Join us for an engaging conversation with the acclaimed author and founder of a social enterprise, Mim Skinner, as she discusses her latest book, "Living Together." This insightful discussion will commence at 6:30pm on Monday, November 6th, at Collected Bookstore, located at Unit 44, Riverwalk, Durham, DH1 4SL. Leading the conversation will be Eve, the President of DUCS, although all attendees are encouraged to pose questions to Mim.
Skinner's book delves into the pressing social and environmental challenges brought about by our increasingly scattered lives and the profound advantages of communal living, such as student housing. Through an inspiring journey across the UK's communes, eco-villages, and co-living spaces, she explores more compassionate, interconnected, and sustainable ways of existence, offering timely insights.
Recent statistics reveal that 76% of people believe we've grown more distant from our neighbors in the past two decades. We are now less likely than previous generations to know our neighbors' names, foster cross-generational friendships, or collaborate on resource-sharing and childcare. As mental health concerns intensify, the climate crisis escalates, and societal divisions deepen, Skinner's groundbreaking book probes whether there are superior models for cohabitation.
Skinner embarks on an exploration of communities that have rejected individualism and nuclear family structures in favor of embracing a more collective way of life. Her encounters with those who have dared to envision and adopt alternative ways of existence take her to countercultural hippy communes, the disability-centered L'Arche communities, safe spaces for the queer community, environmental advocacy groups, rehabilitation support networks, and more. Throughout these encounters, she investigates how each of these communities confronts the contemporary social issues of our time and discovers greener, more connected ways to live together.
Tickets are available on the door but we request all purchase one in advance through the link in our bio (you also get 20% off the book if you're a DUCS member).
Love and learn