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Media Credit: Justin Coleman About 140 students gathered at the Midwest Airlines Center on Sunday to commemorate he launch of the organization Southeastern Common Ground, a group that brings together communities within the city. [Click to enlarge]

• Common Ground Founding Convention was Sunday at Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center


• New organization bringing together local organizations to address socioeconomic issues


• About 140 Marquette students, faculty and staff attended


• Marquette for Common Ground pledged membership

About 140 students, faculty and staff were among the more than 2,300 Milwaukee area attendees at the Common Ground Founding Convention Sunday at Milwaukee's Midwest Airlines Center.

The ceremony announced and officially launched the new organization, Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground. The organization brings together local religious institutions, community groups and labor and business organizations to address the area's socioeconomic issues.

Civic, government and religious leaders from across the Milwaukee area attended, including Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm, and state senators and representatives. More than 57 organizations were represented, including Marquette for Common Ground, the university's chapter.

Civic leaders spoke on uniting Milwaukee and building community, telling anecdotes of crime, a poor health care system and scarce jobs.

About 50 religious, health and civic groups came forward to make membership commitments at the ceremony by saying, "We want to be a member of Common Ground."

Members of Common Ground must commit to creating a team of three to 20 people and must pay annual dues of $500 to $15,000, based on group size.

Among those who came forward was College of Arts & Sciences sophomore Kate Novotny. Novotny pledged membership on behalf of Marquette for Common Ground.

Continued...

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Published: 4/15/08 Section: News

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