Common Ground Athens

Common Ground Athens is a community resource center based in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in the spring of 2003, it was created as a collaboration among a range of community groups seeking to build a strong foundation for their work for social change. These organizations became its first affiliate groups, eventually encompassing over two dozen organizations working on issues related to social justice, civil liberties, democracy, peace, gender equity, environmental integrity, sustainability, and community empowerment. The center provides a welcoming space where diverse community members come together to share resources, develop skills, and work toward common goals. In its early years, Common Ground served primarily as a resource center for progressive organizations, offering shared office space, a lending library of books and films on social change topics, training programs for activists and organizers, and a community calendar that connected residents with events and opportunities across Athens. Over time, it has evolved to meet the changing needs of the city while remaining true to its founding commitment to connection, collaboration, and positive social change. Today, Common Ground offers educational programs and workshops that build leadership skills, foster collaboration, and strengthen community capacity; volunteer opportunities; and community resources including a lending library, organizational tools, and a comprehensive referral network. Common Ground Athens is guided by core values of inclusion, collaboration, empowerment, integrity, and accessibility. It operates with transparency and accountability, ensuring that its actions align with its stated mission and values. The organization hosts community events and gatherings throughout the year, designed to be inclusive and welcoming, creating opportunities for meaningful connection across differences. According to its website, it has been serving Athens for over 20 years, with 500+ active volunteers, 30+ partner organizations, and thousands of community members served. It remains a hub for collaboration, education, and community building in Athens, Georgia.

Common Ground Athens was formed in the spring of 2003 as a collaboration between a range of community groups seeking to build a strong foundation for their work for social change. These organizations became its first affiliate groups, which would eventually encompass over two dozen organizations working on issues related to social justice, civil liberties, democracy, peace, gender equity, environmental integrity, sustainability, and community empowerment. In those early years, Common Ground served primarily as a resource center for progressive organizations. It offered shared office space, a lending library of books and films on social change topics, training programs for activists and organizers, and a community calendar that connected residents with events and opportunities across Athens. The founding volunteers brought together diverse perspectives and experiences, united by a common belief that Athens could be a model of progressive community building. Many of these founders were connected to the University of Georgia, while others came from longtime Athens families or had chosen to make Athens their home because of its vibrant culture of civic engagement. Over two decades, Common Ground Athens has been serving the Athens community, evolving to meet the changing needs of the city while remaining true to its founding commitment to connection, collaboration, and positive social change. Its story is one of grassroots organizing, dedicated volunteers, and a shared belief that when people come together around common values, they can accomplish remarkable things. From its earliest days to today, Common Ground has been built by the community, for the community. Today, Common Ground continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of its community while staying true to its founding principles of collaboration, accessibility, and grassroots empowerment. It provides a welcoming space where diverse community members come together to share resources, develop skills, and work toward common goals. The center offers educational programs and workshops that build leadership skills, foster collaboration, and strengthen community capacity; volunteer opportunities; and community resources including a lending library, organizational tools, and a comprehensive referral network. It hosts community events and gatherings throughout the year, designed to be inclusive and welcoming, creating opportunities for meaningful connection across differences. According to its website, Common Ground Athens has been serving Athens for over 20 years, with 500+ active volunteers, 30+ partner organizations, and thousands of community members served.

• 2023

  Common Ground Athens celebrates over 20 years of serving the Athens community.

• 2010

  By this time, affiliate groups encompass over two dozen organizations working on social justice, civil liberties, democracy, peace, gender equity, environmental integrity, sustainability, and community empowerment.

• 2003

  Common Ground Athens is formed in the spring as a collaboration between community groups.

• 2003

  Begins serving as a resource center for progressive organizations, offering shared office space, lending library, training programs, and community calendar.

A grassroots community resource center and hub for collaboration, education, and community building in Athens, Georgia.

• Community resource center

• Educational programs and workshops

• Volunteer opportunities

• Lending library

• Organizational support

• Referral network

• Community events

1. 1Common Ground Athens - Community Resource Centercommongroundathens.org
2. 2Our History in Athens - Common Ground Athenscommongroundathens.org
3. 3About Common Ground Athens - Community Resource Centercommongroundathens.org
4. 4Common Ground Athenswikidata.org