Mission Peak Village delegates attend “Rooted in Belonging”
Submitted by Jane Mueller and Evelyn LaTorre
Jane Mueller and Evelyn LaTorre, Fremont residents and members of Mission Peak Village, the Tri-City’s first planned cohousing community, are packed and on their way to the conference “Rooted in Belonging,” hosted by The Cohousing Association of the United States in Denver, Colorado from August 2 to 4.
Kicking off the conference will be a screening of Join or Die, a new documentary about Robert Putnam, author of the book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, in which he demonstrates, with supporting data, that our country is transforming into a nation of loners. Both Putnam and U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy agree that over the past 50 years, Americans have become more and more socially disconnected. Research shows how this breakdown of community threatens the health of our democracy and over time results in poorer mental and physical health in individuals.
Even before the Mission Peak Village cohousing community breaks ground, members are counteracting this trend by forming connections with one another. They collaborate in planning every aspect of their future home, which combines individually owned homes with extensive shared common spaces in which to interact. Members recognize how they can live their best life surrounded by neighbors who are also friends—others who share their value of generalized reciprocity.
Led by cohousing experts, the conference will explore ways to make cohousing equitable, sustainable and diverse. Attendees will also reflect on the past, present and future of the rapidly growing international cohousing movement.
“I’m eager to experience the rewarding connections I always find among cohousers,” said Jane Mueller, a co-founder of Mission Peak Village.
“I will be listening deeply and sharing openly,” said Evelyn LaTorre, “to capture new strategies for identifying like-minded people who would like to live in our community with us.”
Fremont Main Library will have a cohousing display in its lobby during August. More information about the local cohousing movement is available at www.missionpeakcohousing.org, where one can register for an online information session or for a guided tour of the future Mission Peak Village site.
Mission Peak Village is a group of friends forming Fremont’s first cohousing community. Memberships are still available. For information, see www.missionpeakcohousing.org or call Jane at (510) 413-8446. For more information on the topic of cohousing, visit www.cohousing.org.
