Common Ground Collective

Election season is upon us! Today is the first day voters can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot for the November Midterm Election.

Apply here: https://chicagoelections.gov/voting/vote-mail

Meet Common Ground Collective (CGC)!

We’re a Chicago-based organization working to educate voters, elevate community voices, and advance practical policies that strengthen every neighborhood.

Swipe through to learn who we are, what we stand for, and why the future is local.

Follow along to join the conversation.

Independence Day is an opportunity to reflect on the values that bring communities together: participation, responsibility, and service.
Across Chicago, residents strengthen neighborhoods every day by volunteering, mentoring young people, supporting local organizations, and engaging in civic life.
At CGC, we believe strong communities are built when people stay involved and work together to solve problems. We wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Too many Chicago communities know the impact of gun violence firsthand.

Gun Violence Awareness Month is a reminder that public safety conversations cannot stop at headlines or election cycles. Residents deserve long-term investment in the things that help neighborhoods thrive: strong schools, youth programs, mental health resources, economic opportunity, and violence prevention efforts that meet communities where they are.

Building a safer Chicago requires sustained commitment, partnership, and leadership willing to focus on real solutions.

Chicago has always been a city shaped by generations of newcomers bringing new ideas, cultures, businesses, and traditions to neighborhoods across the city.

During Immigrant Heritage Month, we recognize the many ways immigrant communities continue contributing to Chicago’s civic, cultural, and economic life every day.
Chicago’s history is inseparable from the communities that continue helping it grow and evolve today. Learn more through the Chicago History Museum:

Home - Chicago History Museum A museum & research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum is a place for learning, inspiration & civic engagement.

Last month, CGC joined families at Telpochcalli Elementary’s Día De Los Niños celebration to talk about why staying engaged in Chicago’s upcoming school board elections matters.

It’s simple: Chicago families deserve an independent school board that is focused on students.

Earlier this year, CGC was proud to support for their Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance, bringing together more than 100 fathers and daughters for an evening of games, activities, mentorship, and community connection.

We are proud to support organizations like Mr. Dad’s Father’s Club that play an important role in strengthening communities by creating spaces where young people feel supported, families feel connected and fathers are encouraged to stay actively engaged in their children’s lives.

Chicago’s LGBTQ+ communities have helped shape our city’s neighborhoods, culture and public life for generations.

This Pride Month, we celebrate the history of Chicago’s Pride Parade and the LGBTQ+ advocates, organizers and community leaders who helped build a more inclusive city for all.

At CGC, we believe communities are stronger when every resident feels safe, respected and connected to opportunity — and we recognize the ongoing contributions LGBTQ+ Chicagoans make to our city every day.

Learn more about the history of Chicago Pride: https://pridechicago.org/parade-history/

This spring, CGC was proud to partner with Elevate 2 Educate and District 10A Board Member Che “Rhymefest” Smith for the Building Futures Series — a set of conversations focused on college and career readiness and expanding access to HBCUs for Chicago students.

Strong communities are built when students have access to information, mentorship, and pathways to opportunity. Partnerships like these help connect young people and families with the resources needed to prepare for the future, and we’re proud to support this work!

As the school year comes to a close, it’s a reminder of how much students, families, and educators carry throughout the year.
It’s also a reminder that outcomes don’t just happen in the classroom.
In Chicago, the role of the school board, city leadership, and broader policy decisions is to make sure students have the support, stability, and resources they need to succeed.
Showing up for students has to be consistent all year round. It’s why we stay engaged in the policies shaping student success across Chicago. Join us at cgcollective.org