13 adults, 5 kids, a dog, a cat, and the vision of creating a meaningful, socially responsible life together under one roof in urban Maryland.
By quick count, Maitri House (founded in 2008 and my home since February of 2012) includes:
- German, Lebanese, English, Taiwanese, Indian, Ugandan, Bolivian, African-American, Egyptian and American-Caucasian ethnic/cultural backgrounds,
- Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Quaker, Mennonite, Humanist, Atheist and Spiritualist perspectives,
- Ages of 3 to 69,
- A school teacher, a chemist, a mechanic, an engineer, a lawyer, a wilderness guide, energy-conservation workers, activists, professors, students, musicians, filmmakers, physicists, organization starters, peace and conflict mediation workers, community organizers, non-profit workers, volunteers, counselors, poets, artists and kids.
It requires no stretching of reality to say that Maitri House is a trial-and-error experiment in seeking fellowship and purpose through diversity.
In June of 2012, we converted a spare room in the house into a make-shift photo studio to capture portraits of the current community members. Individuals were asked to create an image showing how their unique work/lives is an expression of shared values. You can click on any portrait below to read the individual’s statement.
Awesome photos and post!