Common Ground Media
@commongroundmedia.bsky.social
Vital journalism moving communities forward. Because progress starts when we find common ground.
FromCommonGround.com
Part of the Issue Media Group network of publications
FromCommonGround.com
Part of the Issue Media Group network of publications
As events on the national stage seem to spin out of control, an antidote to the chaos is connecting with neighbors to get something done on the local level.
This inclusive Cincinnati neighborhood thrives on people power – Soapbox
Grassroots organizations like NEST provide neighbors with the civic muscle and voice to create the kind of places they want to live in.
soapboxmedia.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:58 PM
As events on the national stage seem to spin out of control, an antidote to the chaos is connecting with neighbors to get something done on the local level.
A partnership between Northern Michigan University’s Engineering Technology Department and three area companies is strengthening Marquette’s position as a center of medical device manufacturing in the Midwest.
How NMU’s ‘Work Scholars’ program is helping power Marquette’s medical device manufacturing boom – UPword
The university’s Work Scholars program provides a pipeline for students to earn a specialized engineering degree or certificate while gaining paid, hands-on industry experience before graduation.
upwordmichigan.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:23 PM
A partnership between Northern Michigan University’s Engineering Technology Department and three area companies is strengthening Marquette’s position as a center of medical device manufacturing in the Midwest.
Reposted by Common Ground Media
" Across rural America and urban centers alike, immigrants are there for each other—sharing information about ICE activity, accompanying neighbors to appointments, and maintaining the bonds of trust that help communities survive." barnraisingmedia.com/networks-of-...
Networks of Care: How Rural Immigrants Build Community
In today’s climate of intensified immigration enforcement, mutual aid networks take on new urgency for rural immigrant communities.
barnraisingmedia.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:04 PM
" Across rural America and urban centers alike, immigrants are there for each other—sharing information about ICE activity, accompanying neighbors to appointments, and maintaining the bonds of trust that help communities survive." barnraisingmedia.com/networks-of-...
Reposted by Common Ground Media
“It's about King. He had a dream, and slowly but surely his dream is coming together, and it’s going to live out in all histories,” runner Ashton Young said.
buff.ly/2A9zYN4
buff.ly/2A9zYN4
Photos: DeSoto County Unity Walk Volunteers, Runners Carry MLK’s Torch
Volunteers in DeSoto County arrange a unity-themed 5k on MLK Day every January whose proceeds benefit local students and other charitable causes.
www.mississippifreepress.org
January 20, 2026 at 7:54 PM
“It's about King. He had a dream, and slowly but surely his dream is coming together, and it’s going to live out in all histories,” runner Ashton Young said.
buff.ly/2A9zYN4
buff.ly/2A9zYN4
Some good news via our sister publication in Tampa Bay: when completed, the Green Spine will be a nearly 3.5-mile, two-lane, protected bike route that connects neighborhoods *and* links up to the community's expanded riverwalk.
Tampa's Green Spine reaches final phase of construction – 83 Degrees Media
After a decade building it section by section, Tampa's Green Spine cycle track is nearing completion. After a decade building it section by section, Tampa's Green Spine cycle track is nearing completi...
83degreesmedia.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Some good news via our sister publication in Tampa Bay: when completed, the Green Spine will be a nearly 3.5-mile, two-lane, protected bike route that connects neighborhoods *and* links up to the community's expanded riverwalk.
