Conference Chair Katie McCamant’s message to existing communities:

Why care about the conference?

1. Existing communities have a lot to offer newbies. The next generation of communities needs your support to get off the ground in this more difficult economic environment. This is the opportunity to share your “lessons learned”.
2. Your community may have some things really well figured out, but struggles with others. Sooner or later, most communities have to work thru/ work out similar issues. We can share and learn from each other.
3. Of course, you could call or visit other communities in the region any time, so why pay for the conference? Because, while we can call or visit other communities, we don’t .. so your association has made it easy and fun to talk to a whole bunch of other people doing this… and, it's right here in the our region this year.. so let take advantage of it!

It's our association, it's our conference… if we really make it ours…

2012 National Cohousing Conference
Oakland, CA - June 13-17

Creating Sustainable Neighborhoods; Learning from the Cohousing Experience

Come learn, share and perhaps volunteer. The conference features cohousing and community experts. It’s a great opportunity to network with dedicated cohousing activists, supporters, and residents from around the world. Presentations and workshops will offer everything from the basics of cohousing, designing and building communities, living in community, group process skill building, opportunities to learn from and share our cohousing experiences, as well as how we can contribute to making cohousing more sustainable and more affordable.

In advance of the conference, consider attending tours of local communities or pre-conference workshops.

Conference Highlights

	Conference Sessions More than 35 sessions covering a wide range of exciting and relevant topics will spark new ideas and give you tools you can use whether you are creating cohousing, living in it, or just wanting to find out more. Most of the sessions are participatory discussions not just presentations. You’re involved!
	Cohousing 101 New to the Cohousing idea and want to find out more? Cohousing 101 will provide you with a rich introduction to the basic components of the model, how it works and why it brings such value to residents. Sign up for the Friday afternoon session or the Saturday morning session at no extra charge.
	Community Tours Three rolling workshops will take you to a broad selection of Bay area communities so you can experience and learn about cohousing first-hand.
	Pre-Conference Workshops In depth, intensive workshops offered the two days prior to the conference, will provide tools and information you can use. Separate workshops will focus on Cohousing Development, Facilitation, Group Process, Marketing, and more. The Cohousing Research and Writers workshop connects scholars, practitioners and writers interested in the cohousing model and how it connects to broader social and sustainability themes.

And so much more!