Conference site repairs and improvements are going well, check it out!

Thank you to everyone who has helped as we recover from the March 2024 wildfire. From donations to drafting architectural plans to sweat equity, we are so grateful to the literally hundreds of people who have supported us and made it possible for the 2024 conference season to go ahead. The repairs and revamps are going well, and the shower now has TWO stalls (the old shower had one) which we find very exciting. A few pics of the rebuilding process are here, and if you’re reading this as an email you can see more pics on our blog.

Extend your time in Virginia to visit more communities after the Conference!

Why not make the most of your trip to Virginia by visiting intentional communities after the Conference? Our friends at Ecovillage Tours are organizing a tour throughout Virginia to visit 8 diverse intentional communities. As a tour participant, you’ll enjoy indoor lodging during the Conference. After the Conference, you’ll travel with an experienced guide within a small group of fellow community explorers. All transportation, meals, and accommodation is planned… so all you need to do is enjoy the transformative experience. This is an ideal way to deepen your knowledge of community living models, to best support you in finding a community to join or your endeavors to start a new community. Learn more at https://www.ecovillagetours.com/virginia, write to info@ecovillagetours.com with any questions. 

Announcing 3 new workshops, and more to follow in the coming week

We’re excited to announce “Authentic Relating in Community”, “Community Harm and Accountability”, and “Polyamory, Community, and the Evolution of Consciousness”. We’re in the process of notifying presenters and putting together our program and guide. We expect to have our full list of workshops posted on the website by August 15 (fingers crossed!). In the meantime descriptions of the 2024 workshops we’ve already announced are now on our workshops page here. 

Please keep in mind these are events & workshops we intend to have happen, but they are subject to change for any number of reasons- presenter conflicts, weather, etc. Please bear with us as we update the program- the most up-to-date version of it will always be on our website’s program page here.

Authentic Relating in Community with Mike Jadoo

Description: Authentic Relating explores a method for solving social problems while listening to our needs and those of others. AR games provide an easy and fun way to help us practice relational conversations, experience deeper connections with others, and feel connected and understood by others. While Authentic Relating skills are helpful for those who live in mainstream settings, for those who live in tightly-knit intentional communities these skills are crucial. In this workshop we will explore how members can use Authentic Relating tools to create a safe and open environment where members can connect deeply, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts constructively.

Presenter bio: Mike’s journey began with his first Nonviolent Communication (NVC) practice group, where he discovered the transformative power of empathy. Over the past four years, he has deepened his understanding through extensive study and several Authentic Relating courses under ART International (Levels 1, 2, 3, and currently in Level 4). His passion for helping others has led to positive impacts on many individuals’ lives, as he believes everyone deserves to understand their feelings and connect meaningfully with others. Mike facilitates authentic relating exercises with enthusiasm, empowering people to use these tools to improve their lives.

Community Harm and Accountability with Crystal Byrd Farmer

Description: What does accountability look like in community? How should communities support healing and repair between individuals and groups? In this workshop we’ll expand our understanding of harm and how communities can create a culture of accountability that works for one and all.

Presenter Bio: Crystal Byrd Farmer is an organizer and consultant in the intentional communities movement. She serves as a board member for the Foundation for Intentional Community, the BIPOC Intentional Community Council, and The Sum. Crystal is passionate about encouraging people to change their perspectives on diversity, relationships, and the world.

Polyamory, Community, and the Evolution of Consciousness with Daniel Greenberg

Description: Let’s talk about having multiple consensual romantic relationships in community and the larger context of WHY. Possible discussion topics include “How is poly connected to the evolution of community, consciousness, and more?”, “Dealing with misconceptions and stigma”, “Building a community of support”, “Maintaining privacy”, “Maximizing love and freedom in relationships”, “Intersectionality and polyamory”, and more.

Presenter Bio: Daniel Greenberg is… a sustainability educator; serial social entrepreneur (you’d think I’d learn); climate activist; ecovillage consultant; hopeful utopian; vegetarian for 35 years; father of two wonderful daughters; audiobook narrator, and avid swimmer. After serving as President of GEN and Director of Education at the Findhorn Foundation, I am now Co-Director of the Foundation for Intentional Community.

Covid policy reminder and announcement of test prices

Now that the conference is less than a month away we feel like we have an understanding of the current covid-19 loads this summer, we’ve finalized our covid policies. These are the same as our draft policy from earlier in this year, which was also the 2023 policy. As the impact and prevalence of Covid-19 shifts with time, so do our policies and precautions. All attendees must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test with a sample taken 24 hours or less before arrival. We strongly encourage testing at home before traveling to the conference and sending us a selfie of your test result via email or text. Tests will also be available at our registration desk at cost (estimated cost under $10, but likely to be $5).

If the testing cost is a barrier to your attendance, we can help! A generous donor has offered to subsidize testing costs for anyone who would find it difficult to afford the cost. We know that the cost of travel and taking time away from work can already be stressful for attendees, we hope these donations will make the event more accessible to a more diverse group of people. If you’d like to contribute to that fund, drop us an email and we’ll let you know how to contribute!

Rideshare forms and mass transit pickup requests

If you are coming from more than an hour away and have an extra seat in your vehicle, or if you are looking for a ride, please fill out our Ride Share form.  We can help you coordinate getting to the conference site from Charlottesville and Richmond, as well, if you are arriving by public transport, train, bus, or airplane.

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