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PRESENTED BY II# GREATER AUGUSTA ARTS COUNCIL
September 14-16, 2007
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Augusta Common & Surrounding
Historic Downtown Augusta, GA
Children 10 &
under - Free
Weekend $
Badges Only:
No Pets/No Coders
lawn Cham 01
Shaken ate
Official Hotel:
Microtel Inns & Suites
Call 706-481-8010 for Festival Ratesl
Grab A Taste of the World
in Downtown Augusta, Georgia!
- Large Global Food Village
w/ethnic food
- Featured Group: Ireland
- 4 Stages of nonstop
entertainment
- Fine Arts & Crafts Market
- Literary Tent
- International Bazaar
- FREE Hands-on Children’s Area
-ART45
- Southern Beer Garden
- Young Artists Market (Uyrs. & under)
- NEW: Horse & Carriage Parade
Earth Fare
««rk«l • (if*
Energy
Solutions
j^KOEY
BKVOOttT GROUP NC.
COMMON GROUND ATHENS
First off, let me address the question that
may already be on your mind: What is Common
Ground? I'd like to begin by stating what it is
not: Common Ground is not a coffee shop in his
toric Cobbham; it is not a relief network in the
Gulf Coast region or a music festival in Lansing,
Michigan (thanks, Google!); it is not a purveyor
of partisan politics; a radio program; or a vague
"nexus" of some kind. These days, Common
Ground serves as Athens' all-encompassing pro
gressive resource center;
in other words, it's a non
profit organization work
ing for broad-reaching
social change on a grass-
rpots, community level.
I know, it's a mouthful.
But mostly it's a group
of committed and caring
individuals located in
and around Athens, who apply their individual
ideas and talents to the task of creating a more
unified and diverse activist network in our often
transient town. It's organic, ever-changing and
always dynamic. So, how does it work?
Common Ground sprang to life in the spring
of 2003 with the help of a small group of Athens
residents and students, whose ideas about pro
gressive social change were crafted into a com
mon goal: to create a centralized hub, an um
brella organization if you will, bringing together
Athens' diverse set of groups and individuals
interested in various forms of social activism.
The idea was to connect as many organizations
and people as possible, to create a web of sup
port, and to strengthen the activist movement
here at home.
create a new vision for Athens and its network
of activists. That's by becoming a volunteer,
sustainer-member, one-time donor, affiliated
group, business supporter, mover-shaker-thinker-
doer... or some combination of the above. By
joining Common Ground, you join forces with an
organization whose sum really is greater than its
parts. If you're interested in social and progres
sive change, but unsure of where to start, we
can plug you into a network of our local affiliate
organizations whose in
terests range from animal
rights to people on bikes
to pirate radio to river
preservation and euuca-
tion, economic justice,
cooperative shopping,
green living, feeding
the hungry and more.
Individuals can join as
members or simply volunteer their time to any
one of the forward-thinking causes associated
with the resource center.
Some more examples? The still-young local
volunteer group Free IT Athens, which started
up last year, conducts its training sessions and
keeps open hours at Common Ground three times
a week, in addition to building and maintaining
our technology center. Food Not Bombs utilizes
our kitchen multiple times each week, and in
turn, provides food for many of Common Ground's
events. Other affiliates of ours use the space for
their own special events, and keep us updated
on the latest happenings within their organiza
tions, so that we can provide support in the form
of volunteers or publicity. These are just a few
examples of how Common Ground seeks to create
The idea was to connect as
many organizations and people
as possible, to create a web of
support, and to strengthen the
activist movement here at home
The early founders' vision for the organiza
tion was this: Common Ground would be housed
in a physical space, which would offer meet
ing areas, a technology center, printers, copy
machines, etc., a radical lending library for
members to utilize, an interactive website and
online event calendar, a communal kitchen and
more. It would offer training on a variety of top
ics; from non-profit development to backyard
composting. Common Ground has done those
things these past few years, but let's not forget
the fun stuff! It has also hosted three success
ful "Interdependence Day" celebrations (on or
near July 4, of course), movie nights, potlucks, a
Chinese New Year party, a kick-ball tournament,
baby showers....
However, without new members, affiliate
groups and local business endorsements to lend
support and strengthen ties, Common Ground
runs the risk of becoming stagnant. We need
fresh ideas and a new batch of inspired and
committed individuals to stir things up a bit, to
unity and cooperation within the Athens progres
sive community.
If you are in a group that's looking to in
crease its visibility and enhance ties within
the community, consider becoming an affiliate
of Common Ground. In this revolving door of a
town, we hope to create a lasting impression,
and we need you to contribute your time, skills
and ideas to see that our vision for a more cohe
sive and effective social and progressive move
ment is one that has staying power, which will
in turn influence future generations of Athens
activists. No matter what your interests, there is
a place for you at Common Ground.
Liberty Newberry
liberty Newberry is a member of the Board of Trustees
of Common Ground Athens, which is holding its annual
meeting at Little Kings on Sept. 13,6:30-9 p.m. To learn
more, visit www.commongroundathens.org, call 706-548-
6011, or drop by at 157 N Newton St.
8 FLAGP0LE.C0M • SEPTEMBER 12,2007 NEWS & FEATURES I ARTS & EVENTS I MOVIES I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS