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2023 Fall

Theme:“Community, Now More Than Ever”Location: Buckley, WA

Social Housing and Intentional Communities

Seattle has just adopted the idea of “Social Housing”, in which public agencies own housing units that are rented to people with varying incomes. People with higher incomes pay higher rent, which subsidizes the lower-income units. Any surplus funds are ...

NICA Spring Gathering (In Person) May 7th 2022

NICA's Spring Gathering Saturday May 7, 2022 Join us In-Person on Vashon Island from 10 am to 5 pm.Vashon CoHousing, 10421 SW Bank Rd, WA 98070 Featuring Yana Ludwig on Cooperative Culture & Betty Martin on the Consent Wheel Please ...

Equality Colony

By Peaceray / January 13, 2022 The second of the late 19th century intentional communities in Western Washington Books sometime inspire the founders of intentional communities. B.F. Skinner’s Walden Two sparked the founding of Twin Oaks Community in 1967.i In ...

2021 NICA Spring Gathering

The Northwest Intentional Communities Association [NICA] will hold our semi-annual gathering on Saturday, May 8, from 10 am to 2 pm. Community members will gather and share our experiences with the challenges and advantages that the COVID-19 crisis has brought ...

The Puget Sound Co-operative Colony

The first of the late 19th century intentional communities in Western Washington Many believe that intentional communities are a phenomena that started in the 1960s along with alternative life styles. They would be surprised to learn about Fruitlands, a vegan ...

Community in a Pandemic

By the NICA Board, February 2021 How has community or lack of community affected your ability to weather these times? We'd love to hear from you. At our last NICA Board meeting, board members took turns describing how being in ...

Reflection on the Fall 2020 NICA Gathering

By Jonathan Betz-Zall Theme: Inclusive Communities Thrive Together Date: October 3, 2020, 10 am to 2 pm The Northwest Intentional Communities Association held our 2020 Fall Gathering on October 3 virtually. A total of 21 people attended, 8 from Songaia, ...

NICA Fall Gathering 2020 – Featured Speaker, Crystal Byrd Farmer

https://youtu.be/Mqc-7yQauLQ

NICA has Openings!

Have you dreamed of helping to connect communities to each other? Have you felt called to bring your professional skills to a team with a longstanding history of collaboration and community improvement? Want to make an impact not only in ...

Fall 2020 NICA Gathering

Date: October 3, 2020, 10 AM to 2 PMTheme: Inclusive Communities Thrive TogetherFeaturing Crystal Bird Farmer as Keynote Presenter REGISTER HERE: FALL GATHERING 2020! Objectives: Community Networking, online companionship. Promoting Communities as a Public Good.Link to online event on Oct ...

Spring Gathering is on — but will be ONLINE only

Register today for NICA Spring Gathering 2020 at https://nicagathering.bpt.me/ (sliding scale, very low rates!) Sunday, May 31, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Participate in as much as you can, or as little as you want. RESILIENCE is the theme ...

Coronavirus Online Resources for Northwest Intentional Communities (assembled especially for co-living situations)

Compiled for NW Intentional Communities Association by Jonathan Betz-Zall, 3/25/2020 FIC’s “COVID-19 Resources” This is the main list compiled by the Foundation for Intentional Community. NASCO’s “COVID-19 Update and Resources” (North American Students of Cooperation’s list. Guidelines developed for large ...

New website features and complete redesign!

Have you noticed? NICA Launched Updated Website In an effort to be more useful to the Intentional Communities Movement in our Cascadia region, beyond our Spring and Fall Gatherings, NICA took time over the last half of 2019 to ...

Save the Date! NICA Spring Gathering 2020 is May 31

Save the date: Sunday May 31st, 2020 NICA’s Spring Gathering at Songaia Cohousing Community (Bothell, WA) [Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, we may need to severely limit the numbers of in-person attendees, and/or hold workshops via livestream. Watch here ...

