Building a community that brings a more equitable society, better quality of life, and a harmonious life with nature.
We’re in an in-between time. We still have warm days and we’re feeling a touch of cooler temperatures. Our community is coming together, and we still have a ways to go.
Upcoming Events
Monday, October 7th 1:30-3:30pm - How to Transform Conflict & Deepen Connection in Community (register at here). This workshop is put on by Foundation for Intentional Community and is not our event but it some of us plan to attend.
Sunday, October 13th 3:30-6:30pm - Potluck at the Herzog House (email tcfamilycoop@gmail.com for address). Open to everyone, very family friendly. Please let us know if you plan to attend and if you have any dietary restrictions.
NEXT MONTH: We would like to have an online event focused on a topic folks are interested in. What topic related to community would you be interested in? What time of day would you attend an online event?
If you can't make it to this month’s event and you want to connect, email tcfamilycoop@gmail.com. We’d be happy to connect in person or online.
Community Retreat
After a busy summer of not getting to spend much time together, Sunday’s retreat was a wonderful event. We were 7 adults and 7 children, a mix of members and those journeying with us at this time. We enjoyed spending time together and sharing ideas and food. The space allowed the adults to meet in one room and the children to have their own space nearby. It’s always lovely to see the children enjoying themselves and each other. We started with Becky leading us in “deepening relationships” exercises in which we enjoyed getting to know each other a little better and had the opportunity to show our appreciation for each other. Our vision work, led by Nicole, was a powerful experience of learning what we as a group and as individuals, are yearning for. We went deeper into topics such as what do we mean by radical transformation of society, how do we see ourselves living in harmony with nature, and how do we work to dismantle systems of racism and oppression in our society, among other topics. Beka led our discussion of membership, and exploratory membership in particular. It was illuminating and helped us to clarify the process. As always, the time seemed too short and we can’t wait until the next time we get together!
Invest in Twin Cities Family Cooperative!
This is an opportunity to invest in and support our community! We are so close to being able to purchase a property for our community. If you or someone you know would like to support our community and can contribute to our downpayment, please let us know. We have 2/3 of the downpayment and are looking for loans (or donations) to get us the rest of the way there. While we don’t have the amount we need up front for the whole down payment, we do have enough after monthly costs, to pay investors back. We are open to a range of terms of interest and repayment. Buying this property would give us a place, not only to start our community, but a place to grow and expand our community. See more details below and email tcfamilycoop@gmail.com to discuss supporting Twin Cities Family Cooperative!
Where is the property we want to buy?
The property is located on .62 acres in the Cathedral Hill area of St. Paul. Currently the property contains a 3-floor residential area and two businesses: a 4-suite Bed & Breakfast and a Montessori school. There is even a park right across the street with a playground.
Would this be the permanent location for the community?
Yes. This property has numerous options for adapting to our needs. Those joining as members at the start will help to determine how we will proceed.
Who will own it?
The property would be purchased by Twin Cities Family Cooperative. After months of phone calls and filling out financial loan applications, we have found a bank that will give us a loan for 70% of the purchase price. The down payment will come from contributions and loans from members and people who want to support our community.
Who would live there?
This is a uniquely designed building with both some shared living spaces and some more private living spaces. The community will share a large kitchen, two living rooms, and a dining room, as well as lots of outdoor space. There is a second kitchen in the residence that would allow a family to have their own apartment, and a detached caretaker's house with its own kitchen. For those that want to live more communally and share the common kitchen and living room, there are 5 bedrooms, each with their own bathroom.
We have chosen an architect to work with who has experience living in an intentional community and with environmentally sustainable architecture. He shares our vision of building additional living units and a garage so that we can have 12-15 households.
When would people move in?
We will close by the end of 2024!
Why this property?
We looked at and considered LOTS of options. We are reluctant to displace tenants in buildings that are fully occupied, especially those buildings with longtime, low income tenants. Apartment buildings large enough (6-plex or larger) generally do not have a yard or garages, and would require a second move in a few years to a larger property. And building on vacant property is financially out of our reach right now.
This property is beautiful!!! No tenants will need relocating. Flexible options to run the Bed & Breakfast, or turn the four bedroom/bath suites into four studio apartments. There is room to build additional units. And there is a large commercial kitchen that can be rented. Perhaps the B&B common space could be rented for events to earn additional income from the property. Its huge yard with a patio and fireplace, and lots of room for children to play are also a big draw. There is even a chicken coop!
What if I want to join or network with Twin Cities Family Cooperative?
If this all sounds like something you or someone you know would be interested in, reach out to us! We would love to talk with you and share our membership process. We are also interested in networking with other communities and organizations. Use this form to let us know how you want to connect with us.
Cooperative Culture - What is it?
Good Intent and Good Impact: Continuing our conversation about Cooperative Culture - What Is It? based on Yana Ludwig’s and Karen Gimnig’s book “The Cooperative Culture Handbook,” this month we look at the difference between our intentions in what we say and do, and the impact of those words and actions upon another person.
“One of the most toxic aspects of mainstream culture is the constant assigning of bad intent to other people’s actions.” Conversely, counterculture suggests “that we should ignore genuinely bad behavior saying things like, ‘I’m sure they didn’t mean it!’” Cooperative culture seeks to balance “the assumption of good intent with discernment about the impact of behavior …” (p.149). What would this look like?
If I am hurt or otherwise impacted by someone’s words or behavior towards me, I don’t assume that they intended to hurt or impact me in that way. I can assume they had good intentions in what they said. At the same time, I honor the impact that behavior had on me by telling them the impact of the behavior. The appropriate response is for the other person to acknowledge their behavior, its impact, and say what they will do differently in the future. That is not the time for the other person to defend their intent unless they have first acknowledged and committed to change. Then they can ask if the person is open to hearing the intentions of their behavior. “Sometimes understanding the actual intent makes the behavior easier to handle. Sometimes it doesn’t. …If we engage from a place of curiosity rather than a place of bad intent, it becomes much easier for people to receive feedback and take requests for change seriously.” (p.149) Sometimes the explanation is appropriate; at other times it is best left for a different time.
Similarly, if someone comes to me with the impact my behavior had on them, it is my job to hear that impact without defensiveness. And rather than the understandable urge to defend myself and my “real” intention, I acknowledge my behavior (if indeed I believe that was my action). If I remember the situation differently, I might ask for clarification from the person so that I can better understand their experience. If I still cannot agree with their memory of my behavior, I can yet acknowledge the impact they experienced and in good faith, state what I will do in the future. “Learning to receive feedback with the understanding that it is our impact, not our intentions being called out, opens the door for us to be able to much more readily hear what we need to hear in order to change.” (p.150)
Empathy and trust are the result of such interactions and nobody loses. Cooperative culture behavior is a win/win for both parties and for the community.
Our Vision
We are an intergenerational community, raising families together: committed to connection with each other, environmental sustainability, and living in harmonious relationship with the land. We share governance and work by consensus decision-making. We are queer-affirming, gender-inclusive, multicultural, and multigenerational individuals, couples, and families. We value the spectrums of the human experience and each individual’s diverse abilities. We strive to live out of a place of abundance, working to dismantle the systems of racism and oppression in our society.
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