The concern is that pantry clients cannot fully access the new location by bus and by foot – there is no bus stop in front of the new location and there is no sidewalk on the side of the street where the pantry is located.

Before we begin to apporach those who are in position of power at the bus company and the city, we need to gather appropriate information on this issue.  If you are interested in helping do some on-the-ground or on-the-computer/phone research, join us on Tuesday, June 8 from 4 to 5 PM at 1301 Sentry Dr. (just off Sunset Dr. in Waukesha).

We received updates on the Faces of Foreclosure Campaign, Health Care Insurance Co-op and elected new Strategy Team members whose biographies follow:

Eileen Asbell - A native of Upstate New York, Eileen has been a member of St. Michael’s Congregation since moving to Milwaukee in 1985.  She has served the parish in a variety of paid and volunteer positions and is currently completing a three plus year commitment on parish council.  Her professional training and work experience is in education.  After spending ten years in MPS, she is now working with the 5/6 unit at Woodlands School.  She has been involved with Common Ground for over two years, serving on the Youth Jobs and Communications teams.  Eileen and her husband Paul live on Milwaukee’s west side and have two adult children.

Frank Finch III – Frank is the financial secretary for Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church .  He spent four years in the marine corp and is a Vietnam Vet where he served two years.  Frank worked fifteen years with the Milwaukee County Transit and two years with MPS as a psych service aide.  Frank is married to Sherry and has three children, Denzil, Joyce and Keith.  Frank has been a Sherman Park homeowner for 28 years.

Susan Giaimo - Sue is a political scientist at Marquette University, where she teaches and researches on comparative public policy and health policy in particular.  She has long wanted to use her knowledge and interests beyond academia to help the community she lives in.  She is a native Milwaukeean, though lived in other cities and countries for over a decade until moving back here in 2003.  She now lives in Wauwatosa with her husband and son.  Since her return, she has seen stark changes in the Milwaukee area – some good, some bad – and wanted to get involved with others interested in the community.  So for the past three years she has been a part of Common Ground through her church, St. Catherine’s Parish of Milwaukee.  Sue serves on the Common Ground core team at St. Catherine’s and the Common Ground health research committee.  But she would like to deepen her commitment to Common Ground to work with others on issues that matter to our members and our neighbors.   The Strategy Team would give her the chance to do this.

Jim Gramentine - Jim has been a member of St. Paul’s Church (Episcopal) on the near east side since 1987, though he lives in Mequon. At church he has served as junior and senior warden and chaired the outreach committee for several years, stepping down in June 2009 to concentrate on coordinating the Common Ground Core Team. Retired from a long career of teaching history and administration in independent schools, including University School of Milwaukee, he has in recent years been active in and chaired the board of the national Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Dorota Pruski - Dorota has been active in Common Ground since graduating from Marquette in 2006, when she began a year-long internship working for the organization.  Not only has her involvement enabled her to pursue her passion for social justice, but it also led Dorota to St. James’ Episcopal Church, where she is an active member and current leader of the core team.  She has also participated in the IAF National Training, Common Ground U, and was co-leader of the initial housing issue campaign.  Dorota lives and works in a freshman dorm on Marquette’s campus, serving as a Residence Hall Minister.

In support of CG’s Faces of Foreclosure campaign, Rep.  Jon Richards has introduced a bill in the state legislature that would prohibit the state from doing business with any bank that holds more than 100 homes that are in foreclosure in the state.

On Tuesday February 16th Common Ground will go to Madison to meet with our representatives and other state officials to ask for their support of this bill.

If you are CG member and are able to join us please send us an Email

We’ll meet at a central location by 9 a.m., (Location TBD) and take a bus together.  During the trip, we’ll be briefed on whom we’re meeting with and what we’re asking for.

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, 100 Common Ground members spread out across the city as part of a photographic survey of bank owned foreclosed houses in Milwaukee.  The nearly 500 photographs gathered speak graphically to the blighting effect on our community of economic challenge and unscrupulous, predatory lending.  De-briefing conversations of the photo survey revealed that while some houses have already been resold and rehabilitation has started, many others still sit boarded up – and unphotographed.  Common Ground is now looking to organize a follow-up shoot focusing on areas of heavier foreclosure saturation.  Saturday’s action is a first step in addressing the banks responsibility regarding their property and its impact on neighborhoods.

Common Ground’s Founding Convention was held April 13, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You can see the video in 2 parts by clicking here for part 1, and here for part 2.

For any interested in learning more abou the Common Ground effort in Waukesha please contact Carol Treadwell.

In addition, Common Ground U will be held in October at St. Anthony on the Lake.  We encourage Core Team members from our western suburbs to attend.  Common Ground U is a nine hour curriculum focused on helping strengthen the volunteer leadership of your organization and teaching people the skills for public life.

If you are aware of congregations and organizations in Waukesha County who might be interested in membership of Common Ground, please email us with contact information, Email

Other neighborhood issues also emerged from the conversations (traffic patterns, problem corner stores, drug use and distribution), and they are currently being researched by the Greater New Birth/Immanuel Presbyterian Action Team.  In an effort to create relationships and develop strategies to solve these problems, team members continue to meet with Common Council members, community leaders, assitance organizations, and police officials.