Community Building for Socially Just Urban Development

Jonathan Bet-Zall, Northwest Intentional Communities Association Of the many ills of civilization, the one that hits me hardest is widespread, and continuing-to -spread homelessness. Traditionally, even the poorest person could find a place to live at the edge of the ...

NICA Spring Gathering 2020

Since 1993, the Northwest Intentional Communities Association (NICA) has been holding events which are hosted and organized by, and about intentional communities in the northwestern US and BC, Canada. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was held online. The ...

NICA Board Retreat Highlights

Intentional Community Slogans! Intentional Communities present powerful opportunities for people to improve their lives, but could you express all the benefits in a slogan? In our society with less time and more content, could you introduce a phrase to hook ...

50th Annual Human Relations Laboratory and Picnic, Aug 4-10, 2019

Sponsored by the Goodenough Community How to Live in Heaven, HERE! Click on image to download full flyer plus picnic announcement Lab feels like heaven – right here and right now. Heaven is not a location but a state of ...

Radically Affordable Housing (and other benefits of Cooperative Living)

Two board members from NICA and other experienced members of intentional community speak on the panel at this Seattle event. Starts 6:45 PM, ends 8:30 PM. See Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2331343617139995/

2019 NICA Spring Gathering held on Saturday, April 27

Date and Venue April 27, from 10 AM to 4:30 PM at Maxwelton Creek Cohousing (on Whidbey Island) Theme: Affordable Housing in Intentional Communities To RSVP, or if you have questions, send email to info@nwcommunities.org People can attend a gathering ...

Enacting Purpose

I am so grateful that NICA President Syd Fredrickson, hosted a Board retreat in February... Although my stomach turned when she urged the Board to look NICA's purposes square in the face, and assess NICA's integrity. As small as the ...

Spring 2018 edition of Communities magazine focuses on “Class, Race, and Privilege”

In today’s world, it’s rare to find positive and engaging stories that simultaneously expose readers to sensitive topics like race, class, and social barriers and biases. The Fellowship for Intentional Community (FIC), a nonprofit organization with offices based in Rutledge, ...

Sociocracy Workshop, April 26-29

Diana Leafe Christian (author of books, *Finding Community: How to Join an Ecovillage or Intentional Community* and *Creating a Life Together* and a member of Earthaven Ecovillage) will train participants in this dynamic method of self-governance. Sociocracy, also called Dynamic ...

Fall Gathering on Saturday, October 14 with the theme, Our Communities as Social Change Labs

We are excited to announce a full agenda of activities on Saturday, Oct 14 from 10 AM to 5 PM, with optional activities before and after that. It will be hosted by Beacon House, in Seattle. Beacon House is part ...

Save the Date: October 14 for Fall Gathering 2017

More info will be sent later, but the general schedule will be typical for a 1-day NICA Gathering. It will be on a Saturday, starting around 10 AM, go until 4:30 or 5 PM, and in this case there will ...

Call for Photos of Intentional Communities!

We are working on new display boards and a new NICA brochure, so we would appreciate some updated photos of your community: the buildings, people, gardens, animals, whatever. While you're at it, tell us if there have been important changes ...

C0-Housing 101 Workshop

Click on image to open and print out full-size flyer Here is an upcoming opportunity to learn about cohousing or to share information about your interest/forming community. If you are in the latter camp, please come prepared to talk about ...

NICA Fall Gathering Survey & Call for Proposals

This is an invitation to tell us what you want to see or do! What are the most pressing issues in your community or in your pursuit of having more community in your life? Would you be interested to visit ...

Curious About Co-Housing?

Capital Hill Urban Co-Housing hosts event on Sunday, March 26,10:00 AM at 12th Ave Arts (Pike Pine Room) - 1620 12th Ave, Seattle Here's an opportunity to learn about cohousing, or share information about your interest/forming community. If you ...

Revitalizing NICA

A few weeks ago, a handful of former and newer NICA board members gathered to discern the direction of Northwest Intentional Communities Association (NICA) in the Pacific Northwest. During our time together, we honored Rob Sandelin for his contribution to ...

