The Joan Gillette Award
The Joan Gillette Award is awarded annually as a cash prize to the Common Ground senior who shows the qualities of an environmental leader/activist in the community.
Joan Gillette was one of the founding teachers and leaders of Common Ground. She co-built and co-taught some of what became the first Common Ground courses – about eggs and seeds, English and science, identity and sustainability – before Common Ground even existed. She was a visionary who could see something beautiful growing in an abandoned lot on Springside Avenue. She planted the first gardens here, and tended them. This place would not exist, or be what it is today, without her.
In 2017, the Gillette family launched a permanent fund that will provide a cash award to honor Joanie’s vision and foresight that shaped Common Ground’s values and led to Common Ground’s growth and to reward urban environmental leadership development at Common Ground. In 2023, Joan passed away, giving this award even greater meaning and importance.
The donations that have been made in Joanie’s memory and honor allow us to offer an annual cash award of $2,000, allowing for one (1) scholarship totaling $2,000 or two (2) scholarships totaling $1,000 each.
Qualities considered by the selection committee include:
Understanding of connectedness
Awareness of the urban environment
Actions taken to teach/lead others in the community.
Curious to hear more about Joan Gillette and her connection to Common Ground? Read testimonials offered at a special dedication ceremony on May 6, 2017.
Susannah Gillette (daughter)
Cory Gillette (daughter)
Valerie Miller (sister)
Melissa Spear (Executive Director)