Common Ground Athens is a nonprofit organization based in Athens, Georgia

Athens, Georgia

Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...

. Primarily a community hub and support organization, Common Ground serves as a catalyst and support network for community-based social change.

It is a nonprofit charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Mission

The mission statement of Common Ground Athens is:

Common Ground Athens is a community resource center for groups and individuals working for progressive social change. Through educational programs, shared resources, and organizational support, Common Ground connects and strengthens local organizations and residents in their work to improve our community and world.

Programs

Volunteer hub: Connecting prospective volunteers with grassroots organizations
Trainings: Hosting workshops on management topics as well as those of general community interest
Meeting and planning facilitation
Fiscal sponsorship

Fiscal sponsorship

Fiscal sponsorship refers to the practice of non-profit organizations offering their legal and tax-exempt status to groups engaged in activities related to the organization's missions...

: Acting as an incubator for emerging organizations
Library: Focusing on nonprofit leadership, grassroots campaign planning, and hard-to-find DIY publications, including a wide collection of zines

History

Common Ground was founded in 2003 by a coalition of mostly small Athens-based organizations seeking to establish a center that could support grassroots activists. The idea of hosting a library was inspired by the Gainesville, Florida, Civic Media Center

Civic Media Center

The Civic Media Center is a grassroots, community-based radical infoshop, an alternative library and reading room in Gainesville, Florida, United States...

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External links

• Common Ground Athens (official site)
• Feature in Flagpole Magazine, September 12, 2007