Foreclosure Campaign

For information concerning our Foreclosure Campaign please go to our Faces of Foreclosure website. Faces of Foreclosure

Health Care

Plans are still underway for the roll out of the Common Ground sponsored Health Insurance cooperative for small businesses, non-profits, the self-employed and unions.  The timetable is to begin enrollment in April with the insurance effective in June.  Stay tuned for an announcement of the timetable for action.  If you have questions contact Bob Connolly at 414 272-0101 or Email

Sherman Park

The Sherman Park Common Ground Team will be holding a meeting with area neighborhood leaders, St. Joseph Hospital representatives and the Faith-based community at Wheaton-Fransiscan St. Joseph Campus on Monday, March 15th.  We will be setting the focus of the 2010 Spring/Summer Campaign in the Sherman Park area in regards to foreclosed and abandoned homes and general safety issues. Plan to join us from 6:30-8:00pm on Monday, March 15th.

Waukesha County

There has been a growing interest to build a Common Ground presence in Waukesha County and a team has been diligently working on this over the last few months.  They have conducted numerous listening sessions and several more are scheduled for this spring.  Through these listening sessions potential members, leaders and local issues are emerging.  As a way to continue to build on these efforts, and to report on what has transpired to date, Common Ground is holding a gathering for Waukesha County on Tuesday, March 16 from 7:00 to 8:30pm at St. Anthony on the Lake Parish (W280 N2101 Hwy. SS, Pewaukee) Directions 

For more information on what Common Ground is doing in Waukesha County, contact Heather Dummer Combs,  Email or 414-559-6608.

Friends of Common Ground

To date our Friends campaign has raised $163,000 from 57 donors.  Our goal is to get to $300,000. Some 30 potential donors are now being approached.  if you woudl like to contribute and join the campaign contact Bob Connolly at 414 272-0101 or Email

Delegates’ Action

On January 25 in the Alumni Memorial Union at Marquette University we will be holding our Delegates’ Action to launch the Faces of Foreclosure campaign.  The Delegates’ Action will be from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M.

Health Care

The Health Care reform discussions in Washington are impacting our work on the Health Insurance Cooperative.  We expect to be able to roll out the Co-op in March with the insurance in effect in April.  The behind-the-scenes planning for the marketing and administration of the Co-op continues.  Whatever reforms are approved will take two or three years to implement so we expect the Co-op to be operative and strong by the time of implementation and perhaps play a part in whatever the future brings.  We thank everyone for their patience.  We get calls each week about the Co-op.  Small businesses and non-profits are getting 30% – 40% rate increases as Insurance Companies pile up cash.  We expect the next Health Care Team meeting to be in February.

Friends of Common Ground

We continue efforts to raise $300,000 over the next years in order to hire 1 1/2 new organizers to staff Common Ground.  To date we have 50 gift commitments totaling $156,832. There are a number of major gift requests we hope to hear about very soon. Thanks to those who have contributed.  We will be having a thank you gathering for current and future “friends” on February 3 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.  If you would like to make a gift, contact our treasurer, Bob Connolly at 414-272-0101 or bconnolly@jamescompany.com. 

Housing

We have taken pictures of 450 foreclosed homes.  150 people participated in taking these pictures.  We have met with bankers, real estate agents, home rehabbers and community leaders.

We are holding a public hearing on Foreclosed Homes on November 19 at 7:00 pm at the Milwaukee County War Memorial.  Please plan to attend

Health Care

The Health Care reform discussions in Wisconsin are impacting our work on the Health Insurance Cooperative.  We expect to be able to “roll out” the Co-op in January with the insurance in effect in March or April.  The behind-the-scenes planning for the marketing and administration of the Co-op continues.  Whatever reforms are approved will take two or three years to implement so we expect the Co-op to be operative and strong and perhaps play a part in whatever the future brings.  We thank everyone for their patience.  We get calls each week about the Co-op.  Last week a lady called from a non-profit telling us that their rates are to be increased by 42%.  Believable and appalling.

