Cohousing-L Mailing List: Racial Diversity in Cohousing

[Zev Paiss (zevpaiss]

Friends,
While I applaud the desire to have racial diversity in our Cohousing 
communities, what is required for this to happen is typically far beyond the 
ability (or comfort level) of most current residents or development 
professionals. I do not say this lightly as diversity is something I have 
worked to achieve for the past 30 years.

Racial diversity appears to be a desire of the mostly white upper middle class 
college educated residents. Why is that?

I worked on a Denver Cohousing project many years ago where low income 
residents were the primary demographic. A comment from a black pastor 
highlighted the challenge. When white folks think of diversity, they imagine 
having at least one black, Hispanic, and Asian household in their community to 
help satisfy their desire for racial diversity. From the perspective of the 
black community they would begin with 50% black households and go from there. I 
am curious how us lilly white residents would feel living in a cohousing 
neighborhood where 50% of your neighbors are black, use language you might 
consider offensive. (Yo nigga wass up?) and sharing meals where vegan and 
vegetarian options are nowhere to be seen?

As much as we would like to add this kind of diversity I do not see existing 
coho residents being up for the task. My opinion only.

Zev Paiss
Nomad Cohousing, Founding Member
Boulder, CO
720-232-3826