Re: Diversity, what diversity? | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: MelaSilva (MelaSilvaaol.com) | |
Date: Fri, 5 Jul 1996 12:26:59 -0500 |
In a message dated 96-07-03 12:41:59 EDT, Daniel Nachbar writes: >I considered myself to be quite a tolerant fellow before cohousing. Boy, was >I in for a shock. Repeatedly, during my "early days", I found myself >stomping around after meetings mumbling "What is WRONG with these people?" >I came to the point where I could either give up on cohousing, >or learn to live with others' "madness." I now consider having my own tolerance levels >increased to be one of the primary, if unexpected, returns on my investment. Me too !!! I spent the first 2 years quilting during the meetings, because I found keeping my hands busy was the best way to keep my mouth SHUT. Cohousing is a process. I get very irritable in meetings, can't believe how slow it all works. Many times I have felt like "I hate this group." But then as I went around the group one by one in my head I realized that I love most of them individually. And I can't think of any other way, any better way, to move forward. Tolerance, and I would add, PATIENCE are the fruit of this work. One thing about the diversity issue: it is the INTENT toward diversity that matters. The suburbs are SO segregated. Block upon block of people who are the same age, have exactly the same income and number of children. When I found out that this group wanted to include low and moderate income folks, I was thrilled.When it was clear we would need more money, it was made negotiable, so that those who couldn't chip in were still members in good standing. We made sure that we had childcare for those with kids, and all meetings were wheelchair accessable after one in which we had to carry Susan up 20 steps. We tried to increase our racial diversity, including leaflets at the magnet school, going to churches, and getting write-ups in minority newspapers. Our homes range from 1 to 5 bedrooms, family size from singles to a 6 member 3 generation household. Show me a block in the suburbs that has that kind of spread. Mela Silva Southside Park, Sacramento CA
- Re: Diversity, what diversity?, (continued)
- Re: Diversity, what diversity? Bob's Cohousing Mailbox, July 3 1996
- Re: Diversity, what diversity? Daniel Nachbar, July 3 1996
- Re: Diversity, what diversity? Loren Davidson, July 3 1996
- Diversity, what diversity? Evan A.C. Hunt, July 3 1996
- Re: Diversity, what diversity? MelaSilva, July 5 1996
- Re: Diversity, what diversity? Tony G. Rocco, July 5 1996
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