Category Archives: Intentional Communities

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Lesbian intentional communities

NameLocationFounderFounding dateEnding dateNotesZoarOhioJoseph Bimeler18171898Founded by German religious separatists who wanted religious freedom in America.Old Economy VillagePennsylvaniaGeorge Rapp18241906A Harmonites Village. The Harmony Society is a Christian theosophy and pietist society founded in Iptingen, Germany, in 1785.NashobaTennesseeFrances Wright18251828An abolitionist, free-love community. (LEP)New HarmonyIndianaRobert Owen18251829Harmonites VillageNew Philadelphia ColonyPennsylvaniaBernhard Mller[1]18321833A libertarian socialist communityOberlin ColonyOhioJohn J. Shipherd and 8 immigrant families[1]18331843Community based on Communal ownership of property[1]Brook FarmMassachusettsGeorge RipleySophia Ripley18411846A Transcendent community. Transcendentalism is a religious and cultural philosophy based in New England.North American PhalanxNew JerseyCharles Sears18411856A Fourier Society community. The Fourier Society is based on the ideas of Charles Fourier, a French philosopher.Hopedale Community[2]MassachusettsAdin Ballou18421868A community based on "Practical Christianity", which included ideas such as temperance, abolitionism, Women's rights, spiritualism and education.[3]FruitlandsMassachusettsAmos Alcott18431844A Transcendent community.Skaneateles CommunityNew YorkSociety for Universal Inquiry18431846A Society for Universal Inquiry and Reform community.Sodus Bay PhalanxNew YorkSodus Bay Fourierists18441846A Fourier Society community.Wisconsin Phalanx[4]WisconsinAlbert Brisbane[5]18441850A Fourier Society community.[4]Clermont PhalanxOhioFollowers of Charles Fourier18441845A Fourier Society community.Prairie Home CommunityOhioJohn O. Wattles[1]Valentine Nicholson[1]18441845A Society for Universal Inquiry and Reform community.Fruit HillsOhioOrson S. Murray[1]18451852A community based on Owenism and anarchism.[1] Maintained close contact with the Kristeen and Grand Prairie Communities.Kristeen CommunityIndianaCharles Mowland[1]18451847Founded by Charles Mowland and others who had previously been associated with the Prairie Home Community.[1] A Society for Universal Inquiry and Reform community.Bishop Hill ColonyIllinoisEric Jansson18461862A Swedish Pietist religious commune.Spring Farm ColonyWisconsin6 Fourierite Families[1]18461848A Fourier Society community.Oneida CommunityNew YorkJohn H. Noyes18481880A Utopian socialism community. Oneida Community practices included Communalism, Complex Marriage, Male Continence, Mutual Criticism and Ascending Fellowship.IcariansLouisiana, Texas,Nauvoo, Illinois,Iowa, Missouri, Californiatienne Cabet18481898A group of egalitarian communes based on the French utopian movement, founded by tienne Cabet, after led his followers to the United States.Amana ColoniesIowaCommunity of True Inspiration1850s1932The Amana villages were built one hour apart when traveling by ox cart. Each village had a church, a farm, multi-family residences, workshops and communal kitchens. The communal system continued until 1932.Modern TimesNew YorkJosiah Warren and Stephen Pearl Andrews18511864Founded upon individual sovereignty and equitable commerce.Raritan Bay UnionNew JerseyMarcus SpringRebecca Buffum18531858A Fourier Society community.[1]Aurora ColonyOregonWilliam Keil18531883Christian utopian communityFree Lovers at Davis HouseOhioFrancis Barry[5]18541858A community based on Free love and spiritualism.[5]Reunion ColonyTexasVictor P. Considerant18551869A utopian socialism community.Octagon CityKansasHenry S. ClubbCharles DeWolfeJohn McLaurin18561857Originally built as a vegetarian colony.Workingmen's Co-operative Colony (Llewellyn Castle)[6]Kansasfollowers of James Bronterre O'Brien18691874A community based on the political reform philosophy of Chartist James Bronterre O'Brien.Danish Socialist Colony[7]KansasLouis Pio18771877A utopian socialist communityAm OlamAcross the USMania Bakl and Moses Herder1881Most disbanded by 1890sJewish social movement that sought to create agricultural communities in America.[8]Shalam ColonyNew MexicoJohn B. NewbroughAndrew Howland18841901A community in which members would live peaceful, vegetarian lifestyles, and where orphaned urban children were to be raised.Ruskin ColonyTennesseeJulius Wayland18941899Attempt to create a co-operative communal movement.Home, WashingtonWashingtonGeorge H. AllenOliver A. VerityB. F. O'Dell18951919An intentional community based on anarchist philosophyNuclaColoradoColorado Cooperative Company1896Established following the Panic of 1893. Originally called Pion.[9][10]

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List of American utopian communities - Wikipedia

A new Reno housing complex will pair five young women who transitioned out of foster care with five senior citizens in need of affordable housing.

