StellarMadic | Christine
What does it take to build a brand-new neighborhood deep in the jungle, yet a stone's throw from the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea? Living in Prospera, a bold, real-time experiment in progressive governance and urban design, has given me the chance to find out. For years, many strong leaders have been building community in Prospera as a whole, in real life, and online. Today, I want to share a glimpse specifically into being a Cabin Neighborhood Steward within the sleek, modern embrace of the Duna Residences—a striking 14-story building that feels like a treasure chest tucked away in a pirate’s haven.
Residing here is akin to stepping into a living, hot, humid, breathing ecosystem — a blend of ambition, grit, and serendipity. Building community is not just about hosting events but about creating spaces where everyone feels like they belong. When I first arrived in August, Duna had only been open since June. There wasn’t even a coffee shop or a reliable place to grab food! So I started small: I created a WhatsApp group so residents could coordinate grocery runs or plan excursions. In a place where the three-mile, partly paved mountain road to Duna feels like an off-road adventure straight out of Colorado, even these small connections became lifelines.
The locals of Crawfish Rock, the neighboring village, often travel this same road on foot, carrying huge sacks of ripe fruit gathered from the jungle floor. It’s an unspoken rule among residents to offer rides to anyone making the trek—a gesture that symbolizes the deeper ties we’re building here between newcomers and locals.
Right now, about 40 out of 82 apartments in Duna are occupied — a vibrant mix of people from all over the world, including a strong contingent from Honduras. About half are full-time residents, while others come and go, stopping in to lend their brainpower, or even bodies (see Vitalia.City or Symbiot Labs) to fascinating projects. The constant influx of new faces keeps things exciting, while a strong sense of community and abundant opportunities to connect with nature make even a restless digital nomad like me consider putting down roots.
Building a neighborhood here has been a journey of micro-actions—small, everyday gestures that create bonds and build trust— randomly delivering bite-sized tiramisu around the building, sunsets on the terrace, last-minute pizza parties or even the timeless act of borrowing a cup of sugar—these seemingly trivial interactions form the foundation of our community. They’re not just acts of kindness; they’re the threads that weave a neighborhood together. It’s about creating a space where the measure of success isn’t how many people show up to an event but whether they know who to turn to when they need a couch to cry on.
Of course, Prospera comes with its share of challenges. There’s been controversy and misunderstanding surrounding the ZEDEs. A "ZEDE" is a Zone for Employment and Economic Development. It is meant to be modeled after the way that Hong Kong and Dubai got started. Recently, the Honduran Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional—retroactively. For a moment, I considered leaving, but I couldn’t bring myself to walk away from what we’re building here. The people I’ve met are some of the most inspiring individuals I’ve ever known, each working in their own unique way to make the world a better place – for everyone.
Three months after arriving, I’ve seen just how strong our fledgling community has become. Even during my temporary absence for a visa run (you have to leave every 90-120 days), the bonds we’ve built have held strong. While I was away, a devastating fire destroyed a family’s home in the village. Thanks to connections we’d already forged through initiatives like CrawfishRocks.com, we raised $1,100 in 24 hours to help them through the immediate aftermath.
The real magic of this place lies in the way the community grows organically, even when I’m not there. Impromptu meetups, planned game nights, and a pop-up Argentinean grill night all unfolded while I was away. Maybe the true measure of a community is how much you miss it when you have to leave.
Every action I take here comes back to one core question: does this help people feel grounded and connected? Some days, that means navigating bureaucratic hurdles or grappling with language barriers. On other days, it’s shaking hands with a monkey or hugging a sloth. One day, in coordination with MoonDAO, we made spaced-themed spray paint art and launched rockets off the beach with the local kids. Community-building here feels like weaving a web—delicate, deliberate, and surprisingly resilient. And through it all, one truth shines: this is a place where small actions lead to big impacts, one conversation or one sunset at a time.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to have you visit. I’m even hosting digital nomad cohorts—where you get to blend work, adventure, and community. Don’t worry, the Spirit Animal Coffee shop has opened - and you can buy your cuppa in Bitcoin or cash. Come see what it’s like to build a whole new world in the jungle next to the clear blue sea.
Visit Prospera Upcoming Digital Nomad Cohorts
Holidays Cohort: December 22, 2024 to January 4, 2025
March Cohort: March 8 to March 22, 2025
A long time ago, while living on a houseboat every weekend in the summer and fall, on the Chesapeake Bay, a little girl rowed around the harbor with her Boom Box attracting others her age, inviting them to a beach fire. The Captains rule was simple, bring a song, a poem, or a story to present by the fire and bring your own hot dog stick. Fast forward to today, not much has changed, only she is on a bigger beach, with a bigger group of interesting people to meet and great. My advice is, don't miss a chance to meet this marvelous digital nomad! The Captain
Such a good read! You're a total badass at building community!