Join the first Berlin Hub Residency!
As hinted at in the end of 2022 newsletter, 2023 starts off with an exciting announcement: The first Berlin Hub Residency - "From Connection to Regeneration" is on its way, starting February 1st 2023.
Over two years of co-living come to an end and will make space for new faces
You're invited to apply, bring your regenerative project and co-create a special time in a special city.
Participation can be for 3 or 6 months, with entry points on Feb 1st and May 1st.
The Berlin Hub
The residency will take place in a beautiful "Altbau" in the heart of Kreuzberg, Berlin. With all the amenities, such as Hasenheide park (a lush, tree-filled expanse of green), Tempelhofer Feld (an airfield converted to public playground), a beautiful cemetery behind the buiding, swans on the canal, weekly markets, public transport only 2 minutes away, and much much more around the corner, this is the ideal area for anybody excited to dive into a city bustling with energy, history, and heartfelt people.
The Hub consists of four apartments each with their own bathroom, kitchen, and flair. Complemented with a large common space and training dojo, it houses up to 11 residents. The apartments are spread out in a larger building complex, providing a unique set-up compared to many other communities.
The Residency
Guiding purpose:
We aim to be a nourishing and inspiring home of friends and collaborators supporting each other in connecting to ourselves, each other, the wider world and what lies beyond (call it the mysterious, god or the sublime).
From this connection, we grow our capacity to make tangible, impactful actions toward a regenerative culture in and beyond Berlin that works for all life.
We offer space, bring people together, and strive to live in a way that cultivates care, joy, stays with the trouble, and seeks wisdom continuously as we grow collective action out of connection to what’s in and around us.
Unfuck the system please - and move it towards regeneration!
We guide ourselves by (but are not limited to) underlying frameworks such as:
- Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD)
- Theory U
- Art of Hosting Practices
- Regeneration Frameworks such as e.g. Daniel Christian Wahls “Designing regenerative Cultures”
- Zen Buddhism
- Internal Family Systems
- Nonviolent Communication
- Theater of the Oppressed
Who are the hosts?
The residency is hosted by Ilja Maiber and Sen Zhan, who've been living at the Berlin Hub for the last 2 1/2 years. Beyond their own efforts they'll be inviting residents into stewarding roles to co-create a resilient, self-governing system.
In his role as Hubmanager Ilja made sure that the structures of the hub support its inhabitants - gathering what felt like decades of learning in the process. Coming from studies in Rhetorics and Sociology he later dove into a transformative MSc in Strategic Sustainable Development (MSLS), which opened many doors: To hosting, narrative practices, co-creation, community building, participatory design and much in between and beyond. He dedicates himself in particular to the challenge of bringing together what is often separated: Be it the rational and the emotional, creation and reflection, planning and intuition, the physical and the mental.
Sen is lifelong community builder who loves fanning the sparks of creative expression in others. She is an occupational therapist by training, a storyteller by trade, and serial immigrant driven to support inner and outer healing through the transformative power of telling one's own story. As the founder of the Beyond Asian community, Sen's lived experiences as a Third Culture Asian immigrant inform her perspectives on social justice, diversity, and inclusion. She strives to bring embodiment to collective storytelling through mediums from podcasting to Theatre of the Oppressed. More on Sen's work at www.beyondasian.com
When is it?
The full residency lasts 6 months, with a shorter 3 month option. Applications for 6 months are preferable.
Dates:
Full residency: Feb 1 - July 31, 2023
Suggested arrival date: Feb 1, 2023
Connection week: Feb 2 - 8, 2023
3 month residency (Spring)
Suggested arrival date: Feb 1, 2023
Connection week: Feb 2 - 8, 2023
3 month residency (Summer)
Suggested arrival date: May 1, 2023
Connection week: May 2 - 8, 2023
Connection week:
At the beginning of each 3 month period we provide residents with the opportunity to participate in and take ownership of the structures which will help to orient in the space, develop a shared vocabulary and most importantly: spend quality time developing foundations of relationships of trust and courage with each other.
Please expect to make yourself available for this week, as the schedule will stretch over the course of the day from morning practice to evening check out (approx. 8AM - 9PM, with plenty of breaks in between).
The full schedule will be developed over the coming days. You can expect a flow like:
7.45 - 8.30AM: Morning practice
9 - 10AM: Breakfast (self organized)
10.30 - 12.30AM: Morning Session
1 - 2.30PM: Lunch
3 - 5PM: Afternoon Session
6.30 - 8PM: Dinner
8.30 - 9.30PM: Evening check-out
Connection happens in many ways
Who is this for?
Community-lovers with a passion for and experience in co-creating nourishing living conditions for themselves and others, who have the desire and capacity to work on a project towards a regenerative culture.
Disclaimer: While we strive towards acting in a trauma informed manner, and put the utmost care into cultivating a nourishing container, we are not certified therapists or mental health professionals.
The culture we are cultivating
Social
- Practicing “cleaning up” - taking responsibility for emotional, psychological, and relational health including relationships to oneself and other residents
- Approaching all relationships with community members and beyond with an attitude of care and desire to connect and understand
Environmental
- Considering impacts of purchases and consume responsibly
- Being actively engaged in finding practical ways for the Hub to become more ecologically and socially regenerative
Practices
Essential individual practices:
- Regular Inner and Interpersonal Practice enabling self-connection and self-reflection. For example:
- Sitting or movement meditation
- Journaling
- Yoga
- Other practices supporting mind-body wellness
Essential communal practices:
- Community Practice + cleanup (samu) every two weeks
- Community Dinner every two weeks
Project
Every resident and steward is invited to manifest an aspect of their vision of a regenerative culture in the form of a project. You’re invited to bring something that others can experience, and that you would be proud to share. Together we can support how this project can be made available to the wider world, e.g. as part of an exhibition, on the Life Itself blog, in a workshop, or in other much smaller, or much larger ways
Time
- A resident is encouraged to offer approximately 3h/week (12h/month) to support communal activities, such as:
- Community practice or dinner
- Contribution to a circle (domains of governance such as Culture, Communication, etc - specifics to be determined during Connection Week)
- Engaging in active care for the common space
- Supporting or hosting an event/workshop/etc.
