Addressing over 200 Common Ground Core Team leaders gathered at Community Baptist Church in Sherman Park on a chilly February evening, Deacon Alexander Hardy declared,  “I’ve learned that if we want safe, beautiful neighborhoods we have to organize.  We can’t count on landlords, corporations, politicians, or banks to do it for us.”

After months of listening, building relationships and researching, a team of South Side leaders, a team of Borchert Field residents and a team of tenants and allies shared how they have been moving into action.  We also welcomed new members and premiered our new CG Anthem video.

We heard from Ruben Rosales, the President of the Parish Council at St. Hyacinth, about the latest on our South Side safety campaign about 

• The research conducted on drug houses on the South Side
• The work being done to address the lack of trust and communication with the police.
• The focus on prevention – how do we stop crime from occurring in the first place? 

We are preparing to go public with our solutions!  There will be a press conference on the steps of St. Hyacinth on Sunday, April 26th at 10:45am. Stay tuned for more!

Our Latino parish leaders are also planning to call and check in with all of their members.  Based on what they hear, the South Side will decide next steps.  In the meantime, Rosales asked that we form a dormant ICE Crisis-Response Team that could be activated quickly if needed. We hope we never have to use it, but we want to be prepared in case.  

We are determined NOT to let the fear of ICE slowdown our current work. 

Ray Charles Davis, a leader of the newly-formed Borchert Field for Power and Change neighborhood association celebrated the wins they have gotten since residents started organizing with Common Ground, including new street lights that shine brightly every night!  Now they are focusing  on stopping illegal dumping in their neighborhood. 

We heard from Tenants United leaders. Over the past few months, we’ve been talking and working with residents to have systemic issues addressed to no avail. More to come as things progress.

CG Leaders voted unanimously to welcome NourishMKE as our newest member organization. Nourish is the largest network of community food centers in Milwaukee providing free, high-quality, and nutritious food to 60,000 people. Their director, Valerie MacMillan, explained that they wanted to join CG so that they can work to address some of the root causes of generational poverty.

The crowd cheered and embraced our new CG Anthem Video.  Please share with friends, family, and others who like to “get things done” by directing them to our website: commongroundwi.org. We made commitments to attend training, join campaigns teams, and attend actions.  Afterwards we shared food and conversation, deepening the relationships that are the heart of our power.

Thanks to the leaders that attended! It was a great night for Common Ground — especially our South Side members, tenants, Brochert Field leaders and for all Milwaukeeans!