All Blog Posts
An Historic Convergence of Intentional Communities
Posted on September 23, 2024 byby Daniel Greenberg, FIC Co-Director From Sept 2-3, the FIC and Twin Oaks co-facilitated an historic Convergence of Intentional Communities following their annual Twin Oaks Communities Conference. More than 222 participants attended across the two events (plus several dozen Twin Oakers and other local communards), and the FIC and the Twin Oaks fire relief fund… Read More
Where Do We Go From Here?
Posted on March 25, 2024 by5 Comments
An open letter to the Intentional Communities Movement – January, 2024 A couple quick notes: This is focused on the movement in the US and Canada (though I think there are some significant differences between those two as well). This has nothing to do with nationalist sentiments. It’s purely practical. It is by far what… Read More
026: Preventing and Mending the Fissures with Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners
Posted on March 11, 2024 byPreventing and Mending the Fissures with Dr. Jessica Plancich Shinners Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 026 We’re closing out our second season with an examination of how to navigate inevitable interpersonal conflict and move towards restored connection. Social architecture can be what makes or breaks a community, business, or organization. How we process our own… Read More
025: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion with Crystal Byrd Farmer
Posted on February 12, 2024 byEmbracing Diversity and Inclusion with Crystal Byrd Farmer Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 025 There’s a rich opportunity to push the needle forward when it comes to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, but navigating Race, Class, Privilege, Ability, and all the ways folks face different levels of adversity can be vulnerable and uncomfortable. Sometimes we need… Read More
Upgrade your community toolbox
Posted on January 29, 2024 byby Åsa Isacson The tools for groups of people to find, manage and develop their own communities just as they want them has radically changed in the last 20 years. We first try to understand communities, then look at what prevents us from using new tools, and finally give tips towards a tentative toolbox to try out, a la carte. Because… Read More
Bonus: Centering and Preparing for Birth with Monique Gauthier
Posted on January 8, 2024 byBonus: Centering and Preparing for Birth with Monique Gauthier Inside Community Podcast — Bonus Episode My conversation with Monique Gauthier was too full of inspiring and helpful information, so I created this bonus episode to share some of the wisdom that couldn’t fit in the full length episode. Here, Monique leads us through the centering… Read More
024: Community Supported Birth with Monique Gauthier
Posted on January 4, 2024 byCommunity Supported Birth with Monique Gauthier Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 024 Bringing new life into the world requires levels of support practically unheard of in modern, western culture… unless you’ve cultivated community that is up for the task! Seasoned midwife and communitarian Monique Gauthier joins us today to help us envision birth from a… Read More
History is in the making at the FIC
Posted on December 25, 2023 byby Harvey Baker Watch the video to hear FIC board member, Harvey Baker, talk about FIC’s history using our community beads!
What is lacking in the modern society model?
Posted on December 18, 2023 byby Celastrina My name is Celastrina and I’m a 29 year old dreamer and artist from Sweden. Nine years ago, my life took an extraordinary turn when I made the choice to move to Damanhur, an intentional community in the foothills of the Italian alps. I’m convinced that the future of human societies are to… Read More
Technology as a bridge between people and places
Posted on December 11, 2023 byRodrigo Braga IT Director Technology as a bridge between people and places — I have a strong connection with water—especially the oceans—which led me to connect with sustainability and permaculture in my early twenties at the very beginning of my career as an IT professional. As you can probably imagine, the routine of an IT… Read More
New Visions for the Communities Movement
Posted on December 4, 2023 byDaniel Greenberg, FIC Co-Director A wise person once told me, “At every level of the nested hierarchy of life, we can look down for function and up for purpose.” For example, as individuals, our hearts, kidneys, and other organs are functionary to us. We are their purpose. Going deeper, our organs have functionary tissues, cells, organelles and so… Read More
The idea that the real goal is belonging
Posted on November 27, 2023 byI’m not a big fan of the word “inclusion”. As someone raised by scientists and fascinated with geology, it always makes me think of amber with a water bubble, or a bug, or tiny piece of wood caught in it; frozen in time. It is beautiful, but it is beauty that comes from emphasizing the… Read More
New Visions for the Communities Movement with Daniel Greenberg
Posted on November 27, 2023 byNew Visions for the Communities Movement with Daniel Greenberg Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 023 As we close out 2023, it’s time to take stock of the Communities Movement and consider where we might be headed in the future. In this episode we are joined by new FIC co-director Daniel Greenberg, who brings his deep… Read More
Let’s raise the bar with FIC Programs for 2024
Posted on November 17, 2023 byFIC Programs Director Lauren Hugel We just finished our 2023 FIC retreat at Shannon Farm Community in rural Virginia. What a beautiful time of year to be here with the changing leaves and chill in the air. And, of course, big thank you to Shannon Farm community for being incredible hosts 🙏 While at the… Read More
Co-Create Our Future
Posted on November 10, 2023 byKim Kanney, FIC Co-Director The smartest person in the room is the group. Would you agree? The FIC team does and we think you, as a communitarian, probably do too. Here’s the thing: we don’t presume to know what you want. We want you to be a part of the conversation and support us in… Read More
Cults! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Jesse Stone