Affordable, intergenerational housing communities have been a growing trend since the 1990s. In Portland, Oregon, former foster youth living in dorm-style housing can pop into a nearby community of foster families and senior citizens for some Grandma love. In Easthampton, Massachusetts, young people and seniors meet for dance and yoga classes, writing workshops and bike rides. In Washington, D.C., new moms who have transitioned out of foster care receive tutoring and share communal dinners with the elders living among them.

But more recently, similar models have been built for another often-overlooked group: Youth who have transitioned out of foster care and are living on their own, usually without financial and emotional support.

In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill promoting intergenerational housing developments for senior citizens, caregivers, or transition age youths. The new law backed by nonprofit housing developers, mayors and the AARP expands low-income tax credits, offers incentives to developers and clarifies previously restrictive housing laws so that the projects can more easily be built.

Such housing models nationwide have dual aims: soothing the loneliness of often-isolated seniors and youth who find themselves alone in the world, with limited income. They also solve deeper social problems that arise when these needs are not met people both old and young ending up on the streets, or hospitalized, suffering both physically and emotionally.

The Reno facility, set to break ground next month, is one of the latest examples. Dubbed the Gen Den, the 10-unit building will house residents who will pay $500 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. The project aims to be open in about a year.

Monica DuPea, founder and executive director of the Nevada Youth Empowerment Project that will be sending its graduates to Gen Den, said the goal is not just to provide housing. It also aims to build a mutually beneficial community to help the young women with less-concrete needs.

Residents will be able to tap on seniors for knowledge, wisdom, an ear, and just some guidance and support, DuPea said. Whereas seniors can tap on youth for their youthfulness, like being able to run across the street to the store or get up and change the light bulb.

As the pandemic continues on its grim march, the project couldnt come at a better time for Reno. Home prices here have reached record highs and, according to the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, the state is roughly 80,000 units short of meeting its affordable housing goals.

Amy Jones, executive director of the Reno Housing Authority, which is partnering with the youth program on the Gen Den, said rental prices for one-bedroom apartments in Reno have nearly doubled in the last 15 years, from about $650 to well over $1,000. Combined with a low vacancy rate, it is extremely hard for low-income individuals to find apartments and units that are affordable, Jones said.

The project fills a problematic hole in the safety net. While preference for low-income housing in the region is now granted to the elderly, people with disabilities, families, Washoe County residents, and veterans, Jones said, homeless youth tend to fall in this gap where were not able to help them.

The benefits go far beyond affordable rent, project proponents maintain. Homes for multiple generations of kin can help children and young adults thrive, said Ana Beltran, co-director of the nonprofit Generations Uniteds National Center on Grandfamilies. For transition-age youth, connections with relatives or a network of support increases their self-worth, their identity, their ability to navigate life.

Not all foster youth have kin to lean on, however. Thats where housing initiatives like the Gen Den aim to make a difference in young lives.

Tom Berkshire, president and executive director of Generations of Hope a nonprofit based in Springfield, Illinois said communities like these provide a sense of stability. Communal parties and volunteer activities help the residents form authentic connections.

The seniors basically provide a quality social service, and theyre there all the time, Berkshire said. Thats much better than seeing a caseworker once a month and having him or her say, You should do this or that and look for problems rather than solutions.

The idea for intentional, intergenerational communities for societys most vulnerable began decades ago in Illinois, when sociologist Brenda Krause Eheart was researching better alternatives for children in the states overwhelmed child welfare system. In response to her findings, Generations of Hope was formed to create a diverse intergenerational neighborhood to support families of adopted foster children.

They opened their first community called Hope Meadows in Rantoul, Illinois in 1994. Today, the nonprofit has consulted with seven communities that are currently operating, and 12 more that are in development across eight states. Residents range from adoptive and foster families, to grandparents, veterans and disabled people, but few specifically serve transition-age youth, the target population for Renos Gen Den.

New Meadows, the Portland housing complex for transition-age youth, encourages residents to visit the nearby intergenerational complex Bridge Meadows for bonding activities. Though they dont live in the same complex, the young people still need Grandma love, said Executive Director Derenda Schubert.

The model helps young people whove been mistreated by the adults in their lives find trust again, and build authentic relationships. The seniors have the time and the ability to share their wisdom, whether its, Dont make the mistakes I made, or Heres a route you might want to try, Schubert said. Or they can just be a sounding board, somebody to give you a birthday card, someone to celebrate that you got the job or to cry because the partner broke up with you just people in your life.

When Gen Den opens in Reno, former foster youth residents will not only get help finding jobs and developing life skills, theyll have the opportunity to build relationships with other adults as well even when life gets messy and complicated.

Personal growth comes from the training, the opportunities to practice, by somebody who you respect and look up to giving you constructive feedback and really building upon that, DuPea said. Its real-relationship based.

Once the housing is built, graduates of the Nevada Youth Empowerment Project which serves homeless young women leaving foster care will be eligible to apply for a unit. The young residents are expected to cycle in and out of the intergenerational housing, but there will not be time limits on how long anyone can remain at Gen Den.

Nina Shapey, 28, who graduated from the youth program in 2015 and now works as a liaison between the young women and the staff, said Gen Den is an opportunity she would have loved to have.

At 21 years old, Shapey had aged out of foster care and was working more than 40 hours a week while going to school full time at Truckee Meadows Community College. Earning just $8.75 an hour and paying $1,000 a month in rent, she could barely make ends meet.

But its not just the affordability of the Gen Den that appeals to her; its the reciprocal relationships.

Somebody explained it to me like this, and it stuck with me: We come into this world needing to be taken care of, Shapey said. Our parents are supposed to take care of us, change our diapers, feed us, raise us, all of that kind of stuff. We go out of this world needing to be taken care of. Our elderly have worked their whole lives. They have a lot of experience and a lot of knowledge. It doesnt take that much to be kind or to just be helpful towards somebody.

Editor's note: This article by freelancer reporter Colleen Connelly was co-published at The Imprint, an independent daily news outlet focused on the nation's child welfare and youth justice systems. The Imprint is a publication of Fostering Media Connections, a nonprofit organization that seeks to lead conversations about children, youth and families in America.

Colleen Connolly is a Minneapolis-based independent journalist who writes about child welfare in Minnesota for The Imprint. She also writes about education, native rights and immigration. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Smithsonian magazine and The American Prospect, among others. She is a graduate of DePaul University and New York Universitys Global Journalism program.

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Intergenerational housing bringing vulnerable youth and seniors together spreads to Nevada - The Nevada Independent

By Stephanie Llorente, WRAL contributor

Thanksgiving is over, and its officially the most wonderful time of the year! At least, we want it to be. But, if youre the one tasked with planning and executing all the family gifts, parties, travel and school holidays ON TOP OF your regular day job, the holiday season gets overwhelmingfast.

For everyone with a working mom on their Christmas shopping list, allow me to make your gift purchasing process super simple: All working moms want for Christmas this year is a break. Thats it. Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. Just, a break.

Because, after two years of managing homes, schedules, work loads and mental loads in the midst of a pandemic, were just flat out exhausted. In fact, I surveyed my Instagram following and asked, What is the best Christmas gift a working mom could receive? Literally every response fell into three categories: time, experience and community.

So, here are a few ideas to help the working mom(s) in your life feel recharged, renewed and restored with the three gifts they crave most. Plus, if youre reading this as a working mom yourself, simply copy this link and send it to those shopping for you this season!

Time is a hot commodity for moms in the workplace. Anything that can make our lives easier while creating new pockets of time for us is always a win. Here are some ways you can gift time:

Experiences are always a welcome gift because they provide moms with small pockets of time to reconnect with themselves. Much of mothering is focusing on others, so its a treat to place focus on your own wellness.

