Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Racial Diversity

[Neil Planchon (neil]

<Laurie Frank - lsfrank [at] icloud.com> is the author of the message below. It 
was posted by Neil from the Cohousing-L management team :: cohousing-l-owner 
[at] cohousing.org. Neil
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Hi All,

I have a personal policy to not engage in conversations such as this on email, 
social media, or listservs because I have found that they are inadequate to 
account for all of the nuances.  We run the risk of creating even more rifts 
than when we started the discussion.  After talking to Trish and reading her 
response, I have decided to make an exception in this case.

After reading through all of the postings, it clarified for me that we 
absolutely need the Coalition for Racial Diversity in Cohousing.  The U.S. has 
a history of systemic racism that has resulted in so much historical and 
generational trauma.  Cohousing is not immune, and none of this will fix 
itself.  Cohousing, though, is a model that just may be able to create bridges, 
and might just be able to offer some path forward.  

We need conversations to take place in a safe and open environment that allows 
people to choose to be vulnerable.  We hope to create a safe container for a 
variety of voices and perspectives at the table. 

Yes, diversity is hard.  Let's make no mistake - there are no guarantees; but 
if cohousing can't navigate it, then we sure have given up on one of our core 
values.  Maybe we can create restorative cultures in our communities that can 
show another,  more inclusive and vibrant, way forward.

So, we need people from a variety of races, cultures, and ethnicities to sit at 
the table and sort some of this out.  I invite you to apply to be part of the 
Coalition for Racial Diversity in Cohousing.  Send the invitation to your 
networks.

I know there are many people - especially people of color - who are just tired 
of pushing a boulder up the mountain.  I really hope that this time can 
different - that the path the Coalition charts for CohoUS and beyond can make a 
world of difference.

Laurie Frank
CohoUS Board Member

<The success of our work depends upon a diverse set of identities to develop a 
great story. We hope you?ll join us. A detailed description of the coalition 
can be found 
here<https://www.cohousing.org/coalition-for-racially-diverse-cohousing/>, and 
applications<https://forms.gle/UgdFrbeuZAoF15gm8> are open until February 24.>

Laurie Frank
lsfrank [at] mac.com

107 Sutherland Court, Unit 101
Madison, WI. 53704

Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless 
means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.

Paulo Friere, Pedagogy of the Oppressed


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