“We envision a future where the internet is a public commons. Our goal is to help communities design and govern their own digital ecosystems.” -CommunityInternet Executive Director Dr. Ron Suarez
Ann Arbor foundation seeks to expand community-owned broadband networks – Concentrate
CommunityInternet, an initiative of the Ann Arbor-based Broadband Institute Foundation, is expanding community-owned broadband in Ann Arbor through a partnership with fiber internet provider 123Net an...
concentratemedia.com
January 20, 2026 at 7:23 PM
“We envision a future where the internet is a public commons. Our goal is to help communities design and govern their own digital ecosystems.” -CommunityInternet Executive Director Dr. Ron Suarez
Reposted by Common Ground Media
From symphony performances to art exhibitions, shared outings give older people and students a vital dose of social medicine. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/hamburg-combats-loneliness-culture-buddies/
How Hamburg Combats Loneliness With 'Culture Buddies'
From symphony performances to art exhibitions, shared outings give older people and students a vital dose of social medicine.
reasonstobecheerful.world
January 15, 2026 at 7:25 PM
From symphony performances to art exhibitions, shared outings give older people and students a vital dose of social medicine. https://reasonstobecheerful.world/hamburg-combats-loneliness-culture-buddies/
Wheel the World helps travelers find accessible hotels, restaurants, and activities. Kalamazoo, which installed the nation's first cub cut in 1945 to help disabled WWII veterans, recently secured its spot on Wheel the World's list of verified-accessible destinations.
Here's how, and what it means:
Here's how, and what it means:
Wheel the World puts Kalamazoo on the map for accessible travel – Second Wave
Wheel the World’s accessibility audit has positioned Kalamazoo as a national leader in inclusive travel, benefiting both visitors and local residents.
secondwavemedia.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:11 PM
Wheel the World helps travelers find accessible hotels, restaurants, and activities. Kalamazoo, which installed the nation's first cub cut in 1945 to help disabled WWII veterans, recently secured its spot on Wheel the World's list of verified-accessible destinations.
Here's how, and what it means:
Here's how, and what it means:
Over three decades since the ADA’s adoption, certain parts of daily life for those with disabilities remain difficult due to infrastructure that has not yet been updated, including sidewalks and intersections. Here's how some communities are gathering critical data to inform updates:
Can volunteer walk audits fix data gaps for accessible pedestrian infrastructure? – Common Ground
With thousands of intersections to manage and limited staff, cities face a data challenge. Volunteer walk audits may offer a way to fill in the gaps.
fromcommonground.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Over three decades since the ADA’s adoption, certain parts of daily life for those with disabilities remain difficult due to infrastructure that has not yet been updated, including sidewalks and intersections. Here's how some communities are gathering critical data to inform updates:
Our sister pub The Hub Springfield is honored to be part of a team reporting on the true, vital impact of the Haitian community in Springfield, OH:
@thehaitiantimes.bsky.social @newmarkjplus.bsky.social
@thehaitiantimes.bsky.social @newmarkjplus.bsky.social
Eight Journalists Win Investigative Reporting Grants from Newmark J-School - Newmark J-School
Eight veteran journalists have been named the latest recipients of the McGraw Fellowship for Business Journalism.
www.journalism.cuny.edu
January 14, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Our sister pub The Hub Springfield is honored to be part of a team reporting on the true, vital impact of the Haitian community in Springfield, OH:
@thehaitiantimes.bsky.social @newmarkjplus.bsky.social
@thehaitiantimes.bsky.social @newmarkjplus.bsky.social
🌱 Students in this new program are getting their hands dirty—and preparing for the green jobs of the future.
Ypsi schools' new agriscience/botany program has students developing green thumbs – Concentrate
From planting an orchard to using photographs of plants for a postcard charity project, students in Ypsilanti Community Schools' new career and technical education program are getting their hands dirt...
concentratemedia.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:52 PM
🌱 Students in this new program are getting their hands dirty—and preparing for the green jobs of the future.
The city of Houghton, the city of Ironwood, and the village of Baraga are taking steps to upgrade their water systems:
Three U.P. communities, three water projects – UPword
Houghton, Ironwood and Baraga benefit from grants from the Michigan Strategic Fund’s Community Development Block Grant.
upwordmichigan.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The city of Houghton, the city of Ironwood, and the village of Baraga are taking steps to upgrade their water systems:
"Research consistently shows that music strengthens neural pathways, improves memory, enhances mood, and builds social connection. Experts point to the benefits of music for mental health, cognitive resilience, and social connection, areas where many adults report gaps."
