Voluntary residential community High degree of social cohesion & teamwork Common values: social, political, religious, or spiritual Typically share responsibilities and property

Intentional communities are formed when people choose to live with or near enough to each other to carry out a shared lifestyle, with a shared culture and a with a common purpose.

Collective Households Cohousing / Coliving Ecovillages Retreats Ashrams Housing Cooperatives Utopian Society Tiny House Village Senior Communities

A perfect society in which people work well with each other and are happy. "World Peace" Eg. Garden of Eden, Heaven, Shangri-La, The Federation (Star Trek), The Capital (Hunger Games), England in Brave New World Opposite = Dystopia.

Ecological Economic Religious Scientific Technology

Earliest example 1500 BC Ashrams (India) Buddhist monasteries 500 BC Pythagoras founded a vegetarian commune 525 BC in Italy

1970s "commune" Images of long-haired young people "Hippies" Rejecting society & government

Communes, for many, evoke the potential for groups to become more controlling and sinister in nature. Group’s control of an individual’s behavior, intellect, thoughts and emotions (BITE). Deceptive and charismatic leaders. Eg. Children of God, Manson Family, People's Temple

Residential or place-based Shared values or purpose Common agreements and social processes Opportunities for a shared lifestyle Commitment to building cooperative culture

Connection Share Resources Living Lightly Community Support Feeling Safer Save Money Experiment / Fun

Auroville, India (North of Pondicherry/Chennai) Founded in 1968 3000+ residents and visitors "The purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity - in diversity" "All creeds, all politics, and all nationalities"

Ecovillage Ithaca, New York Over 500 Residents Started in 1991 80% Open Space Promote experiential learning for shelter, food, energy, livelihood, social connectness

Dug temples in secret from Italian government for 16 years (Temples of Humankind) "Living Lab for the Future" Loosely Based on Egyptian Spirituality Solidarity, sharing, love and respect for the environment

Unique home for people with disabilities Over 100 locations North America & Europe Welcoming & Inclusive "Lifesharing community" Home, work, nature, food, art, spirituality

Artistic community Inspired by Indian traditional teachings & lifestyle Principles: Non-violence, simple living, elevated thinking Tolerance, compassion, patience

Located in Copenhagen Commune stole an abandoned army base Showed up in 1971 and never left Operate as an independent country until 2010

Transitioning 14,000 villages into ecovillages Encourage people to stay in villages, not all urbanisation Encouraging sustainable practices Ecovillage development; ecological, economic, social and cultural.

Smaller footprint Save money Quickly have a home

Intentional Community Foundation Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) ECOLISE, European Community-Led Initiatives NuMundo, Network of Impact Centers

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