Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: How to build sense of community in condo complex?

[Monty Berman (mberman]

Dear Bob,
        I've sat with the situation you describe for yourself in the 200 
unit condo without "community." I'll begin my remarks with the idea that 
community is based on getting to know others on deeper levels. This can,
of course, be approached indirectly with the traditional events such as 
meals, picnics, games, sports, etc. The other way is the direct approach, as in 
specificly designed get-to-know-each-other-at deeper-levels groups. The one 
that has consistently worked for me is the men's group. So, I could see 
somebody in your situation putting the word out that he's interested in 
men meeting to get to know each better.
        Another thought occurs to me: a group could be organized around 
Scott Peck's THE DIFFERENT DRUM. This book deals specifically, and 
effectively, with building community. A group focusing on this book might 
find themselves creating exactly that which they are reading about and 
reacting to.

"A community is a group of people who have committed themselves to relate 
to each other on deeper levels." Paraphrase from M. Scott Peck

Monty Berman    EcoVillage at Ithaca, a cohousing community in the making.