Skip to main content

Common Ground Records

 Collection
Identifier: DC056

Scope and Contents

Series Description: The collection consists of minutes of both public meetings and the Executive Council, as well as the Community Relations Task Force. Also included are agendas, correspondence, and email correspondence. Additionally, the collection includes records from the Mediation Committee, SWAT, Committee for Affordable Housing, and the Drug and Alcohol Committee, publicity files, news clippings, copies of an annotated bibliography on race relations prepared by Heather Baker, Jim Smith, and John Thornbury as a class project, town of Davidson information compiled by Common Ground members, and a Lake Norman Resources Guide compiled in part by Americorps workers for Common Ground and the YMCA. The Bylaws of Davidson Common Ground Inc., draft articles of incorporation, and financial records are also included. The Community Relations Task Force files for 1998 include materials from the town of Davidson's "It Takes a Village" meetings. These meetings were held in the wake of the shooting deaths of a police officer and a local teenager. It also contains the 1973 town ordinance for the Mayor's Committee on Community Relations. There are also 3 audiocassettes of Common Ground meetings dealing with town history. The tapes are housed with the Oral Histories and Interviews Record Group (RG19) under RG19-06, Common Ground oral history and interview collection. The Common Ground flag is stored with the Artifact Collection and is number A330. Arrangement: The collection is organized by group or committee, and then further subdivided into correspondence, email correspondence, minutes, and agendas as applicable. Publicity and newsclippings are arranged chronologically where possible. Not all meeting minutes or agendas are present. The Community Relations Task Force folders contain ancillary materials that include the Community Relations Task Force Strategic Plan, notes from a presentation to the Davidson Town Council, membership lists, "An Ordinance to Provide for the Mayor's Committee on Community Relations and to Establish Its Powers and Procedures," and a draft of the CRTF mission statement. The Executive Council file contains ancillary materials including the Common Ground Board job description, contact lists, and executive board activities notes. The Common Ground file contains ancillary materials including activities lists, mailing lists, interest surveys, committee listings, and rules for conflict resolution.

Dates

  • Creation: 1995 - 2003

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Common Ground was formed in August 1995. The purpose of this grass-roots organization is to promote communication and understanding and improve relations among people of all races in Davidson. Activities of the group include hosting monthly public meetings, organizing cross-town block parties, hosting candidate forums during election years and providing mediation services. A part of Common Ground, the Community Relations Task Force was formed at the request of Mayor Randall Kincaid. Originally a town committee, Common Ground took over the responsibilities of the re-formed Community Relations Task Force in 2001. The CRTF's objective was to serve as the "eyes and ears" of the community and bring any issues or concerns to the Mayor and Town Council. The town's "It Takes a Village Campaign" was the predecessor to the new Community Relations Task Force.

Extent

.83 Linear Feet ( 2 boxes)

Language

English

Physical Location

Carrel Storage

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Records donated by members of the group, including David Martin and Jan Blodgett

Related Materials

Common Ground oral history and interview collection (RG19-06). The interviews and meeting records in RG19-06 chronicle the work of Common Ground and the challenges they worked to overcome.

Processing Information

Processed on Oct-05

Title
Common Ground Records
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository