“You look like somebody who’s ready to make a difference.” It is this attention grabbing statement that serves as the pitch for Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground, one of the newest organizations in the Milwaukee area involving Marquette students, staff, faculty and alumni coming together to address “critical social issues like health care, jobs and crime,” according to their Web site. The group is planning a formal commencement, coming together as one alliance to address community concerns at the Founding Convention on April 13, 2008, at the Midwest Airlines Center.
“As far as we know, Common Ground is the first organization of its kind here at Marquette, so it will be a little hard for people to understand quite what we are here for, for a little while,” Barbara Timberlake, Director of Marquette’s Service Learning Program, who has been involved with the development of Marquette’s Common Ground steering committee said.
The group hopes to attract at least 150 members of the Marquette community to the Founder’s Day Convention, which will host a variety of speakers, proclaim an issue agenda and adopt a dues-based budget. As many as 2000 community members are expected to attend. Those confirmed to speak include County Executive Scott Walker, Mayor Tom Barrett and Waukesha County Executive Daniel Vrakas, while Governor Jim Doyle has been invited but has not confirmed.
“The event will be a mix between a religious revival and a political convention, and is our way of introducing ourselves to the greater Milwaukee area,” Mark Fraley, Lead Organizer of Common Ground, said.
As a non-partisan organization working with congregations, religious groups, schools, civic associations, social agencies, unions and businesses, Common Ground’s leaders come from and aim to bridge a variety of racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and political backgrounds.
“When you look at the politics of the region, it’s pretty partisan,” Fraley said. “Our group is saying that there is a common ground we can find.”
Started in 2004, Common Ground began with 38 religious, civic and business leaders, who “have raised over $700,000 in seed money to sponsor the development of the group,” according to the Common Ground Web site. The seed money comes from a diverse group of religious organizations in addition to foundations, individuals and unions.
Common Ground currently has 75 volunteer leaders and employs Mark Fraley as a professional organizer. The group follows a model of grass-roots organizing that emphasizes relationship building and communication.
The cycle of organizing, according to Common Ground literature begins with small conversations about local specialized issues, moves to house meetings and neighborhood walks to discuss the issue, breaks down the issue to research and analyze solutions, then works to take action with a larger group of people at the local level.
“I have faith in this organization because it follows such a sound, proven model,” Kerida O’Reilly, junior in the College of Health Sciences said. O’Reilly has been involved with recruiting people and convening “listening session” meetings where individuals have the opportunity to voice community concerns. “Common Ground helps form a legacy for Marquette. Students can affect change and be involved in the community even though they’re only here for four years.”
Social issues that are addressed by Common Ground fall into eight categories: health care, education, jobs and economic development, crime, mental health, youth activities, immigration and housing, according to their Web site.
“It has been important for me to remember that each one of us has some sort of personal story or has a relationship with someone who is affected by these issues,” Kate Novotny, sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences who is active in Common Ground, said. “That is the key to our common ground. It is only in honoring these personal relationships that a commitment to community change will arise and take place.”
Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, the “oldest and largest institution for professional organizing in the United States,” according to the Common Ground Web site.
The achievement IAF has had in its grassroots organizing in the past has contributed to the high hopes Common Ground members have for its future.
“I have a lot of faith in the organization and where it’s going, because IAF has had so many successes,” Katie Coldwell, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and Common Ground member, said. “It’s not a rag-tag bunch of anarchists; it’s about empowering people to affect change in their communities.”
Common Ground also offers organizing and training through Leadership Institutes designed to “teach leaders the skills necessary for successful public action and what a broad-based power organization is and does,” according to the Institute’s curriculum.
Finding common interests among individuals is a pivotal aspect of what those involved are sure will make Common Ground successful.
“Before someone joins the movement, they will ask, what’s in it for me? It’s all about gathering troops and getting people excited,” Coldwell said.
Unlike other groups students might get involved in at Marquette, Common Ground does not require an extensive time commitment, although the imapct and effect is significant.
“Nothing I’ve done for Common Ground has been a waste of time,” Coldwell said.
In the end, it all comes down to personal contact.
“It’s all relational, you build relationships and that’s how things happen,” Fraley said.
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