If you believe the best education comes from exposure to diverse ideas and beliefs held by diverse people, you will find that very mix between our walls. Not surprisingly, our community already includes many families and individuals who have lived lives that have always valued relationships, community, and the greater good, even before they were ever introduced to the idea of cohousing. As a result, among your neighbors, not surprisingly, there are several educators from early education right on up through higher ed. More than one are very civic-minded, being longstanding members of various Oak Park organizations. While some have valued Oak Park so highly they’ve called it home for their entire lives, others hail from both coasts and even beyond. For kids, this means actual intergenerational relationships – meaningful, trusted, and caring – with adults and seniors but also, wonderfully, with kids of various ages. Children will find willing playmates, readers, tutors, storytellers and caregivers among the neighbors they meet at meals, in the hallways, and on the rooftop. Each neighbor is unique in occupation, race, religion, national culture and interests. But all share the same commitment to creating real community trust and support while sharing the joys and challenges of life. As a result, schools have specifically observed that kids raised in a cohousing setting are, not surprisingly, particularly adept at sharing, problem-solving, conflict resolution and group decision-making.(2) That they’re very open and self confident kids since they can actually have more independence here, being allowed to move around alone in a large, safe setting.