Rooted in Common Ground

From the start, Common Ground has broken new ground. In the late 1980s, community members came together to connect city residents to the natural world, grow healthy food in our community, and change the way we educate our children.

In 1997, NHEP took responsibility for 20 acres of abandoned city parkland located in one of the city’s lowest-income neighborhoods. Our founders worked with community members to remove dozens of truckloads of illegally dumped garbage and acres of invasive species to reclaim this site as a community resource. On this site, NHEP has created three linked programs, all engaging and responding to the needs of community residents: Common Ground High School (CGHS), a community Environmental Education Center and a regenerative Urban Farm.

They planted the state's oldest community farm and launched a wide array of community programs: including a summer camp, green jobs opportunities, after school programs and workshops for adults. Later that year, they opened the nation's first environmental charter high school, Common Ground High School, which is now a leader among the 300+ environmental public schools across the country.Common Ground started with people planting the seeds of change, educating tomorrow’s leaders, and cultivating a strong community. Common Ground was founded by city residents, and its commitment to the community has remained steady since.

Common Ground has turned an illegal dump into the learning environment our students deserve, grown from 60 to 220 students, and worked to build and improve a school model that helps our diverse student body grow and meet high standards.