Community Strings helps adults reconnect, strengthen minds, build musical community – The Lakeshore
Adult musicians rediscover connection, cognitive benefits, and joy through Holland Community Strings, a welcoming ensemble offering low-pressure learning and community outreach. Adult musicians redisc...
thelakeshorewm.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:20 PM
"Research consistently shows that music strengthens neural pathways, improves memory, enhances mood, and builds social connection. Experts point to the benefits of music for mental health, cognitive resilience, and social connection, areas where many adults report gaps."
From our friends at @planetdetroit.org: "The project aims to reduce isolation, foster solidarity, and create visible spaces of mourning and resistance."
Social worker, artist honor Southwest Detroit’s grief over deportations with community altars
Theresa Beckley-Amaya and Julianna Sanromán's project addresses grief and separation fears from immigration enforcement in Southwest Detroit.
planetdetroit.org
January 13, 2026 at 4:17 PM
From our friends at @planetdetroit.org: "The project aims to reduce isolation, foster solidarity, and create visible spaces of mourning and resistance."
Reposted by Common Ground Media
"In this moment of cascading climate shocks, adaptation looks more like a mangrove than a sea wall built out of concrete: nurturing the capacities, ties, and institutions that allow people and places to bend without breaking."
Climate Adaptation Means Building Social Infrastructure (SSIR)
Resilience to climate change is less about building walls than cultivating the social capacities for people to navigate uncertainty with agency, solidarity, and security.
ssir.org
January 12, 2026 at 7:40 PM
"In this moment of cascading climate shocks, adaptation looks more like a mangrove than a sea wall built out of concrete: nurturing the capacities, ties, and institutions that allow people and places to bend without breaking."
Independent restaurants provide accessible jobs, anchor blocks in transition, and shape neighborhood and cultural identity—but many operate on razor thin margins. Greater Cincinnati has come up with a unique solution: the Chowdown Cares Fund.
Read more in our sister pub, @soapboxcincy.bsky.social:
Read more in our sister pub, @soapboxcincy.bsky.social:
When the safety net vanishes for independent restaurants, community steps forward with Chowdown Cares – Soapbox
In this environment, even a brief disruption can threaten a small restaurant’s ability to stay open.
soapboxmedia.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Independent restaurants provide accessible jobs, anchor blocks in transition, and shape neighborhood and cultural identity—but many operate on razor thin margins. Greater Cincinnati has come up with a unique solution: the Chowdown Cares Fund.
Read more in our sister pub, @soapboxcincy.bsky.social:
Read more in our sister pub, @soapboxcincy.bsky.social:
Reposted by Common Ground Media
The rising popularity and success of women’s sports in England is shattering chauvinist conventions around what professional athletics should look like. #sports #women #england www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe...
Women’s sports are winning big in England, on and off the field
The rising popularity and success of women’s sports in England is shattering chauvinist conventions around what professional athletics should look like.
www.csmonitor.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
The rising popularity and success of women’s sports in England is shattering chauvinist conventions around what professional athletics should look like. #sports #women #england www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe...
Reposted by Common Ground Media
AJP-supported The LA Local is live — one of the largest locally-led philanthropic efforts in the country to grow #localnews. Built by and for Angelenos, it’s expanding local reporting capacity across L.A., with a focus on 10 under-covered neighborhoods.
The LA Local: Your neighborhood, our city.
The LA Local is a nonprofit news organization in Los Angeles dedicated to community-centered journalism.
thelalocal.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:29 PM
AJP-supported The LA Local is live — one of the largest locally-led philanthropic efforts in the country to grow #localnews. Built by and for Angelenos, it’s expanding local reporting capacity across L.A., with a focus on 10 under-covered neighborhoods.
