The Waterside Co-op

Waterside Co-op Culture.

The Waterside Co-op was created to provide a home for some neighbors working for the environmental, anti-war, and justice efforts. The Waterside Co-op project arose our of our neighborhood organization, called Beyond Today.

The co-op plays host to many community meetings, potluck dinners, and events. Music, art, and creativity are part of our culture. For example, in October of 2009, we hosted a surreal Edward Gorey play. For three years, the house hosted the media lab, where 7th and 8th graders from Waters School came to make environmental videos as part of an after school program. Community volunteers and Beyond Today interns also work in the media lab. The Waterside Co-op is a multi-generaltional, family friendly house.

There is a culture that we strive towards, and some agreements we determined from the start, some of which we list here:

The house is a drug-free environment. No exceptions. Alcohol is only present in moderation. This is a smoke-free home. In deference to people's allergies, we have no pets.

The co-op is a healthy, respectful, and joyful place to live.We give energy to kindness, thoughfulness, and patience. We seek to prevent toxic and negative behaviors and attitudes from ruining our peaceful co-op and work to avoid inviting or allowing intolerance, racism, hate-speech, bigotry, sexism, and other disrespectful attitudes. The Waterside co-op is meant to be a space to support and nurture the best in us and a safe zone for good environmental, justice, and peace work.

We are interested in roommates who have a positive and respectful way of communication. This means:

• Caring enough about relationships with others, about the co-op community, and about all the projects associated with the community to take the time to communicate.
• All roommates and guests honoring the house agreements.
• Listening:. Ask what people think and listen without interrupting. Ask if you heard their concerns correctly. Ask them to explain exactly how they feel.
• Speaking calmly, thoughtfully, and respectfully. Not raising volume. Not speaking in anger. Taking time to calm down if tensions arise.
• Communicate your needs. That is your responsibility. Not communicating needs and then being resentful is passive-aggressive behavior and is destructive.
• Bring joy, love, creativity, and humor. Sometimes games or alternative patterns of communication from workshops can help to bring new life to an issue which has been draining energy.
• Be responsible for yourself, be careful to give your word when you fully believe you will be able to keep your word. Be in communication when problems arise and find solutions with others.

This is a living document and will be added to over time.