Have you ever been to a meeting that was efficient, productive, and fun? How can facilitation better serve your organization, business, or community and revitalize your group process? How can conflict be a creative opportunity to transform your organization and achieve more of what you want and need?
photo by Silvia Pini
Maria and Joe Cole work as facilitators, mediators, and consultants with non-profit organizations, consensus-based groups, and intentional communities.
2021-2023: Maria and Joe designed a Zoom-based version of the two-year training in Integrative Facilitation with Laird Schaub. The training takes place virtually and engages with host communities all over the United States. Students can attend a training weekend at any time during the course. For more information and registration, contact Laird Schaub, laird@ic.org
2019-2021: Maria is the Co-Teacher for the upcoming two-year training in Integrative Facilitation with Laird Schaub. The training takes place at host communities in North Carolina starting in December of 2019. Students can attend a training weekend at any time during the course. For more information and registration, contact Laird Schaub, laird@ic.org
Joe was a presenter at the Cohousing Association of US “Community For All” Online Conference in August of 2020. His presentation was titled, “What’s in a Name? Community Name Change Process and Racial Equity."
Joe, Maria, and Hope wrote an article for Communities Magazine in September of 2019 on culture change, consensus, and sociocracy in the intentional communities movement.
Cole, J., Horton, H., & Pini, M. (2019). Culture change or same old society? consensus, sociocracy, and white supremacy culture. Communities, 184(184), 53-56
Joe offered an online webchat through the Cohousing US Webchat series, August 2019, “Culture Change and Personal Transformation.”
https://www.cohousing.org/culture-change-and-personal-transformation/
Joe attended the Restorative Circles Conference July 4-7, 2019, at Earthaven Ecovillage in Black Mountain, NC.
At the May-June 2019 National Cohousing Conference in Portland, Oregon, Joe offered an intensive half-day workshop on “How Communities Can Address Racism, White Privilege, and Social Justice,” as well as a weekend session on “Sharing Circles and Nurturing Community Bonds.”
Joe offered an online webchat through the Cohousing US Webchat series, April 2019, “Addressing Racism and Working for Racial Equality.”
Joe wrote an article for Communities Magazine in December of 2018 on collaborative skill-building in intentional communities.
Cole, J. (2018). Skill building for a culture of collaboration. Communities, 181(181), 40-44.
https://www.ic.org/skill-building-for-a-culture-of-collaboration/
Joe wrote an article for Communities Magazine in Spring of 2018 on race and racism in intentional communities.
Cole, J. (2018). I'm not a racist, but racism is in me-and in my community. Communities, 178(178), 31-35.
https://www.ic.org/im-not-a-racist-but-racism-is-in-me-and-in-my-community/
In the Fall of 2017, Joe completed the Design for Sustainability Certificate program through GAIA Education and the Global Ecovillage Network.
Here is a link to the Case Study by Gibbons, L., Cole, J., Thomson, H., & T. Dijgraf. (2017). Hart’s Mill Ecovillage and Regenerative Sustainability: A Case Study. Gaia Education Design For Sustainability Program:
https://www.gaiaeducation.org/elearning/case-studies/harts-mill-ecovillage/
Joe taught a day-long Intensive on Facilitation and a half-day Intensive on Conflict Tools, plus a weekend session on Sharing Circles at the National Cohousing Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, May 18-21, 2017.
Link to the Conference: http://www.cohousing.org/2017
Link to the Intensives: http://www.cohousing.org/2017/intensives
New Service: Phone Consultation! Maria and Joe now offer phone consultation for individuals and communities who are navigating conflict, wishing to improve group dynamics in their organization, or needing assistance with planning meetings or developing policies. Contact us for more information: drjoecole@gmail.com
We offer
Meeting Facilitation
Facilitation Training
Group Process Consulting
Consensus Education
Retreat Planning and Facilitation
Phone Consultation
Maria Pini was raised in Argentina, and immigrated to the United States in 1994. For the last 15 years she has worked as an interpreter in LA and NC, where she’s currently the head court interpreter for her District. Maria was a member of Blue Heron Farm community in Pittsboro NC from 2003-2013. She was the community’s main facilitator for several years, leading the group into a phase of deep healing and learning about how skilled and conscious facilitation can make a profound difference in the strength of groups. Maria completed the two-year training in Integrative Facilitation with Laird Schaub in 2010, and is the Co-Teacher for the upcoming two-year training program in North Carolina from 2019-2021.
Joe Cole was one of the original residents of Pacifica Cohousing Community, and was a Lead Facilitator there for several years. At Pacifica he crafted policies and practices to improve decision-making and develop a stronger culture of consensus. Joe completed the two-year training in Integrative Facilitation with Laird Schaub and Mayana Ludwig, and has also trained in World Work/Process Work with Arnold and Amy Mindell. He has a Certificate in Design for Sustainability from GAIA Education. Joe has a Ph.D. in Philosophy, and is an Academic Professional Assistant Professor in the Peace and Conflict Studies Department at UNC-Greensboro.
Site photography by Joe Cole