10 April 2005
[ design by david b ]
WELCOME to the Community House Collective's news and events page.
past events | contact us | links
NEWS
the future of the collective
After two years of community building, the Community House project is moving into a new phase, without a physical house to call home. We hope to inspire others with our learnings, and continue this valuable work in other ways.
Check out our two annual reports to the right, which evaluate our learnings from the project as well as guidance and ideas for future work. We hope these might be inspiration and encouragement to those drawn to the idea of developing radical, intentional community as an alternative to capitalism.
Below are projects which continue some of our work in Victoria and beyond. Please contact us with any questions: [ e-mail ]
linden house
one of our 2003 members started another communal house in Cook Street area of Victoria, which shares values of communal sustainable living.
refugee house collective
Several Community House alumni worked on developing a Victoria house of refuge for newcomers in need of shelter. This project is modeled on the Romero House model in Toronto, in which long-term interns live with refugees and help build community and support.
Contact St. Saviour's Anglican Church for more information: 310 Henry St, Victoria, BC
student christian movement
Several alumni started a Victoria chapter of the SCM, a national network of student collectives engaged in spirituality and progressive social justice issues.
Some things we worked on this year:
- A zine on antioppression
- Weekly radical, student-led worships
- Members of antiracism coalition
- Sending members to the School of the Americas vigil in Fort Benning, Georgia
- Building community at the intersection of justice and spirit
critical mass
monthly bike rides have continued, restarted in Victoria by a house member, to have a blast and raise awareness of transport alternatives to fossil fuels.
world council of churches
one of our founding community members has become head of the world council of churches youth desk, in geneva, switzerland.
refugee newsletter
another of our founding community members is editor of the three-braid cord, a newsletter on refugees and migration.
zine publishing
several house members are publishing independent zines, on issues of social justice, values, spirituality and personal reflection.
gbsoo II?
Perhaps we might see a redux of the potluck community which inspired us long ago...
DOCUMENTS
2003-4 annual report
may 2004
read the year II report prepared by David Ball
[ report 03/04 ]
2002-3 annual report
june 2003
read the year I report prepared by Natalie Maxson
[ report 02/03 ]
history
may 2004
the community house began in 2002 out of a youth gathering of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) in Cuba. Its roots were partially in a Victoria potluck/community group known as GBSOO (great big something or other), and partially in anarchist Catholic Worker communities in Toronto.
We had seven members in our first year, and 13 in our second. At one point we had three houses in town, and a small family of ducks and chicken. We held regular potlucks, radical prayer services, critical mass bike rides, buy nothing day events, and tried to live with intention and accountability in our collective lives.
being church
struggling with spirituality and injustice
20 march/03
a vision of spiritual community and resistance [ read ]
