About
I've recently bought a 5-bedroom house in Evanston with the aim of creating a community home and academy of people who will live, learn, and grow together. Below you can find a description of the vision and my personal motivations behind it, as well as the mission and community expectations. These will be the foundation for starting the house, and yet also subject to evolve with time and the input of residents of the house.
Vision
Mission
Community Expectations
To apply, click here after reading carefully
Vision
- A society in which human beings are not kept isolated from one another and deprived of the wisdom and experience of people with starkly different backgrounds from their own.
- I grew up in ethnically and socio-economically diverse neighborhoods and schools in Cincinnati, and later spent several years abroad immersed in various cultures and languages. These experiences were both uncomfortable and transformative, teaching me the challenges and benefits of being in community with people who have different ways of being, living, and thinking from my own.
- A society in which all human beings have meaningful opportunities to educate themselves in whatever ways they see fit, and feel dedicated to contribute to the education of those around them
- My experience has shown me that what is considered a “good education” in school or college is limited compared to what is possible outside of the school or university walls with the proper environment, motivation, and support.
- A society in which human beings are not overworked, taken advantage of, or exploited by other people—landlords, employers, families, etc.—or systems and institutions
- There have been periods in my life in which I was privileged enough to find a healthy balance between work and rest. The more time I spend full-time in the workforce, the less this seems to be possible. I'm aware that it has never been a possibility for many.
Mission
- The central mission of the Brewster Academy is to become a cooperative community of people connected by the common goal of education. Education in this sense is not something that is done to us to prepare us for a future we did not decide upon, but a way of empowering ourselves to understand the world and find a meaningful place in it. It is not based on a standardized curriculum, but self-directed, while at the same time supported and strengthened by the rest of the house community. It should involve not only individual study leading to personal transformation, but also action in the wider world based off of that study, contributing to the positive transformation and liberation of society. Therefore the Brewster House will seek to become an educational hub not just for residents but for the wider community.
Community Expectations
- While the overall vision and mission will be foundations of the house, the specifics about the community expectations can change based on what residents feel is most helpful in carrying out that vision and mission. Below are some ideas.
- Education
- Although humans are in a constant state of learning, having a specific educational focus allows us to be more intentional about our growth and development. Residents are expected to create educational goals or projects that they will pursue while living at the house. They are also expected to provide support, encouragement, and any insight they may have to their peers pursuing their own projects.
- Education in this community will focus its efforts on the meeting place of both personal and societal transformation. Therefore, the only precondition for an educational project is that it should include other people in the wider community in some (direct or indirect) way. In this way, the educational experience, along with the achievements, challenges, frustrations, and growth that come with it, can be shared beyond the house walls.
- Pursuing an education calls for individual discipline as well as community support and accountability. There will be community routines and structures in place through which residents support and hold one another accountable to their goals and development. These can change according to the needs and desires of residents.
- Closed community dinners will be held on a regular basis for those living at the house (exact amount will be determined by residents' availability). This practice allows us to develop deeper, more meaningful relationships with one another as well as explain what we’re learning, teach others, receive ideas and input, and support each other.
- Open forums will be held on a monthly basis. These forums allow residents to demonstrate their learning to an audience of people connected to the house. Residents can present using whatever medium they see fit, whether a piece of artwork, a formal presentation, a facilitated discussion, etc. This keeps those connected to but not living at the house informed as to what’s going on inside its walls, and allows them to collaborate on projects when possible.
- Community discussions will be held regularly about topics decided upon by residents in advance. This allows us to stretch our thinking about topics that may not come up in everyday conversation, and voice, challenge, and develop our thoughts on them. People not living at the house are welcome to join
- Simplicity: The Brewster House envisions and aims for a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. We also recognize that the norms and practices of mainstream society will never lead us toward that goal. This is especially true when it comes to how much we consume. We will therefore be conscious about our consumption, trying to reduce it to a minimum and find ways to live a life that is materially simpler, while spiritually richer.
- House Responsibilities: Chores will be shared and rotated by everyone living at the house. Among these is the responsibility of cooking for the house once per week, cleaning, etc. Residents will hold each other accountable to these responsibilities.
- Rent and Length of Stay: The Brewster House encourages residents to prioritize their education. Therefore rent is determined on a sliding scale, based on income, in order to accommodate people who only work part-time. This will likely be between $150-$300 per month, plus $50-$80 for utilities (gas, electric, water, internet). I expect residents will usually live at the house for between 6 months and 2 years, or as long as living there is contributing to the education and growth of themselves and other residents.
To apply, click here after reading carefully