At the heart of Winslow Cohousing is a set of shared values that guide how we live, work, and make decisions together. Since our founding in 1992, our value statements are constantly evolving and have shaped the agreements and practices that make our community work. These are our current working values statements.
Community Value Statements
- Civility – We value mutual respect in a community that honors differing viewpoints and beliefs. We make an effort to understand one another. We value fairness, openness, honesty, caring, kindness and generosity. We take responsibility for ourselves, our decisions, and our impact on others. We thoughtfully address actions and language that are experienced as hurtful.
- Consensus – We see ourselves as a group of cooperative leaders. We bring our best selves to the circles where we sit down to speak, listen, and solve problems together. Consensus building is a process that requires time, creativity, diligent effort, and an open mind. We value the strength of decisions that result from consensus. We understand that, in the consensus process, the well-being of all individuals must be considered, and each individual must consider the well-being of the whole.
- Community Service – We give our time, energy, and care to develop and maintain our community, offering our own unique contributions. We support all community members in finding roles in alignment with their interests and abilities. We ask everyone to contribute in some way. We understand that each person’s contribution will be different and will change over time. We recognize the need to balance care for self, family, work, and community.
- Diversity – We understand that diversity makes our community stronger, more vibrant and more interesting. We recognize the significant barriers to diversity on this island. We are committed to growing into a more equitable, inclusive community for all.
- Relationship Care – We value developing, repairing, and strengthening our community relationships. We value lasting relationships that are rich, meaningful, and authentic. We appreciate the experiences and perspectives of both our new and long-time members. We value learning to build trust, connection, and a sense of belonging in the community.
- Health & Safety – We value the health and safety of all our residents and visitors. We promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness in our community. We reach out to help each other in times of crisis.
- Youth – We care about young people and want to see them thrive. The interplay of generations enriches us all. We value a community where youth are respected and empowered to explore, learn, and contribute. We value creating a community where families feel welcomed, supported, and included in community activities. We encourage all residents to advocate for youth in community decisions.
- Ecosystem Care/Future Generations – We acknowledge that we live on the aboriginal territory of the Suquamish People. We strive to minimize negative impacts on the earth, make positive contributions to local and global ecosystems, and consider the welfare of future generations in all our decisions.
- Neighborhood/Island Connections – We value serving our local community and developing relationships with neighbors and the broader island community.
- Celebration – We enjoy playfulness and fun, celebrating life together. We honor milestones and achievements and make every effort to help residents and visitors feel appreciated.
How We Make Community Decisions
At WCG, we use consensus as our primary decision-making process. Consensus is a process of building united judgment that works best when the group is united around strong shared principles. Our commitment to these principles and to each other must remain stronger than any disagreements or tensions that may arise during decision-making.
Agreement emerges after all facts and reasons are shared and understood, feelings are surfaced and acknowledged, and a position is reached that individuals are willing to accept, even if it’s not their first choice. Consensus avoids traditional voting, which can encourage people to “take sides” rather than seek creative, inclusive solutions.
Consensus is not about forcing harmony or accepting a “lowest common denominator” solution. Members should not drop objections simply to avoid conflict. Objections are heard without argument and discussed constructively to find ways to address them. Creative solutions or “next-best alternatives” are encouraged when full agreement isn’t immediately possible.
Decisions about values and policy always go through the full consensus process, which may take weeks or months. Decisions about procedures or cluster-level matters may use simpler processes within clusters or the Board. For more detail, see the Cohousing Association of the US’s overview of consensus decision-making.
Daily Life at WCG
Joys and Challenges
Living at WCG brings both rewards and responsibilities. Our daily life is enriched by close connections with neighbors, shared meals, collaborative projects, and the chance to contribute to a community that reflects our values. We experience the support, friendship, and shared creativity that come from working and living alongside others who share the same commitment to community life.
At the same time, our community requires active attention, flexibility, and clear communication. We make decisions collaboratively, and shared responsibilities mean balancing our personal priorities with the needs of the group. Living closely together also means navigating differences in opinions, habits, and lifestyles with patience and respect.
The joys and challenges of cohousing go hand in hand: the effort we put in shapes the quality of our relationships, the success of our community, and the sense of belonging that makes living at WCG unique and rewarding.
Privacy and Community
We enjoy the best of both worlds: the privacy of our own homes and the rich social life of our shared spaces. In our common house, on the grounds, and in other shared spaces, we gather, share meals, and connect, but we choose when and how to join in. Living here lets us build close community connections while still maintaining our personal space and independence.
Living as Neighbors
Being a good neighbor means taking responsibility for our actions, contributing our time and energy, collaborating with others, and staying engaged in community life. We communicate openly, participate in shared tasks, and support one another when needed. Respect for each other’s space, opinions, and needs helps our community thrive, creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and included.
Sharing resources and responsibilities makes life easier and more rewarding for everyone. For example, instead of each household needing its own lawnmower, our 30 households share just a few, saving space, money, maintenance effort, and reducing our environmental impact.
We also share the work of running the community. Contributing to a cluster takes far less time than shouldering every household task on your own, as you would in a conventional home. By pooling our time and energy, we accomplish more while enjoying the connection that comes from working together.