Neil, Ilana, Zakkai, & Aliya

Neil & Ilana Markowitz live with their two children Zakkai (5) and Aliya (3). Neil is the Executive Director of the Environmental Education Exchange which he founded 13 years ago and also works as the US Coordinator for American Friends of Bayit Chadash a group dedicated to enhancing peace and spirituality in Israel. Ilana with an MSW in Social Work and a lifelong interest in Yoga is currently training to be an Anusara Yoga Instructor. She currently teachers children and adult yoga classes in various studios around town. Ilana is also a dancer and is the President of Zuzi! Move It Dance Company. Zakkai is a budding theologian and humanitarian and Aliya is an artist and a bright sparkle.

Ilana and Neil left their home on the West Side of Tucson (with their backyard in the Sonoran Desert) in 2001 to join Sonora Cohousing.

Zakkai and Aliya benefit the most with many young friends to play with and a safe supportive community in which to grow and thrive.

"Although as a family we have less contact with the Sonoran Desert and the natural world around us our experience of friendship and camaraderie in cohousing has more than made up for any loss."