About Us

Gathering Ground logo with tagline Connecting People, Ideas & Action
Executive Director Bridget Phifer presents on Parkside Business and Community in Partnership’s community development strategies in Camden at the Gathering Ground Summit

CHANGEMAKERS
VISIONARIES
CONNECTORS
& INFLUENCERS

Executive Director Bridget Phifer presents on Parkside Business and Community in Partnership’s community development strategies in Camden at the 2017 Gathering Ground Summit

Vertical art piece with shapes and photos of people for the About Us section

We are a multiracial, multicultural, multigenerational and socio-economically diverse movement of people committed to taking action that creates thriving and equitable communities! We are Gathering Ground.

Mission

Gathering Ground fosters community cohesion and collaborative action by bringing together highly-diverse groups of people with varied backgrounds, lived experiences, expertise and influence to amplify community dialogue around critical issues, build and strengthen networks, encourage cross-sector and multi-cultural partnerships and cultivate equitable community-rooted solutions. 

Vision

We envision an equitable and just society where people, organizations and communities:

nurture relationships that bridge race, culture, creed, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, generations, expertise, and socioeconomic circumstances;

feel a deep and abiding bond with each other, embracing the interconnectedness and interdependence of community life;

build a collaborative muscle that fuels resiliency, trust and security;

share access to knowledge, networks, and resources; and

take action that leverages and lifts up leadership, assets, and opportunities present in – and for – the benefit of communities.

We Value

Dialogue & Action
Equity & Access
Connection & Collaboration

10 Years of Connecting People, Ideas & Action

A Powerful Movement
4,550 People & Growing
466 Host Team Member Organizations & Sponsors
18 Communities

Who Have Hosted Calls to Collaboration

PLUS:

Elevating Equity – a statewide learning & action initiative

Communities in Conversation – bi-monthly rapid, think-tank virtual gatherings

Gathering Ground Summits – 9 statewide gatherings and counting

Crisis Briefings –10 week statewide briefings on COVID-19, and other issues

Elizabeth Murphy Portrait
10th Anniversary

We Are Gathering Ground

10 years ago, we asked ourselves key questions about the power of action-oriented dialogue to repair community trust and social cohesion. Then and now, we affirm that decisions should be made by the same people whose lives are affected.

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