A Village Gathering

     North Oakland Village was the host of an all Bay Area gathering of Villages on May 29 at NOVs space in Rockridge Shopping Center, Oakland.  Representatives from as far away as St. Helena and Carmel, with Villages at all stages of development, came to get acquainted and share their ideas, problems, solutions and triumphs.  Funding and space were issues shared by almost all the groups in a free flowing open discussion.
     The Village movement that began in Boston almost fifteen years ago has blossomed into 150 Villages across the nation, with more opening all the time.  Villages are intentional, membership communities that provide activities and services for people who want to stay in their own home as they age.  Each Village develops on its own in response to the needs of its members and the energy and resources of the founders.
     At the Bay Area Village gathering, established groups as large as 400 and as small as 40 were represented.  Some are housed in churches, others in donated space and some pay rent.  At least one, with no physical headquarters, does all its business by phone.  The variety of services the Villages offer runs the gamut, too, with some Villages focusing on community building programs and others on providing a broad array of services.  But even with such a variety, the most requested service among all is transportation.
    The meeting ended with an overwhelming agreement to meet again in a few months.  These Villages that are endeavoring to create community on their home turf share, as well, a desire to have and develop community and support from other Villages.
     North Oakland Village is a misnomer for Oakland's village, since it serves virtually all of Oakland.  To find out more, visit the website:  www.northoaklandvillage.org or call 510-547-8500 for more information.