Common Ground Action Group
Common Ground 2012 Annual Report
WHO IS COMMON GROUND?
Common Ground is a non-partisan organization comprised of small businesses, congregations, non-profits, colleges and labor unions. We live and work in four counties in Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee).
Common Ground began in 2004 when a group of 38 religious, civic and business leaders raised $700,000 in seed money to launch our grassroots organization, then known as Greater Milwaukee Sponsors. The seed money came from the congregations and religious groups affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Presbyterian, Episcopal and United Church of Christ (UCC). Foundations, individuals and unions have also contributed.
Common Ground is a part of a national network affiliated with Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest institution for professional organizing in the United States.
WHAT DOES COMMON GROUND DO?
Common Ground exists to build and support an organization to address Greater Milwaukee’s critical social issues in an effective, non-partisan way. We spent our first year listening to over 1,400 people discuss their concerns including health care, education, jobs and economic development, crime, mental health, youth activities, immigration and housing. The Strategy Team (elected by the member organizations) prioritized the concerns and decided on the issues for the Core Team (member organizations) to take on. We are currently engaging in three major issue campaigns: Education, Foreclosures, and Healthcare. Each member is encouraged to participate in the Action or Issue Team meetings that resonate with them. It is the active participation of its members that makes Common Ground work.
Common Ground believes in growing its leadership base and, along with mentoring, offers Common Ground University— a Leadership training course to teach volunteers the basics of organizing.
With two full-time, paid professional organizers and leader volunteers, Common Ground has developed a successful formula for effecting non-partisan political power for social change.
CURRENT COMMON GROUND INITIATIVES:
Milwaukee Rising (Faces of Foreclosure Campaign)
Through neighborhood walks, photograph surveys and interviews with housing foreclosure experts, Common Ground uncovered some astounding findings about the magnitude of the foreclosure crisis, how it is hurting our cities and who is responsible. Believing the crisis to be solvable, Common Ground developed a reasonable way for the five identified national banks, as the largest owners of foreclosed properties in the state, to take responsibility, be good neighbors and rectify the situation.
The UU Fund for a Just Society supplied critical early funding for this campaign. Through persistent effort, the Faces of Foreclosure campaign has achieved some amazing results! On May 23, 2011, Common Ground was able to announce Milwaukee Rising, a housing revitalization initiative that will seek to rehabilitate 100 foreclosed properties over four years and sell them to responsible homeowners.
For current status as of November 11, 2011, please click here.
To be added to the Foreclosure Team email list, contact: Julie [dot] lange
commongroundwi [dot] org (subject: Foreclosure%20Campaign%20inquiry) (Julie Lange)
Education Initiative
In February, 2011 Common Ground kicked off its Education Initiative. With Actions, Listening Sessions and Petition Signing, Common Ground has touched over 8,000 people.
Through these conversations, we have identified several concerns about the current state of public, choice and charter schools in Milwaukee County, such as the importance of great teachers and consistent access to art, music, and physical education for all of our children.
Common Ground is in the research phase; thus we have not taken a position on a particular issue. We are spending time meeting with key stakeholders in the education arena before we decide how we are going to direct our energy. To get involved with the Education Team, contact: Julie [dot] langecommongroundwi [dot] org (subject: Common%20Ground%20Education%20Initiative%20inquiry) (Julie Lange)
Small businesses, self-employed individuals and non-profits struggle to provide affordable insurance for themselves and their employees. This new, nonprofit, member controlled, health insurance company is an opportunity to obtain more affordable health insurance for those of us who, until now, have had no power to negotiate better rates.
To find out who can join, what plans will be available, what networks will be included and when plans may be available go to http://commongroundhealthcare.org/#
First Church is not a member of Common Ground. You can support Common Ground and become a member by joining UUs United for Social Justice for $1 a week.
Membership Application in Common Ground through UUs United for Social Justice
First Church Core Team Leaders:
RDePueaol [dot] com (subject: Common%20Ground%20inquiry) (Rod DePue)
bikehead5yahoo [dot] com (subject: Common%20Ground%20inquiry) (Jerry Fredrickson)