NICA Spring Gathering: Saturday, April 25, Duwamish Cohousing

When: Saturday, April 25 10am to 5pm Where: Duwamish CoHousing, West Seattle, 6000 17th Ave SW Seattle WA 98106 Questions: Contact Basha Osinski at 650-743-2622 or basha.osinski@yahoo.com $10 suggested donation; potluck lunch - please bring a dish to share Common ...

3-day Sociocracy Workshop with Diana Leafe Christian, Jan 31-Feb 2 at Windsong Cohousing, Langley, BC

3-Day Sociocracy Workshop - Sociocracy overview - Experiential exercises: -- Proposals - Plan/Implement/Evaluate feedback loops -- The linked circles governance structure -- Aim of each circle -- Consent Decision-Making, Proposal-Forming -- Selecting People for Roles, Role-Improvement Feedback - Implementing Sociocracy ...

Dynamic Governance Workshop, Seattle, January 25, 2015

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez will be doing a one-day workshop on Dynamic Governance (aka Sociocracy) on Sunday, January 25th in Seattle. Cost: Sliding Scale $120-$40 (median $75) In this workshop you will practice the essential elements of dynamic governance (sociocracy) and learn ...

NICA Fall Gathering on Sat, Nov. 8, 2014

We're pleased to announce that the NICA 2014 Fall Gathering will be at Songaia Cohousing Community near Bothell, WA on Saturday, 11/8/2014 from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Creating Community Anywhere Many involved in the Intentional Communities movement use the phrase "community ...

Ananda Community Open House & Solstice Celebration

Intentional Communities: sustaining and celebrating life! Saturday, June 21, 3 to 7:00pm Free! 20715 Larch Way, Lynnwood WA (I-5 Exit 181) Ananda Community hosts its annual Open House and Solstice Celebration in cooperation with other local intentional communities. All ...

Facilitation Training: Sat, May 24 at Cranberry Commons Cohousing, Burnaby BC

DEEPENING YOUR FACILITATION PRACTICE: WORKSHOP IN BURNABY, BC - MAY 24 Calling all project leaders, teachers, facilitators, coaches, public engagement practitioners, non-profit board members, and others whose work involves empowering people to participate in groups, workplaces, and communities in a ...

NICA Spring Gathering, Saturday, April 26, 2014

Food in Community growing, buying, cooking, sharing and bonding NICA is pleased to offer another intentional community gathering. This highly interactive event begins with the full group sharing, followed by a potluck lunch. Given the topic, you won't be surprised to ...

Dynamic Governance Workshop

Jerry Koch-Gonzalez will be doing a one-day Sociocracy workshop on Sunday, January 25th in Seattle - 2100 24th Avenue South. (His workshop is called "Dynamic Governance." a different name for Sociocracy.) The price is $120-$40 sliding scale, $75 as median ...

HOLD THE DATE: NICA Fall Gathering, Nov. 2, 2013

Sharingwood Cohousing Community has graciously offered to host this year's NICA Fall Gathering, with the theme, "Living in Community." DETAILS What: NICA Fall Gathering, focusing on “Living in Community” Date: Saturday, Nov 2, 2013 Time: 10am to 5pm Where: Sharingwood ...

Summary Notes from Diana Leaf Christian's August 2013 Presentation at East West Bookshop

Thanks to the 25 folks who joined members of the NICA Board at East West Bookshop on August 21 for a presentation and discussion with Diana Leaf Christian on "Three Aspects of a Healthy, Thriving Community." The three aspects are: ...

Cooperative Communities & Sustainability Conference, Nov. 15-17, 2013

Click on image to visit event site Ananda College and the Northwest Intentional Communities Association (NICA) are cosponsoring the Fall 2013 Cooperative Communities & Sustainability Conference, November 15-17, 2013, on the Ananda College campus. Gain more knowledge for your community, ...

Ananda Community Open House & Solstice Celebration: 1 – 7 pm. Saturday, June 22, 2013

The Ananda Community of Lynnwood welcomes everyone to an Open House and Solstice celebration from 1pm to 7pm on Saturday, June 22, 2013. There will be tours, presentations, and opportunities to ask questions about this thriving intentional spiritual community. There ...

