Village Company 360 is here to inspire wonderful places to grow up and grow old by fostering care communities & care economies for & by neighbors.
WHY IT’S TIME
Care demands are rising, caregivers are struggling & policies are lacking.
OUR CALL TO ACTION
We think care is as critical an issue in America today as WWII was in 1941.
OUR VISION
We see a future of neighbors helping neighbors through all stages of life.
This is similar but different.
And though growing in America, it has roots in Africa.
Villages aren’t new in the U.S. but we’re approaching them differently:
we’re focusing on going tiny and vertically with medical backup.
Dr. Mary-Elizabeth Harmon is
founder of Village Company 360.
FAQs:
A care community is a village but what’s a care economy?
To us, a care economy is the exchange of care services and supports. Quality care not only depends on who requires it—a child, elder or other—but locally-available resources. That’s why we work on growing care economies from neighborhoods up (and because top-down, cookie-cutter care doesn’t cut it).
How do villages work?
No two villages are alike, but generally they serve their members by connecting them to each other and to services and programs, like around exercise or cultural activities. The services are limited only by our imagination, but usually include things like rides to appointments and minor home repairs.
Mary-E, where’s your village?
I’ve formed a loosey-goosey village with some neighbors in Alexandria, VA, where I live with my mother as her caregiver. I’ll start a more formal village when I return home to Atlanta.
Is Village Company 360 a nonprofit?
No. We jokingly call ourselves a burgeoning K Corp, or a self-certified Kind Corporation. Like a B Corp, we’re here to use business as a force for good. The difference is that we adhere to our own standards.
How does Village Company 360 make money?
Currently, our focus isn’t making money but building community. That’s because even with the best plans and tech, villages won’t work without people. That said, we’ll sell trainings and village-making tools later, and are seeking $10 gift givers to help us grow.
Why mix ages and how can mixed-age villages work when we’re so segregated by age?
Different ages bring different things to the table. Just try doing better than a baby at boosting moods! Mixed-age villages can happen with intentionality. Practically, they can happen by viewing “neighbors” in terms of a broader community and using good ol’ transportation to make connections happen.
How can I make a village?
Village makers come in three main “flavors”: inspirers, cultivators and activators. Visit this page to pick a path to get started. If you’d like to learn more before doing that, read “Making a minimum viable village” and “Starting a personal village in 5 simple steps.”
So Mary-E, what’s up with you talking about practical spirituality?
We made the mind-body connection in our search to feel better. Now it’s time to make the mind-body-spirit connection to truly come alive. Spirit is our truest, enduring and divine aspect. Our ills grow, I believe, from overlooking spirit, so I talk about putting spirit—love / our divinity—into action.