Looking for meaningful local stories out of Flint? Read editor Xzavier Simon's letter to his community, and subscribe to Flintside for a year of on-the-ground reporting, op-eds, columns, and first-person perspectives on issues like education, housing, health, transportation, youth, and biz:
A Letter to Flint: Where Flintside Is Headed in 2026 – Flintside
Flintside heads into 2026 rooted in truth, community, and honest local journalism.
flintside.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Looking for meaningful local stories out of Flint? Read editor Xzavier Simon's letter to his community, and subscribe to Flintside for a year of on-the-ground reporting, op-eds, columns, and first-person perspectives on issues like education, housing, health, transportation, youth, and biz:
Reposted by Common Ground Media
That box garden you just walked by or on the front of your house once played a surprising role in urban renewal — thanks to women.
How “Window Box Activism” Shaped Philly
That box garden you just walked by or on the front of your house was more than decor — women were once engaged in "window box activism"
thephiladelphiacitizen.org
January 7, 2026 at 11:02 PM
That box garden you just walked by or on the front of your house once played a surprising role in urban renewal — thanks to women.
Reposted by Common Ground Media
Kennedy Heights Art Center exhibition offers grief a place to surface and process 58 local artists approach loss as an environment, in spaces people learn to live inside. soapboxmedia.com?p=37982
January 8, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Kennedy Heights Art Center exhibition offers grief a place to surface and process 58 local artists approach loss as an environment, in spaces people learn to live inside. soapboxmedia.com?p=37982
For decades, Fair Oaks Park has been a cornerstone of the East Tampa community. Children played, neighbors gathered, and generations built memories. But time took its toll on the aging community center building, and the City of Tampa needed a larger, modern facility to meet the community need:
Fair Oaks Community Center: A significant investment in East Tampa – 83 Degrees Media
City makes significant investment in East Tampa with new Fair Oaks Community Center. City makes significant investment in East Tampa with new Fair Oaks Community Center.
83degreesmedia.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:11 PM
For decades, Fair Oaks Park has been a cornerstone of the East Tampa community. Children played, neighbors gathered, and generations built memories. But time took its toll on the aging community center building, and the City of Tampa needed a larger, modern facility to meet the community need:
Michigan reports record-breaking prekindergarten enrollment this year. Classrooms like this show what that growth looks like at the local level and how expanded access to preschool is changing early education:
As PreK for All enrollment rises, Allegan County classrooms see results – The Lakeshore
Statewide pre-K growth mirrors Allegan County gains, as educators report stronger kindergarten readiness and reduced barriers for families. Statewide pre-K growth mirrors Allegan County gains, as educ...
thelakeshorewm.com
January 7, 2026 at 2:56 PM
Michigan reports record-breaking prekindergarten enrollment this year. Classrooms like this show what that growth looks like at the local level and how expanded access to preschool is changing early education:
Reposted by Common Ground Media
Taxpayers in one county in Florida overwhelmingly voted in support of a new tax hike after they found out it was going towards local teachers.
These taxpayers overwhelmingly voted for a tax hike. It went toward boosting teacher paychecks
Taxpayers in one county in Florida overwhelmingly voted in support of a new tax hike after they found out it was going towards local teachers.
www.goodgoodgood.co
January 6, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Taxpayers in one county in Florida overwhelmingly voted in support of a new tax hike after they found out it was going towards local teachers.
When one social worker noticed that parents of children with special needs often felt alone, she helped create a playgroup designed for these families.
A year later, that playgroup has become a community of understanding and friendship.
A year later, that playgroup has become a community of understanding and friendship.
Allegan Area ESA playgroup connects families through shared challenges – The Lakeshore
An Allegan Area ESA social worker created a playgroup uniting families of young children with disabilities for connection, inclusion, and support. An Allegan Area ESA social worker created a playgroup...
thelakeshorewm.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:19 PM
When one social worker noticed that parents of children with special needs often felt alone, she helped create a playgroup designed for these families.
A year later, that playgroup has become a community of understanding and friendship.
A year later, that playgroup has become a community of understanding and friendship.