Sebastopol Village Network

The Dreamery Activation on July 16 set a lot of possibilities in motion, and this fall we will begin harvesting a lot of that potential!

We'll be having a meeting at Coffee Catz this coming Tuesday 9/2 from 6-8 to discuss next steps for actualizing the Dreamery and other programs for sustainable community development!

More information can be found online at www.wiserearth.org/group/svn (which you can join to be even more informed and to share your voice in our development).

Based on the feedback that we got at the Activation, and strategies that have emerged in our planning since then, we are currently focused on the following:

• Identifying a smaller phase-one shared space for the Sebastopol Village Network to pilot the logistics of space-sharing, creating a physical space for the coordinating team to gather and creating an interface for the community to get informed/involved (*** We are considering renting one of the new green townhouses in the Florence Lofts beginning as early as September!!! This will be a major focus for the meeting this Tuesday- so if you are interested in sharing  a healing/office/gathering space in the short-term, it would be great for you to come to the meeting and/or email us about your interest.)

• Organizing various future events to engage the community with entertainment, education, vendors, healers etc. at existing venues (ie. the Community Center, Oddfellows, schools, neighborhoods etc.)
  

• Further developing our team by identifying community members who want to join  the following committees:
  • Events: Coordinating community-wide events
  • Fundraising: Developing an investment/sponsorship campaign
  • Outreach: Surveying individuals and businesses to identify interest in joining the network, renting space, and other benefits
  • Programs: Developing programs to provide community benefits through the network
  • Public Relations: Helping with graphic design, promotions, documentation, press coverage etc.

We are still working on developing the business plan, and are contributing to a "Financial Permaculture" practicum with Catherine Austin Fitts and other leaders of the new sustainable economy this October in Tennessee. This opportunity will provide significant input from many experienced entrepreneurs on the overall model, and will hopefully seed a similar event this spring in Sebastopol in which these leaders will come together to help us in developing a community-based financing program.

The time-frame for moving into a larger 10,000 +/- sf space has been pushed back due to several factors. First and foremost, more community engagement needs to be established before significant progress can be made on this effort. Secondly, the Barlow building may not be the best location for the Dreamery afterall, but a new possibility of purchasing the old Ford building across the street has arisen-- this option would be much more sustainable, and will take a lot more planning. Finally, the city's process for planning redevelopment in the Northeast Area is still far from complete, so it would be premature to do significant development in that area before the plan is closer to completion.

Content from the activation is still being edited, and will be posted online in the near future... Please help to keep the buzz alive about this project, and invite people you know to join the discussion at www.wiserearth.org/group/svn.

We are creating projects that are inclusive, collaborative and community-driven... In dreaming TOGETHER we will create the lives/livelihoods that we want!

Keep in touch!*

Peace and Progress,
Lauren  Thomas
Sebastopol Village Network
(707) 486-4672