On the Hanover Phenomenon

I live by Lake Merritt, which is a large urban estuary and park just east of downtown Oakland. The surrounding neighborhood is given over to multi-unit dwellings, chi-chi to drab. A high proportion of residents live alone.

I am going to take this opportunity to introduce a neighborhood venture that has, in its way, meant a lot to me. The way to do the phenomenon justice is to start with its history.

In 1997, three local gentlemen named Marshall Johnson, Stephen Kelly, and Dave Robbins met in the Jahva House café, northwest of Lake Merritt. They started brainstorming to create a very loose-knight, "anarchic" neighborhood organization, built around a monthly calendar of events. Anyone at all could sponsor any free event at all on the calendar, it was just a matter of contacting the calendar's editor enough in advance. The idea was to bring neighbors together who otherwise would not have anything to do with each other. It was not long after the birth of the concept that Stephen came up with some money for a downpayment on a nice duplex just up the hill from the eastern lake shore, at 468 Hanover Street. The Hanover EcoVillage was born. The downstairs unit at Hanover, 468 A, became the hub for EcoVillage. Its tenants were stalwart EcoVillagers, and its livingroom was the location for many EcoVillage activities. The guiding principal was no ideology or agenda, except "sustainable community," hence the "EcoVillage" name.

EcoVillage is a thriving, even snowballing concern today. It isn't unusual for 40-50 people to pack 468 A Hanover for the monthly potluck, and it speaks to the draw of this "neighborhood" enterprise that we have regular participants driving in from as far as San Leandro (an East Bay suburb 20 minutes away).

Some EcoVillagers don't spend time wondering why EcoVillage works, but I think it is a fascinating question.

Marshall has been quietly editing the EcoVillage calendar, to my knowledge, since the first issue. Stephen has been quietly land-lording for EcoVillage about as long, although this will change in a few months when Stephen sells the building to another EcoVillage benefactor, and leaves for "planetary fun travels."

I have been involved at various levels in other volunteer organizations that have had their aims so perverted over time, are so riven by politics, that they really are not nice places to be. Why doesn't the same thing happen to EcoVillage, even though we're all very human here, we have spats with each other, and so on?

I believe three factors are paramount in EcoVillage's long-term success. The first is its very loose-knit character. Basically, you're involved at whatever level you want to be, for as long as you want to be, and nobody is ever going to judge what kind of EcoVillager you are, based on events you attend, or don't attend, or on what you do, or don't do, for the cause. It is a perfectly guilt-free organizational model.

The second factor in EcoVillage's success is that money is not officially involved. At all. Yes, people do things like buy real estate for EcoVillage, out of their own pocket, but these are acts of individual goodwill, and the EcoVillage culture is such that benefactors don't expect to have more influence in any phase of EcoVillage's direction, because they have contributed. (Grandly, in some cases.)

The third factor that determines EcoVillage's success is Marshall and Stephen's clear, strong guiding principals and strong leadership, and when I say "strong leadership," I know I am going to give the wrong impression!

Let me speak to Marshall's contribution, since I am more directly familiar with that. Is Marshall a leader? He may not be comfortable with that designation, but of course he is. He blazed a trail, and for years has worked unstintingly for the cause. The phenomenon he guides is, in a sense, overtaking the neighborhood. But Marshall isn't Ghengis Khan, or even Larry Ellison. He leads by a sort of anti-leadership, which is not about conquest, or ego glorification, at all. Marshall has never said to anyone, "I edit the calendar, and I say you can't post that event," or "Sleep with me, and I'll consider including your event." This gets back to the thing about contributors to EcoVillage not expecting special consideration in return for their contributions. So Marshall's direction is more, um, Taoist or something, "water-course," except that doesn't describe it, either!

Oh, damn. I am just going to give up, before I hang myself! (As Edie Brickell enjoined: "Choke me in the shallow water, before I get too deep." Yeah.)

On to a subject I can speak to with assurance. How does EcoVillage enhance my life? Well, many days, I am alone in the apartment, all day. I do not speak to a soul. For this reason, I keep a current EcoVillage calendar on my fridge, since it's a rare night that there isn't some neighborhood event scheduled blocks from my home. Longer-running EcoVillage functions include a "Middle East Study Group," led by Dave Robbins for the past 1-1/2 years, and the twice-weekly drop in "coffee hour" at The Leaning Tower of Pizza. Generally, the calendar is an aimless assemblage of hikes, crafts parties, political discussions, musical recitals, and video nights.

I have been known to show up at these events, even when the theme doesn't interest me that much, because I want to be smiled at and to hear my name spoken aloud. If you honestly ask other attendees at a given EcoVillage function, many will tell you exactly the same thing.

Clearly, the goals and values that our consumer culture tells me are supposed to thrill me, haven't. I'm not merely whining by saying this. I am commenting on a problem, for which I am already part of the solution. Every single time I decide on the spur of the moment to shut off the computer, leave my empty apartment, and head up the street to attend an EcoVillage get-together, I am "voting with my feet." I am casting a ballot for every-day conviviality, of the kind that used to burble among the regulars at the tavern, or in the town square, at the well, or over the back fence.

Yesterday I attended a regular EcoVillage evening "coffee hour." I walked into the Leaning Tower of Pizza, ten minutes from home, and into an EcoVillage tableau vivant. There were many conversations buzzing among regulars, on movies, books, politics, and spirituality. Someone was reading aloud to someone else. I think there was a person sketching. It was all accompanied by casual guitar playing and singing at the next table. This is what humans do, I thought. This is the expression of genetic memory, from the days of the cave drawings. Left to their own devices, without the interference of their computers, or big-screen satellite TV, this is how human beings are.

Stephen, a "multi-arts storyteller," plans in his upcoming travels to visit "EcoCities" in Arizona, Brazil, and India.

To Stephen, Bon Voyage and safe journey. As for his creation, the Hanover EcoVillage, may it continue to thrive with the spirit of innovation.