Friends of Common Ground

We continue  efforts to raise $300,000 over the next years in order to hire 1 1/2 new organizers to staff Common Ground.  To date we have 38 gift commitments for $120,732.  There are a number of major gift requests we hope to hear about very soon.  Thanks to those who have contributed.  If you would like to make a gift contact our treasurer, Bob Connolly at 414-272-0101 or bconnolly@jamescompany.com

Youth Jobs

Common Ground leaders have been working closely with the Milwaukee Workforce Investment Board (MAWIB) to develop a strategic plan.  A planing meeting with 17 business and government leaders was held on October 21st to strategize as to how we might get more private sector participation for 2010 Summer Youth Jobs.  Some of the organizations attending were Wisconsin State Fair Park, Pearls for Teen Girls, Palermo’s Pizza, Johnson Controls, GRAEF, Summerfest, Marcus Corporation, and We Energies.

The next Youth Jobs team meeting is December 1 at 7:00 pm. If you are interested in attending please contact Denise Fried at 414-453-8025.

Sherman Park/North Milwaukee

The Sherman Park/North Milwaukee team continued to meet in October with the aldermen from the area to continue work on our list of items.  We are making significant progress with school signs erected, lighting fixed and replaced, and construction at an intersection.  Our next meeting will be with Aldermen Murphy and Hines on November 9th.

Youth Jobs:

Common Ground leaders are working closely with MAWIB to develop a strategic planning session for October 21st where we will bring about 30 business and government leaders together to strategize as to how we might get more private sector participation for 2010 Summer Youth Jobs.

The next meeting of the Youth Jobs team is November 3 at 7:00 pm at Progressive Baptist Church, 8324 W. Keefe Ave., Milwaukee.

Health Care:

The Health Care Committee continues to work with the Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative (WHC) on the final stages in the development of a health cooperative for small businesses, non-profits, unions and the self employed.

We anticipate “rolling out” the Wisconsin Healthcare Cooperative in October.  WHC will conduct a series of information sessions throught the region to enroll people into the Coop during Novemberand December.

 Sherman Park/North Milwaukee:

On Wednesday, September 23, Common Ground Sherman Park/North Milwaukee leaders met with Alderman Wade to discuss their current relationship, ways to build on this relationship, and current issues in the 7th Aldermanic District.  Leaders are scheduled to meet again with Alderman Wade in the coming weeks to check on the progress of issues discussed.

On Monday, October 5, Common Ground Sherman Park leaders conducted a highly productive meeting with Alderman Murphy and City Engineer Bob Bryson.  Common Ground Leaders received an update on actions taken and studies that were done on neighborhood issues.  Most concerns brought to Alderman Murphy’s attention should be taken care of by November by means of work orders and legislation.  This is an ongoing campaign; we will continue to work with the elected officials to improve the Sherman Park, North Milwaukee areas.

The Common Ground Health Care Team of 30 members has been studying the healthcare system in southeastern Wisconsin for the past 18 months. The committee members have conducted over 100 research actions in order to understand how the healthcare system does and does not work.  With approval of the Delegates’ Assembly, the team has worked to develop a Health Insurance Cooperative.  This cooperative will be a member-owned, non-profit business, which will provide health insurance for small businesses, non-profits, the self-employed and unions.  The cooperative is not the answer to health care reform in America, but it is a piece of health care reform. The largest portion of the 47 million uninsured Americans work for small businesses. We call this effort “Health Care Reform – Midwest Style.”

On June 12 INVESTORS.com had an article regarding the difficulties of creating a Health Care Co-op – article.

The Common Ground Health Care Reform Team is working on the development of a Health Insurance Cooperative for small businesses, non-profits, unions and the self-employed.  The Cooperative is getting closer to development.  We are hoping for a July 1 start.  The Committee is now approaching the State of Wisconsin for assistance in finding one time “seed money” to aid in the development of the Cooperative.  May 6th is our next date for visits with State legislators.

Common Ground Health Care Reform Committee is engaged in two potential campaigns to make health insurance more accessible for those who are self employed or work for small businesses or non-profit organizations.  In late January and early February CG will be conducting Information/Listening Sessions throughout the region (see Calendar of Events page.)  If you are interested in participating in the Wisconsin Health Care Cooperative please fill out the intention form and Email