052: Reclaiming Community - Care, Clarity, & Connection
What does a thriving community look like today and what make it so?
Hola Amigos,
Have you ever wondered why some communities thrive while others struggle to survive? It’s a question I’ve spent over 25 years exploring—from my time at the Burning Man organization to my own move to Costa Rica to studying eco-villages and regenerative land projects around the world. The answer wasn’t what I thought…
It mostly boils down to the invisible structures that hold a community together: care, clarity, and connection. There has to be genuine care and investment in each other’s well being, that I first discovered at Leapforward but this was not even an eco-village, spiritual community, or event based group. There was also a clarity of why we were together at Leap Forward, a set of agreements and values, and constant connection to support each others co-evolution. Also, this is funny to write as a Jewish kid from New York, it can’t be about money! When money is involved, things get funny, so I look at community differently now. Whether it’s a residential development, your coaching and mastermind groups, your retreats and events - it’s not that they can’t foster community, but there’s a purity to it when money is not the core driver.
Why Intentionality Matters
When I first moved to Costa Rica, it was a leap of faith. I had a great life in the US—a fulfilling career, strong friendships, and plenty of comforts. But something felt missing. I craved adventure, impact, and a deeper sense of purpose. Little did I know this journey would lead me into a world of community-building experiments and adventures, offering lessons that would reshape my understanding of what it takes to create a thriving community and life.
One story that stands out comes from a friend who bought into and lived in two very different eco-village style projects in Costa Rica. The first was a small, purpose-driven community of 10 friends where all income was used to build their roads, infrastructure, and common areas. They dedicated their best land to shared spaces, invested in governance structures, and prioritized purpose over profit. The result? A thriving, connected community - sure they had their issues and continue to, but they are leaps and bounds ahead of others in their shoes.
The second project was a larger, more commercially focused eco-village. Although well intentioned, it sold lots quickly to recoup funds, and often to people who didn’t share the founders’ vision. Without a clear purpose guiding decisions, the project struggled with disconnection and misalignment, many owners moved out. Now this isn’t to throw them under the bus, as not many people I know are prototyping and testing eco-villages. Yet, the difference was stark: Purpose isn’t just an idea—it’s the foundation of every decision.
Some Lessons for Building Thriving Communities
Here are the key pillars I’ve learned from my journey…
1. Clarity Is the Compass
Every successful project begins with clarity. This means asking foundational questions: One eco-village I studied started with a questions: What does this land want to become? What is our purpose? What are our values and agreements? How will we make decisions?
They spent months studying its natural features, engaging with local communities, and aligning their vision with the land’s potential. That clarity shaped every step they took, ensuring their actions were both practical and purpose-driven. Before starting your project, take time to define your purpose - write it down and let it guide every decision.
2. Balance Passion With Strategy
Passion can be a powerful driver, but without strategy, it can lead to missteps. As I wrote in Beyond the Blueprint, enthusiasm alone isn’t enough to carry a project to success. One of the biggest mistakes I see is rushing into decisions without a solid foundation of research and planning. It’s about balancing the dream with the reality—aligning your vision with the land, the budget, and the community’s needs. This balance ensures that your passion becomes a sustainable force for progress. Pair every passionate idea with a plan.
3. Purpose Over Profit
In our rush to scale, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But the most successful communities prioritize purpose over profit. The small community my friend co-founded gave its best land to shared spaces. These spaces became the heart of their community, fostering connection and equity. In contrast, the larger projects sold their best lots quickly, often to buyers who had never even visited. Without alignment, the community can become fragmented. Ask yourself: What’s more important—maximizing profit or purpose?
4. Invest in Invisible Structures
Governance, communication, and leadership might not be as tangible as roads or buildings, but they’re just as critical. One of the most inspiring examples comes from Tacotal, a community in Costa Rica. They held workshops on nonviolent communication, adopted consensus-based decision-making, and embraced inclusive leadership, with women playing key roles. These investments created a culture of trust and collaboration. In contrast, communities that neglect these invisible structures often struggle with misalignment and conflict. Start small: Introduce practices like regular check-ins, community agreements and shared values, and communication workshops and programs to build trust and resilience.
5. Take Small, Intentional Steps
Big dreams can feel overwhelming, but as I shared in Building Life 2.0, scaling down can create space for those dreams to grow. Start with what’s essential—clearing mental and physical clutter, focusing on one meaningful step at a time. This intentionality transforms vision into reality without burnout - this can’t be a side-hustle. What’s one thing you can let go of today to create space for your dream life?
What This Means for You
Community isn’t just about land projects or eco-villages. It’s something we can cultivate in our daily lives—with our families, neighbors, and colleagues. When we focus on care, clarity, and connection, we create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and aligned with a shared vision. It’s still not easy from that point forward, as we have to rub and deal with each other’s human components and personalities, but it’s a start! This work isn’t always easy, but it’s deeply rewarding. As Charles Eisenstein said, “You can’t do community for its own sake. Community is people who need and are obligated to each other.” When we embrace this truth, we move beyond transactions to create relationships that truly matter.
What’s your vision for community? Whether you’re dreaming of a retreat center, an eco-village, or a closer-knit neighborhood, start by asking the hard questions. What purpose drives you? How will you invest in the invisible structures that hold it all together? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Reply to this email and share your vision—or the challenges you’re facing. Let’s build thriving communities together.
Tackling Common Challenges
Gentrification and Integration
A recurring challenge in community building is addressing gentrification while fostering integration with local communities. Successful projects involve local leaders in decision-making and prioritize cultural exchange and listening to the needs of the local community and taking those actions first. For example, Tacotal’s focus on trust and collaboration with Costa Ricans created a balanced and inclusive environment. Many if, not most, of its core founding members were continue to be local “Ticos” and that’s made a big difference. Partner with local communities early in the process. Listen to their needs and ensure they have a voice in the project’s vision.
Resources: The Land Steward Alliance
Check out the LSA where we meet monthly as a tribe of dreamers and doers, foreigners and locals, project founders and experts helping build them!
⚡️ Land Project Compass Assessment ⚡️
I've created a powerful tool to help you assess where you're at with your land project called - The Land Project Compass Assessment. It's free, takes 5 minutes, and it will reveal a lot! Regardless of whether you have a project already underway, or are actively dreaming something up, this assessment will help guide you to the heart of what's important. After completing it, you'll get a visual scorecard of your project's health, important insights across key areas, and suggestions for next steps if you are looking for support. I hope this assessment helps you see yourself and your reality with greater clarity. Click here to take the assessment now.
Love it! Deeply resonant. Thanks Ed🙏🏻💚
Such a cool life and purpose you’ve created for yourself and others. Sharing it along with your philosophy on Substack only adds to the impact. Impressive stuff brother