Working moms (all moms!!) need community, and I cant say this enough. They feel largely unseen and isolated, and this was happening well before COVID came along. We were built to be in community with each other, and its always fascinating to me how many moms want this for themselves, but dont know how or where to find it. So, help them find their people, and youll be giving a gift that literally keeps on giving. Here are a few of my favorite local mom communities, plus one national in scope:

All in all, I think its safe to say that moms who work outside of the home dont need another kitchen gadget or coffee mug (neither do moms who work inside the home. They want a break, too!), so use an idea from the list above or get creative. And, if you really want a give a useful, tangible gift to a working mom in your life, Ive got a list of those over on the Restored blog. Happy gifting, friends!

Stephanie Llorente is a mother of two children and a regular Go Ask Mom contributor. She is the owner of Prep Communications and Restored, a faith-based business that delivers relevant resources and intentional community to working moms.

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These are the Christmas gifts every working mom wants - WRAL.com

Cathy Kozlowicz and Alex Groth| Milwaukee journal sentinel

After an SUV drove into the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday, killing six and injuring more than 60, the community has stepped up to help in a big way.

In the week since then, people from across the country have contributed at least $2 million to victims and other efforts in a variety of ways, including GoFundMe accounts, local fundraisers and more.

Donations have been flooding into the United for Waukesha Community Fund, which was set up shortly after the tragedy.

Waukesha Christmas Parade crash: Red vehicle seen speeding in Waukesha Christmas parade amid reports of injuries

Charges filed: Prosecutors charge Waukesha suspect with five counts intentional homicide

Since Sunday, the United for Waukesha Community Fund received roughly$1.8 million, with 7,000 individual donors.There have been donors from all 50 states and from 12 countries.

The biggest donor was GE, at $100,000.Kohl's, the Walbec group and American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation each donated $50,000, a representative from the Waukesha County Community Foundation verified.

As of Friday,more than $1 million had also been raised for victims under the umbrella page that includes 29verified GoFundMe pages.

The GoFundMe for the Sparks family has raised the most, with$428,498pledged as of Friday. Tucker Sparks,12, is recovering froma fractured skull and roadrash.His brother,Jackson Sparks, 8, died Nov. 23 as a result of his injuries.

Four other accounts raised more than $100,000, while six others have raised more than $50,000.

Culver's of Waukesha donated 50% of its Wednesdayproceeds to the Xtreme Dance Team, whichhad many members sustaining injuries from the Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy.

Aqueue of cars snaked around the outside of the Culver's building on Grandview Boulevard, blocking a lane of traffic.

"I didnt expect this," saidWaukesha Xtreme Dance Team director Sandy Feller.

Culver's on Grandview raised$28,000 for thedance team.

The Culver's Waukesha locations on Sunset Driveand East Main Street togetherraised $44,000.

"Customers were out the door and through the lobby. Not a single customer complained. The drive-thru was wrapped around the building and down the street," said Kyle Soderstrom, the owner of the Culver's on Grandview.

"For us, this was more about grieving and coping than the financial part of it. To sit down and talk with parents and the dancers. I can tell you that the dance team loved the outpouring of support," Soderstrom said.

At Coop, a downtown restaurant that is donating all of its Nov. 26 proceeds, a line formed even before the restaurant opened, said owner Joseph Fifnaios. It is great and heartwarming. People were lined up and ready to go inside by 7 a.m. It was astonishing."

Jersey Mike's Subsraised $18,000 Nov. 24 between its two Waukesha locations, donating 100% of its proceeds to help those affected by the Waukesha parade tragedy.

"It was pretty awesome to see the community turn out in the way they did," said owner Tim Downing."It is a great reminder to meas to why I do what I do, which is to be an active business in the communities that my stores are a part of and to enhance the lives of others through a sub sandwich."

"It was very inspiring and humbling to see theamount of people show upthat didto support our efforts to support the community," he said.

The restaurant donations all went to theUnited for Waukesha Community Fund.

Numerous other fundraisers by local businesses continue to raise money for victims.

Contributing: Sarah Volpenhein

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

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'It is astonishing': More than $2 million raised so far for victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy - USA TODAY

Girls Inc. is the beneficiary of a matching donation program put on by One Bank in honor of the bank's 120th anniversary.

During the month of October, donations made to Girls Inc. at One Bank in Oak Ridgewere matched at 120% for Girls Inc.'s programs for area girls ages 5 to 14.

Girls Inc. of TennesseeValley is a local nonprofit organization that provides intentional and research-based programs in the areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), economics, healthy mind, and body, and more to more than 1,300 girls across Anderson, Blount, and Knox counties.

"Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold is our main mission, and we know that empowering girls in our community improves lives, strengthens communities, and benefits society as a whole," stated a news release.

Girls Inc. of TennesseeValley has been providing programming in Oak Ridge for more than 40 years, and they are excited for what this donation brings to the organization.

"Many of the girls we serve are in need of affordable, reliable, and quality childcare, but many times (their parents or guardians) do not have the ability to pay the high cost of childcare. Our program offers need based scholarships that the donations from our community members and One Bank will directly impact. With this donation, we will be able to offer more scholarships for our girls going into the new year," Kirby Deal, executive director, stated in the release.

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Girls Inc. honored to be a part of One Bank's 120th anniversary - Oak Ridger

Since 2014, support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has enabled archivists and digitization specialists at UNC-Chapel Hills University Libraries to investigate new methods for preserving audio and video records of the American South at a large scale. Now a capstone grant of $500,000 from the foundation will help them develop a long-range model for continuing this critical work.

The newest grant, which focuses on sustainability, began Oct 1 and will end Sept. 30, 2023. It brings the nine-year funding total for Extending the Reach of Southern Audiovisual Sources to $3.4 million. Prior phases were devoted to research and development, implementation and expansion.

Carolinas libraries have been working on audiovisual preservation since the 1980s, but those efforts tended to focus on individual items. The series of Mellon Foundation grants have allowed staff to consider how best to tackle collections that include thousandsor tens of thousandsof recordings, such as the holdings of the Southern Folklife Collection and the Southern Historical Collection, both part of the Wilson Special Collections Library.

The work is urgent, according to Erica Titkemeyer, associate head of repository services and grant co-lead.

Audiovisual recordings are at risk of both obsolescence and deterioration. They will not be retrievable after a certain number of years, said Titkemeyer. There is a ticking clock that we are working with.

Titkemeyer said there are three main goals for this final phase:

While there is urgency to preserve AV materials, Titkemeyer said that the emphasis on materials from minoritized communities requires a different mindset.

With the window for AV preservation shortening, it can be tempting to rush prioritization. This grant phase emphasizes slowing down and making intentional choices through the lens of the Reckoning Initiative, they said.

Titkemeyer hopes that the lessons learned can eventually inform other digitization operations at the University Libraries by showing progress and identifying gaps in working with these materials.

Carolina is also uniquely positioned to provide statewide support for AV preservation said Lisa Gregory, director of the North Carolina Digital Heritage Center. The center, which is based at the University Libraries, provides digitization services for libraries, archives, historical centers, and other cultural institutions across North Carolina. In September, the center cemented partnerships in all 100 of North Carolinas counties.

Offering audiovisual digitization as a service for our partners has been invaluable in providing access to these endangered formats, said Gregory. We look forward to making this a sustainable effort over the next few years with our colleagues in Wilson Special Collections Library.

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$500000 grant will advance preservation of the South's audiovisual history at University Libraries | UNC-Chapel Hill - UNC Chapell Hill

The Cobb Chamber issued the following press release announcing the Citizens of the Year for Acworth, Kennesaw, and West Cobb:

The Cobb Chambers Northwest Cobb Area Council, which represents Northwest Cobbs three distinct districts of Acworth, Kennesaw and West Cobb, has selected three community advocates as 2021 Citizens of the Year: Tia Amlett for Acworth, Jeff Drobney for Kennesaw, and Christal McNair for West Cobb.

The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she have made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2021 Northwest Cobb Citizen of the Year awards were presented at the Northwest Cobb Area Council breakfast at Governors Gun Club.

Tia Amlett, Principal of Barber Middle School, is a servant leader who is both humble and kind. Amlett is in tune to the needs, struggles, and challenges that her staff and school families face, and she finds ways to keep those individuals uplifted. During the challenges of the past two years, Amlett has remained a strong and steadfast advocate for teachers, students, and parents. She continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the needs of all stakeholders are met.

Amlett makes the intentional effort to greet each student by name as they climb off the bus in the morning. She knows every student in her school and makes sure they know that they are important and cared for. It is nearly impossible to know the full impact of her service. She does it all to support and lead others, without desire for anything in return. While students, parents, and the community may not remember the specific details of their interactions with her, they will always remember how valued she made them feel.