Visions of Utopia: Screening and Discussion, July 13

Click on image to visit Visions of Utopia Web site Geoff Kozeny travelled to hundreds of intentional communities, interviewing many residents about their community experience. The result was a remarkable DVD in which Geoff shares highlights of the history of ...

NICA Board Members Circuit Portland Area Intentional Communities

In January, NICA Board Members Larry Rider and Nancy Lanphear made a trip to visit the following communities in Portland: Peninsula Park Cohousing Columbia Ecovillage Kailash Ecovillage Trillium Hollow Cohousing Cascadia Commons Cohousing Ananda Community of Portland Daybreak Cohousing We ...

NICA Spring Gathering: Relationships in Community, April 13, 2013

Among the many benefits of community living is sharing the joy of relationships. Join us at the Ananda Community Lynnwood for a day of exploring the world of intentional community. Our focus will be Relationships in Community, including workshop/discussions on ...

NICA presents Within Reach Movie, March 23, East West Bookshop

WITHIN REACH explores one couple's pedal-powered search for a place to call home. Mandy and Ryan gave up their jobs, cars and traditional houses to "bikepack" 6,500 miles for nearly 2 years around the USA seeking sustainable community. Rather than ...

Photo Slideshow from NICA Fall Gathering 2012

Right around 50 folks attended at least part of the NICA Fall Gathering 2012. Thanks to everyone who participated, particularly David Mcleod, who offered a presentation on Transition Whatcom, and Jamie Jedinak and other members of the Wooley Mammoth who ...

FIC Executive Secretary Laird Schaub to speak on "Intentional Communities: Past, Present, and Future Directions," Nov. 15

NICA will sponsor a free public talk on the subject "Intentional Communities: Past, Present, and Future Directions" on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 7 to 8:30pm at the East West Bookshop (6500 Roosevelt NE) in Seattle. The talk will be given ...

Transition Town Resources for NICA Fall Gathering 2012

The Transition Movement has spread quickly since it's initiation in Great Britain, including several efforts here in the Northwest. Key leadership of the movement in the Pacific Northwest will be leading sessions at the NICA Fall Gathering 2012. See more ...

Explore the Fellowship of Intentional Communities Web Site

We are sharing this reminder from the Fellowship of Intentional Communities of the fantastic resources available on their Web site: Click on logo to visit Fellowship of Intentional Communities Web site Explore our Website edited by McCune Porter, eNews staff ...

NICA Fall Gathering to Focus on Transitioning: Relationships, Resilience & Sustainability, Oct. 20, 2012

Click on this photo for more information on Transition Towns UPDATE: Event registration now available! Register HERE We're estimating that we can handle up to 50 participants, so please register as soon as you know you can come! ============================================ Join ...

Clearwater Commons Featured Site on 2012 Green Home Tour – April 21 & 22

Just received this exciting message from our colleagues at Clearwater Commons. If you are available, you may want to stop by. Clearwater Commons, the most comprehensive low impact development project in the Puget Sound, is being featured on the 2012 ...

Everett/Seattle Evolver Event- Getting Back Together: Intentional Community Gift Circles, March 23

Quick announcement of upcoming Evolver event in Everett/Seattle area: See full announcement here. A new generation of intentional communities and pioneering collectives are reimagining the way we live, love, grow food, eat, dance, and play. These are the eco-villages, artist ...

NICA Spring Gathering: Getting Better Results from Meetings, Sat. April 14

You are invited to NICA’s Spring Gathering on Saturday, April 14 at Duwamish Cohousing in West Seattle. The focus of the day will be on how to improve community meetings. We will have discussions and workshops on some of the ...

Report on Tree Bressen Facilitation Workshop

Submitted by Larry Rider On October 15. 2011, NICA hosted Tree Bressen, a facilitation trainer from Eugene OR (http://www treegroup.info), who gave a daylong workshop entitled, Facilitating a Meeting with Care and Skill. The event was held at the Ravenna ...