Posted on November 1, 2023 byCults! The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly with Jesse Stone Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 022 Cults get a pretty bad reputation in the mainstream world, but are they really evil? Or just misunderstood? Jesse Stone, co-host of the Cults I’d Join podcast comes on the show to shed some light on the upside… Read More
Community Held Death and Dying with Angela Franklin
Posted on October 5, 2023 byCommunity Held Death and Dying with Angela Franklin Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 021 The subject of death is seen by many as morbid or taboo, but what if this dark topic could be life-giving, affirming, and empowering? Join me as I talk with Angela Franklin about the possibilities of end of life and death… Read More
Central Leader Communities with “Evil Dictator” Paul Wheaton
Posted on September 7, 2023 byCentral Leader Communities with “Evil Dictator” Paul Wheaton Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 020 There are as many ways to structure a community as there are communities, but perhaps one of the most controversial models are those with central leadership. Is that even real community? Today’s guest and self-proclaimed “evil dictator”, Paul Wheaton, comes on… Read More
Raising Children in Community
Posted on August 28, 2023 byby Janne Campbell As I write, the land I live on with 31 other adults and 11 kids is bursting with fecundity. The first wild greens: miner’s lettuce, nettles and dandelion have all set seed as a riot of poppies, pea blossoms and tiny sets of apples in the orchard portend a summer of deliciously… Read More
FIC Needs You To Survive and Thrive
Posted on August 7, 2023 byby Kim Kanney & Daniel Greenberg — FIC Co-directors We humbly ask for your immediate support to ensure the FIC will survive in 2023 and thrive in 2024 and beyond. Every year, close to half a million people visit ic.org seeking insights and community through FIC’s directory, bookstore, and our online programs, forums, and resources.… Read More
Intimacy in Community with Dave Booda
Posted on August 2, 2023 byIntimacy in Community with Dave Booda Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 019 Hear from intimacy nerd Dave Booda, about why intimacy is so important, get new ideas on prompts that can lead towards deeper connection, and discover ways to create a safe container to meet people where they’re at on their intimacy journey. In this… Read More
FIC at the GEN Europe Gathering 2023
Posted on July 28, 2023 byFIC at the GEN Europe Gathering 2023 By Daniel Greenberg, FIC Co-Director Radical Self-Love, Eldership in Community, Solidarity Economy, Regenerative Lifestyles, Sociocracy, Embodied Climate Dialogue, Net Zero Power, Indigenous Insights, Birthing the New Humanity…. Interested? These were just a few of the workshop topics presented at the recent GEN Europe Gathering that took place at… Read More
Military Veterans in Intentional Communities Survey
Posted on July 21, 2023 by5 Comments
The Relationship Between Major Institutions and Sense of Belonging Surveys of Military Veterans Residing in Intentional Communities Click here to fill out the survey Hello fellow lovers of community, I’m a former Navy Officer, current board member for the FIC and lover of intentional community living. I’ve often noticed a deep and meaningful connection between… Read More
Aging Well Together with Margaret Critchlow
Posted on June 13, 2023 byAging Well Together with Margaret Critchlow Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 018 Hear from Margaret Critchlow, PhD., about finding connection as an older person, and building communities where elders can thrive emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. In this episode About Margaret Critchlow Margaret Critchlow, PhD, taught anthropology at York University in Toronto, Canada for 25… Read More
Reclaiming Placemaking for Liberation with Ridhi D’Cruz
Posted on May 4, 2023 byReclaiming Placemaking for Liberation with Ridhi D’Cruz Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 016 We’re kicking off Season 2 with a pair of episodes about Placemaking, how we design and consider creating environments for healthy thriving humans. In this second episode, Ridhi D’Cruz approaches the topic from a liberatory and healing perspective. In this episode About… Read More
Designing Shared Spaces with Bryan Bowen
Posted on May 4, 2023 byDesigning Shared Spaces with Bryan Bowen Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 015 We’re kicking off Season 2 with a pair of episodes about Placemaking, how we design and consider creating environments for healthy thriving humans. In this first episode, I talk with Bryan Bowen about the ins and outs of designing sustainable spaces for healthy,… Read More
Table of Contents & Introduction
Posted on April 27, 2023 byBuilding Belonging: Your Guide to Starting a Residential Intentional Community Table of Contents Introduction: What Time Is It? Part 1: Setting the Stage Part 2: Defining and Materializing Your Community Part 3: Transitioning to Community Life Conclusion Introduction Living in community is an inherently radical act. We’re relearning how to think and relate as “we”… Read More
Exploring Cohousing with Trish Becker
Posted on June 2, 2022 byExploring Cohousing with Trish Becker Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 011 Cohousing benefits include autonomy, resource sharing, social and emotional connection, and a model for engagement and democracy that reaches beyond community walls. Join Trish Becker and I, as we discuss the ins and outs of cohousing. In this episode About Trish Becker Trish Becker… Read More
Navigating Conflict and Restoring Connection with Alyson Ewald
Posted on May 20, 2022 byNavigating Conflict and Restoring Connection with Alyson Ewald Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 010 Conflict is inevitable. Alyson Ewald shares how to have a good fight and transform harm into connection, through personal and effective conflict systems. In this episode About Alyson Ewald Alyson Ewald works with individuals and groups to design systems and practices… Read More
Income Sharing & Innovating Economy with Sky Blue
Posted on April 22, 2022 byIncome Sharing & Innovating Economy with Sky Blue Inside Community Podcast — Ep. 008 In this episode, I’m joined by Sky Blue to discuss income sharing and innovating economic models by living in community. We examine some of the ways communities and collaborative culture endeavors are reimagining the way they design and live into their… Read More