Under Amletts leadership, Barber Middle School was named a Title 1 Reward School, a distinction that is earned by those schools that are ranked in the top 5 percent of Title 1 Schools in the state. In addition, during that time, Barber Middle School was also awarded STEM School Certification by the Cobb County School District. What others might view as a challenge, Amlett sees as an opportunity for success time and time again.

2021 Kennesaw Citizen of the Year

Jeff Drobney, City Manager of Kennesaw, is a man of action that finds ways to make everything work to benefit those involved. Under his leadership, Drobney has taken the City of Kennesaw to the next level in operations, staffing, technology and economic growth. He has built an all-star team of professionals and created a succession plan to ensure the city is able to maintain exceptional professional services and continued strong economic growth.

An active member of the International City/County Management Association, Drobney has completed and maintained certification of ICMA, the worlds leading association of professional city and county managers who serve local governments. Drobney has continued his professional learning by completing advanced leadership courses and graduating from the Leadership Cobb program. Over the course of 15 years, he has served as past president of the Kennesaw Business Association, executive director of the Southern Museum, agency director for Recreation and Culture, and past board member for Cobb Travel and Tourism.

Drobney has been described by others as Iron Man literally and figuratively. He recently completed his sixth Iron Man competition and finished in the top half of an international field of competitors. Involved in several areas within the city, Drobney has dedicated much of his career to serve and help improve the quality of Kennesaw and the wellbeing of its citizens.

2021 West Cobb Citizen of the Year

Christal McNair, small business owner with Studio Bungee, is an unsung hero to many organizations and people in West Cobb. She is the first to say yes to difficult tasks whether its chairing a new committee with a non-profit, helping to navigate challenging waters during a pandemic, or just pushing hard to get the word out about a cause she believes in.

An active member of the Cobb Chamber, Cobb Executive Women, Marietta Business Association, West Cobb Business Association and Kiwanis of Marietta, McNair shows her passion for the community through her involvement in each organization and acts of service to help her neighbors. In the wake of the pandemic, McNair helped many small businesses translate PPP and manage their financial plans.

McNair is always the first to raise her hand, step in, and happily help to make our community a better place. Her servitude, hard work ethic, and giving spirit make her a valuable contributor to the neighborhoods and communities of West Cobb.

For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and Program Sponsors, GeoHydro Engineers and Town Center Community Improvement District.

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Cobb Chamber area council for Acworth, Kennesaw and West Cobb chooses Citizens of the Year - Cobb County Courier

Holiday parades are beloved annual traditions for countless communities,but after unthinkable tragedy struck one of the Milwaukee area's first of the yearsomeare reconsidering their plans.

On Monday, Menomonee Falls announced the cancelation of its annual Christmas Parade, scheduled for Nov. 28, in the wake of an SUV plowing into the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday, killing five people and injuring 48 others.

A number of other communities are rethinking their plans and expect to make decisions soon on whether to move forward or make new security precautions.

"It would be very hard to march in the parade, which would normally be a very joyous time, knowing that many people have been seriously injured and five have died," Menomonee Falls Village President Dave Glasgowsaid. "We stand in solidarity with our Waukesha friends and mourn with them the injured and those who lost their lives."

Residents possibly being too "terrified" to attend the parade also factored into the decision, he said.

Whitefish Bay has also decidednot to have itsHoliday Stroll Parade, which was scheduled for Friday,according to aMerchants of Whitefish Bay special edition newsletter.The decision was made incoordination with the Village of Whitefish Bay and the Whitefish Bay Police Department.

"The Whitefish Bay Business Improvement District (BID) is deeply saddened by the events in Waukesha and, out of respect for our grieving community, unanimously made this decision," the newsletter said.

The village's tree lighting ceremony and non-parade activities that occuras part of the Holiday Stroll are being postponed.

The newsletter encouraged residents and visitors to visit Silver Spring Drive throughout December for holiday activities and to make a donation to theWaukesha Community Fund.

The suspect in the Waukesha parade incidentis Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, of Milwaukee.He was expected to face formal charges Tuesday.

Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson said Monday thatpolice were referring five counts of first-degree intentional homicide to prosecutorsand other charges likely were to follow.

Grafton was planning on making itsfinal call Tuesday on if and how it will move forward with its annual Christmas Parade, which is scheduled for Saturday.

Leaders from the Grafton police and fire departments,Department of Public Works, village administrator and parade organizers met Monday to discuss whether the parade should continue as planned, and if so,what extra measureswould be taken to "ensure the safety and security of the parade participants and observers," Police Chief Jeff Caponera said in a newsrelease.

