The Plan In Colorado

Colorado Life-Sharing

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The Plan In Colorado


	Camphill Philosophy and History The Plan In Colorado Providing Comprehensive Services Community Connections

A New Community Built on Strong Traditions Building a Camphill-inspired community in Colorado provides an opportunity to honor all that has come before in the Camphill movement worldwide, while beginning again in a new place and with a shared commitment to social and cultural renewal at the beginning of a new century. The vision for the Bringing Camphill to Colorado effort is multi-faceted and takes into account the need to focus on the well-being, empowerment, and capacity building of everyone who lives there.
The Sense of Place and Belonging The plan begins with finding the right location. CLCI life-sharing homes will be established in Larimer County. Several life-sharing households, which are made up of the companions with developmental disabilities who choose to make this community home and the co-workers who live with and support them, will anchor a Camphill- inspired program that could grow over time to include 50-75 people in near-by homes and be able to welcome family and friends as guests. In addition to providing homes, the CLCI effort will also include craft studios, and herb and kitchen gardens. Everyone who participates will have a real sense of belonging and an important role to play in community life.
Let Your Light Shine The belief that varying levels of ability and disability are present in everyone and that every soul seeks fulfillment are defining characteristics of the philosophy that shapes the daily experience of Camphill living. Self-advocacy is strongly encouraged and fully supported so each individual may become a capable, confident and independent person whose true being can shine brightly and be seen, understood, and appreciated. In sharing a home and domestic life there are many opportunities to become more compassionate and to experience personal growth on every level. Living with others will also encourage self-expression socially and artistically, the development of a spiritual life, and participation in continuing education that is pursued by co-workers and companions alike. Community inclusion in all its aspects allows each person to bring those personal qualities and gifts being nurtured and acknowledged through home life into the wider world for the benefit of others.
Living Beautifully CLCI homes will be constructed to take advantage of their natural setting, and will serve the community with an aesthetic that provides the dignity and beauty that are so important to the Camphill philosophy. Surrounded by friends and colleagues, life in CLCI homes will provide a safe environment in which health and harmony are sustained in every aspect of life. The interior spaces of homes will be designed to support social, cultural, and educational activities in the family-style setting. .
Enjoying A Job Well Done Creative work opportunities will be developed with the needs and desires of individual companions in mind, and will support each person in experiencing the joys of a meaningful vocation and the satisfaction of a job well done. The community will offer the option of a job in town or work in areas like bio-dynamic gardening, baking, weaving, pottery making, woodworking, and herbal-tea production. Everyone in the life-sharing community engages in the domestic art of living well. Household chores that keep things neat and tidy are seen as being as important as beautifully setting a table and cooking meals with care. All know that the work they do directly contributes to a greater whole and this makes sharing meals together and living and working in proximity an experience that is rich in a sense of equality and mutual respect.
Life-Sharing Homes in the Larger Community The dynamic social activities, cultural events, celebrations and festivals that enrich the lives of everyone associated with CLCI life-sharing homes will also be available to those in the larger surrounding community as well. The active involvement of families and friends will always be an integral part of CLCI life and a lively connection will exist between the Bringing Camphill to Colorado effort and surrounding towns, Larimer County, the Front Range, the Denver metro area and Colorado as a whole. Everyone who lives in the CLCI life-sharing homes will participate in local activities, will use local amenities and will engage in service projects in support of the needs of the larger community so that everyone is included in the biggest life possible.
Enjoying the Beauty of Colorado The Bringing Camphill to Colorado effort will always practice respectful stewardship of the environment, including bio-dynamic methods of gardening. An atmosphere of beauty and peace will be cultivated in every aspect of life and a deep regard for nature is the golden thread woven throughout the fabric of life in these Camphill-inspired homes. Many of the co-workers and companions who are drawn to live in the Life-Sharing Homes have connection with animals and share a huge interest in hiking and in experiencing the beauties of the landscape. In the same way that work opportunities will be found both at home and in the larger community, outdoor recreation and a connection to the land will be cultivated both on CLCI properties and in the surrounding area, with explorations of Colorado's great beauty a key component of life here. The Bringing Camphill to Colorado effort is dedicated to social renewal through building a community of people of diverse abilities who choose to live and work together. To become a part of this exciting initiative please join as a member and make your contribution to building a community that will stand for many generations. Thank you for your support.