If you are not familiar with this new, energizing community building effort, (well, even if you are)
PLEASE READ…
Village Building Convergence Supported by
Sebastopol City Council
By Shepherd Bliss
Village Building Convergence (VBC) activists and their
supporters from Cittaslow Sebastopol, Transition, the Grange, Permaculture
Skills Center, and other groups recently packed the Sebastopol City Council
meeting. Testimony in support of VBC came from enthusiastic advocates from
3-years-old to 70-years-old.
After an hour-long discussion at its August 5 regular meeting,
the Council voted unanimously to permit the VBC to occur on public property
from Sept. 12 to Sept. 21. Some local merchants have welcomed VBC to beautify
their places. In addition to art and natural building
“place-making” projects, there will be a series of community events and
festivities hosted at various sites, including the Sebastopol Grange Hall and
the Permaculture Skills Center.
All five Councilmembers spoke in support of VBC. Mayor
Robert Jacob pledged $300 of his own money and proposed that the City consider
adding another $300.
Planning Director Kenyon Webster began with a staff report
supporting the ten-day festival, which includes seven place-making projects.
The VBC’s website (below) describes place-making as “the act of locals coming
together to shape their common spaces in a way that promotes beauty and
community.” Webster also noted various issues that needed to be dealt with,
such as insurance and fees. The Council addressed those issues directly and
resolved them.
A major art installation will be done by Cittaslow
Sebastopol. It plans to paint murals on parts of McKinley Street, creating a
stronger connection between the plaza/downtown and The Barlow. Other projects
include contributing to the library landscaping, painting Community Market’s
stage bordering on Highway 12, and a parade to conclude the festivities. The
VBC intends to support local merchants and attract customers to their
operations.
“VBC is a like a dream come true,” commented Councilmember
Sarah Gurney. She added, “Let’s talk about next year to continue the momentum.”
Councilmember Una Glass added, “This is a great project that brings the
community together.” Councilmember John Eder appreciated “this large number of
purpose-driven people.”
Around two-dozen VBC, Cittaslow, and Transition activists
attended the meeting and about a dozen spoke about VBC’s importance. Cassandra
Ferrera began the public discussion by a slide show revealing some of the art that
the VBC plans. That art includes natural images of both animal and plant life.
"It is truly awesome to feel the support of the City Council
and staff in bringing into fruition what the people of Sebastopol are so
excited about,” wrote Ferrera the day after the meeting. “The VBC is a
powerful vehicle for civic engagement, as together we co-create our
commons"
“I like painting,” three-year-old Tulsi Jennings commented
while being lifted to the microphone by her father Sean, as her mother Mary
cared for her infant brother Walker. All four had attended a VBC planning
meeting the day before at Community Market, where the children brought delight
to the meeting as they played on the nearby lawn.
Councilmember Eder added how glad he was to see young
children and family members at Council meetings. At a previous presentation to
the Council, VBC initiators Sebastian and Jeanna Collett brought their infant
Obie. Sebastian is an architect who graduated from Analy High and brought the
VBC concept to Sebastopol from Portland, Oregon, where a group called City
Repair has hosted VBCs for the last 14 years. They live on a four-generation
family compound in Sebastopol.
City Repair founder Mark Lakeman will offer both a talk and
a workshop on Sept. 21. The afternoon workshop is entitled “Healing Village” and is
described as learning how to “receive healing touch and support (and) talk
about how to bring healing more mainstream into our culture.”
“I am really excited about the VBC,” wrote Councilmember Una Glass
the day after the meeting. "I am thrilled to see a community activity
that engages Sebastopol in improving our town and having fun at the same
time!,” she added. “I am especially glad to see young people learning the
ropes of civic engagement, so we can transition our governance to new
generations. We need to welcome and
encourage more youth, young families, and diverse cultures to participate in
our community life. The VBC is a perfect vehicle for building a strong, happy,
diverse and prosperous community."
The VBC proposal is a community-driven effort by Sebastopol
residents and their Sonoma County allies. One man came from Ukiah in Mendocino
County and testified in favor of the VBC, which expects to attract people from
throughout the North Coast and beyond. This contrasts with building projects by
developers from outside. This effort is by the community, of the community, and
for the community.
Among the groups collaborating to create the VBC are the following:
Daily Acts, based in Petaluma, the Permaculture Skills Center, Sebastopol
Grange, Cittaslow Sebastopol, Ceres Community Project,
Transition Sebastopol, and Transition US.
"The international Cittaslow (Slow City) movement holds to 6
priorities, which includes creating community-friendly infrastructure,” writes Co-Chair
of Cittaslow Sebastopol Tasha Beauchamp. “We were immediately attracted to the
VBC because of its grassroots artistry and the way that it mobilizes the
community to create the solutions they need for their neighborhoods. The
results of a community meeting in Sebastopol identified a need for a stronger
connection between downtown and The Barlow. Painting street murals was an
obvious and fun way to do this."
"Transition US seeks community-engagement models to replicate
nationally,” said Transition US co-director Carolyne Stayton. The national
office of the over 150 Transition towns is based in Sebastopol. “Village
Building Convergence could just be one of these” efforts to go national,
according to Stayton.
“The Grange actively supports projects such as the VBC, which is
inspired by young people. We are doing that with the Farmers Guild, Global
Student Embassy, 4H and now the VBC,” commented Sebastopol Grange treasurer
Gary Abreim.
“Among the important issues discussed was the role of public
education and permaculture design to make our water use more sustainable in
light of the drought,” pointed out Marissa Mommaerts from Transition and the
Post-Carbon Institute. She later wrote the following: “VBC
organizers have been collaborating with the Sebastopol mayor and City Council
to identify and work toward shared goals, including creating a more cohesive
and walkable downtown; supporting existing City projects and local non-profits,
including the development of a public food forest; and community engagement.”
Each Councilmember spoke in favor of the VBC. Councilmember
Patrick Slater suggested “the need for a place for introverts who do not like
loud things like parades. Creating a safe space for introverts would be
important.” At a celebration after the meeting at Hopmonk Tavern, VBC activists
spoke about having a tent for meditation.
Various Council members spoke about the importance of
including groups such as the Sebastopol Area Chamber of Commerce and the
Sebastopol Art Center. They indicated the significance of including elders and
Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Among the events VBC discussed were a Share Fair where items
would be exchanged, as well as bike repair, hair cutting, massage, and clothing
repair. A Family Day is also scheduled, as well as pot-luck meals. A tour of
the La Tierra intentional community is scheduled. An Equinox Ritual will close
the ten days, drawing attention to natural seasonal changes. Live music,
poetry, and other art forms will be presented.
The next big VBC event will be an August 24, Sunday, 4-8
fundraiser at the Permaculture Skills Center, 2185 Highway 116 South, with
music and apple pressing into juice. Many volunteers are still needed for this
event and the ten-day festivities, as well as for construction of an artistic
fence at the Sebastopol Grange.
(Shepherd Bliss
{3sb@comcast.net} has taught at various
villages, including Findhorn in Scotland, Hollyhock in Canada, Sonoma State
University, and CIDOC in Cuernavaca, Mexico. He has operated the Kokopelli Farm
in Sebastopol for the last two dozen years.)
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