"Obviously, we want to be respectful of the victims, their families, and Waukesha community," he said in a news release. "At the same time, we believe that we cannot allow this tragedy to drive us into fear and keep us from celebrating the holiday season there has been enough fearmongering as of late and we don't need anything further to divide us."

More: What we know, and don't know, about the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy

There is "a lot to wrestlewith over the next couple of days," he said. The group planned to reconvene Tuesday afternoon to make a final decision.

"Rest assured, should the parade continue as planned, we are confident that our added measures will result in a safe and enjoyable event for all," he said.

Other municipalities, like West Allis, also planned to meetto discuss their parades.

West Allis' parade is scheduled for Dec. 4, along with the city's annual tree lighting ceremony at City Hall,7525 W. Greenfield Ave.

The City of St. Francis will be evaluating "all aspects" of its upcoming event with its police and fire departments, City Attorney PaulAlexy of Municipal Law & Litigation Group,S.C. said in an email to the Journal Sentinel Monday. The Christmas Parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 4 with a Winter Wonderland Celebration to follow at 4:15 p.m. at the St. Francis Fire Department,3400 E. Howard Ave.

Providing "any advance public notice of specific security measures may frustrate the citys goal to provide a safe environment for both participants and spectators," Alexy said.

Franklin has decided to move forward with its Christmas Parade the first in the city's history, according to a news release. The parade is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. Dec. 4.

"We're sensitive to the tragedy in Waukesha and wish to honor the spirit of those who were killed or hurt by participating in the celebration of the Christmas holiday season with a parade, an activity they were participating in," Franklin Mayor Steve Olson said in a news release. "We are aware of the circumstances surrounding the Waukesha tragedy and are confident that we'll provide a safe and enjoyable event for families."

The police department willtake extra precautionsto make sure thatany route to or through the parade "will be secured to prevent any vehicles from entering," Franklin Police ChiefRick Oliva said Monday.

Oliva said there are tentative plans for how they're going to do that, but wouldn't discuss the specifics.

The route starts at Drexel Avenue and Schlueter Parkway, travels toward Legend Drive viaSchlueter Parkway, then heads to City Hall,9229 West Loomis Road, for a 5 p.m. tree lighting ceremony, according to a parade flyer.

"We will be prepared to ensure a safe parade for everybody," Olivasaid.

West Bend will also be putting additional security measures in place for its Nov. 28 Christmas Parade to "ensure all participants and spectators are safe," the West Bend Police Department posted on Facebook Monday.

Parade organizers and police department staff members met Monday to review and discuss security and logistics.

Additional road closures will be in place for the parade, so participants and spectators may not be able to park in spots they have used in the past, the post said.

Each year, Highway 33 at 7th Avenue is closed to traffic during the parade, the post said, and no vehicles will be allowed to cross 7th Avenue. Detour routes will be marked on Highway 33 eastbound at North 18th Avenue and on Highway 33 westbound on Indiana Avenue.

"Parade organizers and West Bend Police ask all to allow more time to get to the parade, and to be cooperative with police and volunteers that are staffing the intersections and parade route," the post said.

Organizers of the Dec. 4 OconomowocChristmas Parade and this week's German Christmas Markethave been working with city leadership to review safety and security measures for both events, according to a Tuesday news release from City of Oconomowoc officials.

Increased protection will be put in place to control any vehicles from entering the parade area, and a "secure perimeter" will be installed atthe market "to improve the overall safety and security of the event area," a news release said. There will also be an increased presence of law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel at both events.

Parade attendees should "allow additional time to arrive" as street closures, which will be "hard closures," will occur earlier thanin the past, the release noted. The marketruns Friday through Sunday. The market's entertainment tent will also be open Wednesday night.

One group that normally takes part in the local parades will not be in Oconomowoc this year. Lisa Bear Ireland, who works out of the RE/MAX Realty Center in Oconomowoc said the group was walking in the Waukesha parade and a member of the Re/Max family was narrowly hit by the SUV.

"Out of respect to everyone involved, RE/MAX Realty Center has decided it is best to pull out of both the upcoming Watertown and Oconomowoc parades," Bear Ireland said.

Communities outside of the Milwaukee area are also feeling the impact of Sunday's events.

