Common Ground USA

09/19/2026

That's a wrap on Welcoming Week 2026 — but building communities where immigrants and non-immigrants both belong doesn't end today. Thank you to Welcoming America, our fellow Welcoming Network members, and everyone who shared their story or showed up this week.

09/17/2026

"We the People" have always been building together.

On September 17, 1787, those three words opened a document drafted by people who fundamentally disagreed - about power, about process, and in totality about what kind of country they were building. What made it possible wasn't consensus. It was the discipline to keep working through disagreement toward something durable.

That's the same discipline behind common ground work today. Bridging divides doesn't mean erasing them, it means building the skills, structures, and relationships that let people with real differences keep building together anyway.

Happy Constitution Day from the team at Common Ground USA.

09/15/2026

"It is hard to hate up close."

In Fort Bend County, Texas, neighbors sat down together for Together We Dine — a series hosted across Texas by Common Ground USA and Project Unity. No debates, no campaigning. Just honest conversation and a shared meal.

Check out the full op-ed here 👇

https://bit.ly/4gUOOmc

We can spend another election cycle shouting across the divide, or we can sit down, break bread and begin closing it.

09/14/2026

A welcoming community is a safe one — a place where new Americans aren't just tolerated but genuinely supported, and where everyone feels safe enough to ask questions and be honest with each other. What does that look like where you live?

09/11/2026

On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we pause to remember. We honor the heroes we lost and the survivors forever changed. Their stories are of bravery and unity, and it's on us to carry that spirit forward, for our neighbors and our nation. 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

College and university campuses are microcosms of our democracy. They are spaces of enormous diversity and energy, where people come together to learn and make new discoveries.

This election season, many students are preparing to make their voices heard as first-time voters. Campus leaders, particularly student affairs and civic engagement staff, can do a world of good to equip these new voters with the information and skills they need to understand our elections, express themselves, engage with different perspectives, and navigate any uncertainty this election season.

This Checklist for Election Season on Campus is designed to support higher education leaders - and the students they serve - this fall. It is offered in partnership by , a nonpartisan initiative of for Common Ground to advance belonging and collaboration across differences, the F. Kettering Foundation, a research organization that advances inclusive democracy and advocates for electoral integrity, and the Civic League, a non-profit organization that advances inclusive civic engagement and promotes innovations in democracy to make decision-making more participatory, equitable, and effective.

09/10/2026

Welcoming Week starts today. Launched by , it's a nationwide push to build communities where immigrants and non-immigrants alike feel they belong. This year's theme, The Courage to Connect, is close to our own work: real belonging starts when neighbors — new and longtime — are willing to sit down, listen, and get curious about each other's stories. We're joining in all week. Follow along, and share your story of belonging. Use

09/08/2026

Calling all student journalists! Most student voters will get their election news from campus organizers and local news, including student publications like yours. On Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 PM ET, join Learn Students Vote Coalition and the Journalism Network for a workshop to tell election stories that move young voters to participate. The workshop features three incredible journalists who've partnered with us on Common Ground Journalism: Balta, L. Wong, and Allen. We hope you'll join and build your election coverage toolbox!

09/01/2026

When hurricane season hits New Orleans, it's neighbors who show up first.

At our latest Common Ground Gathering, volunteers from across the city's neighborhoods came together to pack and deliver shelter-in-place kits — making sure seniors have what they need when it matters most.

This is community resilience in action.

Ready to connect with your neighbors and make a difference in your community? Sign up to host your own Common Ground Gathering

08/28/2026

Haven't applied to the Common Ground Action Network yet? Applications for the Fall 2026 cohort close TODAY Friday, August 28th. It's free, it's virtual, and it ends with an opportunity to apply for a $1,500 micro-grant to fund your idea. If you've been on the fence, this is your sign! Apply today, link in bio.