Bookshelf Highlight: The Zen of Groups

The Zen of Groups is one book I recommend for anyone in an organizing role in forming groups or for new facilitators in community or work settings. Anyone interested in group dynamics can appreciate it but it's especially good as ...

Report from the Art of Community Conference

From Sept 23-25, 2011, FIC (Federation for Intentional Community) presented a weekend conference in Occidental, CA, about 50 miles north of San Francisco. About 250 people attended. 20-30 communities were represented, mostly from the Bay Area and the West coast. ...

Co-opalooza 2011- A Celebration of Community & Co-ops, Oct 16

Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union (SMCU) created Co-opalooza to celebrate co-ops and help spread the word of the great things they do for their community. Co-ops from across the economic spectrum will be joining SMCU for a free, all-ages festival with ...

Report on NICA East West Panel, Sept 1, 2011

On Thursday, September 1, 2011, NICA hosted its 3rd panel presentation at the East West Bookshop at 6500 Rossevelt Way NE Seattle. About 30 people attended. The topic was Intentional Communities: Models for Sustainable Living. Our goal was to share ...

Facilitating a Meeting with Care and Skill Workshop, Tree Bressen, Oct. 15

Did you facilitate the monthly meeting only to freeze like a deer in the headlights when a conflict came up or someone acted inappropriately? This workshop will cover the essentials of what every meeting facilitator needs to know. After going ...

Intentional Communities: Models for Sustainable Living Panel Discussion, Sept. 1

Click on image to view and download full size poster Do you long to recapture a sense of true community, where friends know and help one another? Learn why intentional communities are attracting increasing interest as models for sustainable living. ...

Songaia Earth Day and 10 Anniversary May Day Video

If you missed Songaia's May Day celebration, here's just a taste of what happened!

Building Gift Community Seminars, May 13 and 15

Building Gift Community: We Need Each Other ---experiential seminar, enjoy a taste of gift culture--- Imagine “your” community: Living in your own home, easy travel distance apart, a tribe of men and women, safely intimate and committed to each other. ...

Earth Day and 10th Anniversary May Day 2011 at Songaia, May 1

Click on the image to view and print out the full-sized flyer Join the Songaia Community to celebrate Earth Day and the community's 10 Anniversary May Day! DETAILS Event: Earth Day and 10th Anniversary May Day Date: Sunday, May 1, ...

Ananda Community of Lynnwood Open House, June 18

The Ananda Community of Lynnwood invites you to an Open House of our community. Featuring tours of the community, apartments, gardens, our temple, our CSA operation, hoop house, chicken coop and more. There will be booths, information on other intentional ...

Permaculture to be Focus of NICA Spring Gathering, March 26, Maxwelton Creek Cohousing

NICA will hold its annual Spring Gathering this year on Saturday, March 26, from 10:15 to 4:15 at Maxwelton Creek CoHousing on Whidbey Island. The theme of the gathering will be Permaculture. Suggested donation at the door is $10. Shuttle ...

Clearwater Commons Informational Meeting, Jan. 23

After four years of planning and site development, Clearwater Commons is beginning phase-one house construction, building 8 of 16 units and opening up the opportunity for new buyers to select choice lots alongside North Creek in Bothell. An informational meeting ...

Call for presenters: 2011 National Cohousing Conference

NICA recently received this invitation from Cohousing USA: The 2011 National Cohousing Conference (NCC) will be held June 17-19th in Washington DC. We are in need of speakers, presenters, panel members and workshop makers extraordinaire to share their expertise and ...

Videos available from Hope for a Better World Panel Discussion

Video segments from the Hope for a Better World panel discussion, hosted by NICA at East West Bookshop, October 13, 2010, are now available on the nwcommunities Youtube site. Communities represented on this panel included Bright Morning Star, Ananda Community ...