- Cooking or shopping for the community
- If you decide to step into stewarding a circle, this would go up to approximately 5h/week (20h/month).
- You'll find more information on what it means to step into a stewaring role in the application form
How much is it?
- Full residence fee including all costs (Connection week, rent, utilities, common space and dojo, community fund) = €670-930/month (varies based on size, nature, and availabilty of rooms)
- You're invited to use the common space to host events and generate income. To support the space, 20% of the income from events go to the space and 80% to you
- It’s very important for us to say: We are dedicated to making this experience financially accessible. At the same time, we also honour the costs and efforts that hosting a residency like this entails. If you feel called to join the residency yet money presents itself as an obstacle - please reach out and we will do our best to find a solution together, whether it’s a value exchange, accessing the scholarship fund, or other creative ways to address the situation.
Shared benefits
- Private bedroom, shared bathroom and kitchen (there are 4 apartments, housing 2-3 people each. Each apartment has its own kitchen & bathroom)
- Residency in a community of people dedicated to supporting each other and growing their capacity to make tangible contributions toward a regenerative culture that works for all life.
- Shared use of the common room for hosting events
- Community activities and community meals supported by a shared Community fund
- Opportunity to step into a stewarding role for one of the circles within the Hub supported by the Community fund
Beautiful food from many cultures has been one of the beautiful parts at the hub
How to become a resident?
Apply for residency
- Fill out and submit application (link above)
- If all places for the residency have already been filled, we'll put you on our waiting list and reach out if a place becomes available :)
- Complete group interview process, consisting of at least one conversation with the hosting team
- Optionally there’ll be an invitation into an additional creative modality to get to know each other, such as e.g. write a story, draw a picture, cook a meal together, or attending an open community practice
- Contingent on consent of the hosting team and any existing residents in the respective apartments, begin one month of provisional residency
- Within first month of provisional residency, participate in a Group Feedback Circle with at least two current residents
- Contingent on consent of the hosting team, become a full resident
- Full residents participate in Group Feedback Circle every three months to renew full residency, contingent on ongoing commitment and embodiment of residency purpose
We are excited to receive your application and speak to you soon! During our conversation we'll answer further questions and share more on how the Hub governs itself. In addition, we will be hosting an open Q&A call in January - so stay stuned for more!
With much love,
the Berlin Hub
FAQs
What are you looking for in the application?
In this application we are most interested in how we can acknowledge and reflect both on how we all shine, and how we all struggle. Our understanding is that none of us is complete in our development, so we invite you to respond as honestly as you can about both your celebrations and challenges.
Can I come for a time period other than 3 or 6 months, or start my residency on a date other than Feb 1 or May 1?
Having made the experience that every new person impacts the existing social fabric we strive towards clear entry points. If the idea of the residency really speaks to you, but these entry points just don't work for you - please indicate it in your application, or reach out via email (theberlinhub@gmail.com)! Together we'll see how we can go about the situation.
Can I leave the residency early?
Eventhough we'd like you to stay the full duration of the residency (i.e. 3 or 6 months), we acknowledge that sometimes life is unpredictable. We invite you to indicate in your application if a full stay is not possible, so we can figure out together how to integrate this.
What are the arrival and departure dates and times?
We suggest Feb 1, 2023 and May 1, 2023 as the arrival dates for each of the residenies, respectively, to give space
Will there be time for my personal work and projects?
It is only during the Connection week that we ask everyone to make themselves available for the full schedule, barring major outside commitments (which we ask you to communicate as a part of your application). The remaining time of the residency will combine some daily shared practices with a largely open schedule to support personal work and projects. So there will be time for self-work and commitments like work and studies. A key aspect of the residency is learning how we can integrate community and practice, collective and private, absolute and relative in our daily life.
Do I have to attend all of the daily and weekly practices?
The daily and weekly practices are considered essential aspects of co-creating a connected and regenerative culture. The general understanding is that everyone agrees to participate consistently in these practices, but if there is an occasional schedule conflict with an outside commitment, we simply ask that people communicate with us in advance. We ask that people reflect on their desire to commit to these shared practices before applying to attend.
What is the process for requesting financial assistance?
Our aim is that cost is not an obstacle to anyone’s participation. If you are experiencing financial constraints, please send us an email at theberlinhub@gmail.com describing: 1) your current financial situation; and 2) the specific amount of support you are requesting. We will do our best to see if we can provide assistance in some way or another.
What happens when I am on the waiting list?
If all the places are booked, you are welcome to submit an application to be on the waiting list. We will review your application and invite you to an interview if/when a spot becomes available. Note that this could even happen at the last moment if someone cancels unexpectedly.
I don't think residency is for me right now or my candidacy might not be selected - but I would love to be a part of this project! How can I still take part?
For those in Berlin, we offer an extended community Membership for those who want participate in practices, workshops, and events. Stay tuned for more!
Contact us
Please don't hesitate to contact us at theberlinhub@gmail.com if you have other questions that have not been addressed above, or in the resident application form. We look forward to receiving your application!
Acknowledgements and gratitude
This outline has in parts been inspired by the efforts of the facilitation and hosting team of the Life Itself Embodying Collective Transformation residency. We appreciate the work your team is doing in the world and feel proud to have been collaborators in many ways.
