About Us
Built on the Belief That We Have More in Common Than Not
Common Ground is a social harmony platform connecting educators, youth organizations, and the next generation — because the future belongs to those who build it together.
Our Mission
Why Common Ground Exists
We live in a world that profits from division. Algorithms amplify outrage. Headlines reward conflict. And somewhere in the middle, an entire generation — Gen Z and Gen Alpha — is inheriting a fractured social landscape they didn't create.
Common Ground was built to change that. We believe that when young people are given real spaces to listen, share, and connect across difference, something remarkable happens: they stop seeing each other as threats and start seeing each other as neighbors.
Our platform brings together events, media, community voices, and knowledge from Gen X and Millennial mentors — all in service of one goal: a generation that chooses understanding over division.
Our Vision
A world where the next generation leads with empathy, curiosity, and the confidence that common ground is always findable.
Our Impact So Far
120+
Events Hosted
40K+
Youth Reached
200+
Educators Engaged
35
Cities & Counting
Our Story
How It Started
Common Ground began in 2021 in a high school gymnasium in East Los Angeles. A group of educators, frustrated by the growing social fragmentation they saw in their classrooms, organized a single after-school forum: twelve students from four different neighborhoods, one facilitator, and a simple question — what do you wish the people around you understood about your life?
Three hours later, nobody wanted to leave. Students who had never spoken exchanged numbers. Teachers who had never collaborated planned a follow-up. And the organizers realized they had stumbled onto something that couldn't stay in one gymnasium.
By 2023, Common Ground had expanded to ten cities. By 2025, we had hosted over a hundred events, launched The Bridge Podcast, and built a platform where community voices — not algorithms — set the agenda. We're just getting started.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Radical Listening
We believe listening — real listening, without an agenda — is the most underrated skill of our time. Every Common Ground event is built around it.
Intergenerational Trust
Gen X and Millennials have knowledge. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have vision. We build bridges between them, not walls.
Authentic Representation
We don't tokenize. We don't perform diversity. We build spaces where every voice is genuinely needed and genuinely heard.
Community Over Content
We are not a media company. We are a community that makes media. The difference matters — people first, always.
Action Over Awareness
Awareness without action is just noise. Every program we run is designed to move people from understanding to doing.
Joy as Resistance
In a world that profits from despair, choosing joy and connection is a radical act. We take that seriously.
The People
Who We Are
A small, passionate team of educators, organizers, storytellers, and technologists united by a single belief: that connection changes everything.
Amara Johnson
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Former high school teacher and community organizer with 15 years building youth programs across Los Angeles. Amara hosts The Bridge Podcast and leads our national expansion.
Marcus Torres
Co-Founder & Director of Programs
Community organizer and facilitator who has led over 200 dialogue sessions across the country. Marcus designs every Common Ground event curriculum.
Sofia Reyes
Director of Media & Storytelling
Documentary filmmaker and journalist whose work has appeared in major publications. Sofia leads our video, podcast, and photography programs.
Dr. Priya Nair
Director of Education Partnerships
Former university professor and curriculum designer. Priya builds our relationships with schools, districts, and youth-serving organizations nationwide.
Jordan Kim
Head of Technology
Full-stack engineer and civic tech veteran. Jordan built and maintains the Common Ground platform with a deep commitment to accessibility and privacy.
Destiny Washington
Youth Programs Coordinator
Gen Z herself, Destiny joined Common Ground at 19 as a participant and never left. She now leads our youth ambassador and mentorship programs.
Our Partners
Who Supports This Work
We're grateful to the organizations and institutions that believe in what we're building.
The Harmony Foundation
Lead Funder
National Youth Alliance
Program Partner
Educators Without Borders
Education Partner
The Bridge Fund
Grant Partner
City of Los Angeles — Youth Programs
Government Partner
Pacific Community Trust
Founding Supporter
Ready to Build Common Ground?
Whether you're an educator, a youth organization, a funder, or just someone who believes in this work — there's a place for you here.