Common Ground organizers, along with our leaders and clergy, continue to listen to how people and institutions are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are listening for patterns across our member institutions and looking for opportunities to act together to further the common good and protect the most vulnerable. 

EXTERNAL

Education During COVID-19

After hearing from several teachers, parents and concerned community members, we organized a CG Education Team to research how Milwaukee Public Schools and other schools are providing services to students and families during this crisis. As many suburban, private, parochial, and other large urban districts implement online learning, we want to make sure MPS kids are not left behind. We have been doing conference-call and video-call meetings with decision-makers to push for

1. All MPS teachers call their students and families to see if they're ok ASAP and find out what students need in order to be able to participate in online learning

2. MPS begins online teaching by May 27 with clear expectations for students and staff district-wide

GOTV

We are still planning to do a big GOTV effort for the November election, even though we had to postpone the 900-person kick-off we had planned for March 29. We are modifying our GOTV plans and testing out software we might use for GOTV and organizing within our member organizations. We are also working to see what can be done to make sure the problems that plagued the April 7 election don’t recur in the November 2020 presidential election.

Public Health

We are organizing a team of doctors and public health professionals to consider replicating a program that trains volunteers to do daily check-in phone calls with COVID 19 patients who have mild symptoms and are told to self-quarantine.

Social Safety Net

Are you or anyone you know, unemployed, laid-off, or working reduced hours because of the COVID-19 crisis? What, if any, are the challenges you’re facing getting unemployment benefits and meeting basic needs, such as food, housing and health care? We are collecting stories and monitoring the situation to see if action should be taken. Contact Jeremy Jones at jeremy.jones@commongroundwi.org to share your story

INTERNAL: Supporting Our Congregations and other Member Institutions

Congregation Finances

We have been helping our congregations weather the financial strain of this crisis.  A number of our clergy and leaders attended online Metro IAF workshops on "Stabilizing and Strengthening Giving During a Crisis" and "Congregational Finances During Uncertain Times." 

There will be another session of "Stabilizing and Strengthening Giving During a Crisis" on Wednesday, April 22 from 11:00 am - 12:15 pm Central Standard Time.  Register here.

We have been helping our congregations apply for forgivable Payroll Protection Program loans, so that they can continue to pay their staffs.

Lead Clergy Meetings

We are holding regular Zoom meetings with CG Pastors and other Clergy to support them and their congregations. 

Cyber Security

One of our churches experienced a racist cyber-attack during their Sunday service.  We helped them learn how to prevent future attacks. Here is an article about "Zoom-bombing" that you may find helpful in protecting your Zoom meetings or services from cyber-attacks.