Duwamish Cohousing Fall Community Clothing Swap and Bash, Oct. 23

The Duwamish Cohousing Fall Community Clothing Swap and Bash is THIS SATURDAY, October 23, from 12-8 pm!! There will be food, drink, socks, pants, dancing, and dancing pants! There is unlimited space for people and dresses, so feel free to ...

NICA Panel Discussion-Wednesday, Oct. 13, East-West Bookshop

Small, intentional communities are an important part of the solution to the problems of our age, offering a much-needed example of a way of life based on co-operation, harmonious living, shared resources and human relationships. Their strength comes from their ...

Workshop: Growing a Successful Ecovillage or Sustainable Community: Aug 11-13

Diana Leafe Christian is leading a workshop on how to grow a successful Ecovillage or sustainable community. Here are the details: Wednesday - Friday, August 11-13 Lost Valley Educational Center, near Eugene, Oregon $175 for commuters (includes lunches) or $255 ...

Ananda Community Open House & Summer Solstice Celebration

The Ananda Community of Lynnwood hosts an Open House on Saturday, June 19. All are welcome to tour and ask questions about the 20-year old intentional spiritual community. Tours will include the four vegetable gardens and the hoop house of ...

Communities Welcome Bees, with a Cautionary Tale

Port Townsend EcoVillage and Songaia Cohousing welcomed bee hives this spring. Here are a few shots, the first two from Port Townsend, and the second two from Songaia: Kees Kolff from Port Townsend shared this cautionary tale about being sure ...

Cohousing Bus Tours Scheduled for Seattle and Portland

Two bus tours organized by the Cohousing Association of the United States have been scheduled for Portland and Seattle. The Portland Cohousing Bus Tour will take place Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, and will include ...

Twin Oaks spot on CNN

After our recent panel discussion at East West Bookshop (see followup postings here and here), here's a feature on Twin Oaks from CNN.

Register today for NICA Spring Gathering

Ravenna Kibbutz has graciously offered to host our Spring Gathering this year. Please help us anticipate how many folks will be coming by registering here. Pre-registration is NOT required; we're only trying to get a rough idea of how many ...

Daybreak Cohousing Grand Opening Celebration, April 17

New North Portland Cohousing Development Opens Doors to Public for Music, Food, Tours and Welcome by Public Officials Daybreak Cohousing will host a Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, April 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the community at ...

Food as Celebration at NICA Spring Gathering: April 24 at Ravenna Kibbutz

NICA Spring Gathering Saturday, April 24th 10 – 5 pm hosted by: Ravenna Kibbutz 6211 23rd Ave NE Seattle, WA 98115 (dead end off 65th Ave) Suggested donation (onsite): $10 parking on side streets, carpooling encouraged *** Whether you live ...

Daybreak Cohousing in Portland to host Fellowship of Intentional Communities semi-annual event, May 21-23

The FIC Invites NICA Members to Join Us in the Rose City! The Fellowship for Intentional Community will be holding its semi-annual organizational meetings May 21-23, 2010 at newly constructed Daybreak Cohousing in Portland OR, and you're invited! Portland is ...

Five communities and sustainable living: Video selections from recent panel discussion

Here are the community introductions by panel members at the recent "Intentional Communities: Models of Sustainable Living" event, hosted by East West Bookshop, March 10, 2010. Additional selections, as well as a the complete video of the entire event, will ...

Nearly 60 people attend East West Bookshop Panel on Intentional Communities, Models for Sustainable Living

Terrific event last night, graciously hosted by East West Bookshop, with nearly 60 in attendance, including representatives from several intentional communities, including the Port Townsend EcoVillage and Clearwater Commons. If you attended on behalf of a community and I missed ...

Hold the date: NICA Spring Gathering, April 24, 2010

Ravenna Kibbutz will be hosting this gathering focused on Food as Celebration. Watch for additional details!

Panel Discussion: Intentional Communities, Models for Sustainable Living

Do you long to recapture a sense of true community, where friends know and help one another? Learn why intentional communities are attracting increasing interest as models of cooperation, friendship and sustainable living. Tonight, members of NICA (Northwest Intentional Communities ...