My dream of living in an intentional community started when I first heard the term in 1976 when I was 21. I’ve been researching, visiting, and sometimes living in some semblance of community ever since then. About 7 years ago, when I became vegan, I decided that I wanted to start a vegan community. At that time, I was passionate about being an activist in the animal rights movement and wanted those who lived in the community to focus on animal liberation. I realize now that I want to provide a place for people to live where we learn together how we can thrive in community.
Here is some information which will help you get to know me.
My vision, purpose, roles, goals, and more.
I am a professional organizer and you can read many recommendations from happy clients here:
This list of recommendations from a variety of people gives you a sense of the history of my leadership abilities.
This letter of recommendation describes how I helped inspire a rather hopeless activist community to get re-engaged resulting in a tree-sit, saving some old growth trees, and the Fayetteville city government become more progressive.
A Vegan Community near Kingston: Much history and pictures of the sites we are working on are included on this Facebook Page
Facebook, Soul Pauses for Body, Mind Soul: You can get to know me really well here! I am spontaneous and vulnerable.
Projects, Past
Animal Lovers of the Ozarks: I co-founded this group.
Community Connect: This is such a useful tool for friends, neighborhoods, organizations and other people to share knowledge, have meaningful conversations, foster collaboration and cultivate friendships.
Can you tell that I love to start projects? I am happy that I had wonderful people who wanted to help with these projects.
Critical Mass Project: Even though I did very little with this blog, it really was part of my motivation to go to the Bay Area in 2016 where my life changed forever when I got involved with the animal rights community.
Timebanking in Bay Area: I worked with AZ Zahid and a few others to try to get the Bay Area Community Exchange up and running.
Kindness Alliance: When Bob Jordan fell off a roof and had brain damage which inspired him to be very kind, we felt inspired to start this group where we met every month at Ann Shaw’s home for a year. Some have said that this was what inspired the Compassion Fayetteville project.
I Luv Fayetteville: For some reason which I do not remember, I just felt compelled to take on yet another project! We had a very successful event using Open Space Technology at the co-working place, The Ice Berg, but things fizzled after that. I think the message from Creator was–“focus on your community–you are spreading yourself too thin.”
Life Coaching: My friend, Scott Masters, and I kept trying to hone our coaching skills and start a coaching collective. Although our dreams never became reality, we enjoyed the ride. I think all the skills I learned got into my subconscious and I use them in my day to day life and in mentoring others. Scott and I continue to be close friends, and he is so supportive of my efforts at creating community. Maybe some day he will join me!
Wellspring Ecovillage: When I returned from my month-long tour of Christian communities, I felt inspired to start a community with my two former husbands and our children. They agreed! We really did have fun meeting often to discuss community dreams, share a meal and have wonderful fellowship together. My son was really longing to find a marriage partner, as he was 26. He said that this year where we spent this time together really helped alleviate the loneliness he felt. Now he is happily married and has 4 children!
Dignity Village: I wanted to support hardworking Michael Brown get a community for homeless people established in Fayetteville. So I started a Facebook page for him and administrated it for a while. Last time I talked to him, he was still working on this project. That was a LONG time ago!
Miscellaneous:
Facebook page, personal: I am an open book! I’ve been on Facebook for a long time. Anyone can view my profile.
Family blog: At one time, we were experimenting with calling our family a community, and this is a record of that time.
My personal blog: You can learn about what I’ve been up to since 2007!
Recommendations and history: I gathered most of my recommendations up on this page, and I could add a bunch more.
Parenting and childraising philosophy:
Organizing Stories: An old blog about some of my first organizing experiences
Experience with NonViolent Communication: I have been studying and practicing NVC since 1988, when my son was living in my womb.
Misc:
I used to be a musician and I produced 7 tapes (yes, that was when cassette tapes where in vogue). Here is a sample: http://www.songsforteaching.com/store/can-do-kids-cooperative-learning-mini-album-download-pr-58272.html
Another song: http://www.songsforteaching.com/charactereducationsongs/illpicturemyselfsucceeding.htm
More songs: https://betterworld.bandcamp.com/album/can-do-kids-self-esteem
Us against the problem: http://www.songsforteaching.com/charactereducationsongs/itsusagainsttheproblem.htm
An article in the Free Weekly about simple living in the holidays: http://www.freeweekly.com/2015/12/16/making-the-holidays-meaningful-sustainable-and-simple/
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Whistleblowing: I have been a whistle blower at times. Integrity and courage are two character qualities I value highly, and this sometimes gets me into situations where I have a need to challenge organizations and leaders who are deceiving others. This conflicts with my other highly prized character qualities of encouragement, kindness and, empathy. My blog exposing Direct Action Everywhere, an animal rights organization which I thought I would dedicate the rest of my life to serving, can be found here: http://www.isdxeacult.wordpress.com
People I admire:
Jesus Christ
Edward Snowden
Russel Brand
Glen Greenwald (vegan and investigative journalist.
Laura Poitras (who helped make it possible for Snowden and Greenwald to collaborate)
Del Bigtree https://thehighwire.com/
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
I know there are more…but right now this is who comes to mind.