A silent procession"dedicated to the Waukesha community" was set to follow Appleton's downtown Christmas parade Tuesday,AppletonMayor Jake Woodford said.

We stand firmly with our friends in Waukesha as they mourn the tragedy in their community, Woodford saidMonday. Were preparing actively to make sure we have a safe and enjoyable event.

The Hometown Christmas Parade inTwo Riverswill also go on, but with extra security measures, according toTwo Rivers Police Chief Brian Kohlmeier. It's scheduled for Nov. 27.

"TheTwo Rivers Police Departmentis well aware of what happened in Waukesha and we certainly wouldn't want to see anything like that happen in this area," Kohlmeier told the Herald Times Reporter Monday. "(We) will do our best to ensure the safety of everyone that attends the event, and we hope that everyone has a good time."

Chris Mueller of the Appleton Post-Crescent andAlisa M. Schafer of the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter contributed to this report.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Read more:

'A lot to wrestle with': At least two communities have canceled their Christmas parades. Others are still deciding. - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Views expressed in opinion columns are the authors own.

College is often seen as a formative period in life wherein lifelong friendships are formed. But what exactly about college creates the social atmosphere so widely associated with it?

One possible explanation is the built environment of college campuses and dorms. The design of many college buildings promote social interaction and feelings of communities. In fact, many universities try to build off this idea by creating living and learning programs that highlight communal experiences as a building block of a strong college education. Dorms include shared amenities such as study rooms and lounges as well as shared patio and green space. These designated spaces provide ample opportunities to meet new friends and create a sense of community and belonging.

Yet outside the bubble of college campuses, it becomes much harder to create the same types of bonds with neighbors. Many U.S. neighborhoods have few shared social spaces, making it more difficult to make friends and have a connection with the people living nearby.

Despite Americans stereotypically being cast as outgoing and friendly, it seems like the design of our cities doesnt encourage social interaction. Typically everyone in the suburbs has their own house and lawn and drives everywhere in their own car. Our cities are designed for efficiency in getting from point A to point B not for meeting or interacting with people.

This individualistic organization of life has resulted in a lack of third places: spaces outside of the home and the workplace where people spend time, such as bars, cafes and parks. Third places are where relationships are made and community is built. These meeting places are inclusive, accessible, welcoming, playful and social they create our identity, help us form friendships, support us and give us a home away from home.

Accessible third places are present in some communities, but missing from many. Rising real estate prices in cities, chain stores crowding out local establishments and unifunctional residential zoning, which bans commercial businesses in residential neighborhoods, have contributed to making third places less prevalent and nearly inaccessible to those without a car. Even when third spaces such as parks and community centers are present, often the quality of the amenities in lower socioeconomic areas can result in these areas not being utilized.

Cohousing an intentional community of houses or apartments clustered around shared spaces is a simple, yet innovative idea that could solve the lack of communal social spaces found in the U.S. It appeals to our inherent human nature, emphasizing social connection while also being more sustainable. At a time when loneliness has been declared an epidemic with well-documented negative physical and mental health effects, the U.S. should look toward cohousing communities as a way to promote social interaction and strong, healthy and sustainable communities.

Cohousing brings these third places closer to home. While residents of cohousing units still have their own private homes and apartments, common areas such as shared kitchens, dining rooms, patios and green spaces anchor the residents together and create community bonds. Cohousing doesnt force social interaction at the sake of privacy, but it creates a welcoming environment that is available and accessible to everyone with little effort. Increased social interaction has been linked with both physical and mental health benefits, so designing communities around these areas can create strong and healthy communities.

Aside from promoting social interaction amongst neighbors, it also encourages mutual aid. In cohousing communities, resources such as tools or equipment are shared, while responsibilities such as cooking, maintaining common spaces, carpooling and even elderly and child care are undertaken collectively by the residents. This saves residents money and time, while also being a more efficient and sustainable option compared to the individualistic status quo.

For many years, colleges have understood the nature of human interaction and its importance in students lives, while the real worlds individual-prioritization has had potentially negative effects on our well-being. However, the status-quo design of communities shouldnt be taken as a given. Cohousing provides a solution that increases social interaction and a sense of community, therefore, it is more sustainable.

Humans are social creatures. Its time to start creating communities that reflect that.

Zach Wandalowski is a sophomore government and politics and economics major. He can be reached at zachwand@gmail.com.

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Cohousing is the solution to our over-individualistic society - The Diamondback