Dome is where the heart is : exploring intentional community in Victoria, B.C.

Abstract

This ethnographic research was conducted to better understand how living in an intentional community may be promoting environmental integrity, personal and community well-being and to gain insight into the intentions and motivations of individuals engaged in living in an intentional community. Intentional communities are a group of individuals who have chosen to live together with a common purpose of creating a cooperative lifestyle that reflects their shared values. These communities function collaboratively, address the practical and social needs of individuals, and recognize the importance of social relationships as antidotes to alienation, disempowerment, and stress. The end result of this research project, undertaken in collaboration with a 12 year old intentional community called the Dangle Dome, is an accessible and easily shareable film and digital resource, which contributes to the ongoing conversation about housing practices and housing policy.