We spend a tremendous amount of time in business talking about global sustainability issues — like what practices do our firms put in place to save trees and use less oil? Unfortunately, I fear that most sustainability discussions are little more than lip service; more marketing hype than anything.

We worry, too — what about the sustainability of our own neighborhoods, our schools, our future work force, our health care services?

At Hanson Dodge Creative we’re trying to bring sustainability discussions closer to home and, as a business, get involved.

That’s why, as of yesterday, Hanson Dodge Creative stands proudly as one of the first businesses in Milwaukee to become a founding member of Common Ground, a powerful new force for community change in Southeastern Wisconsin. Common Ground is founded on the principles that: 1) if we don’t engage, change can’t happen, and 2) if we unite to demand change in our community, anything is possible.

Over 2,300 people from over 60 regional churches, non-profits and other organizations — representing the wonderful and diverse ethnic and faith groups that are Southeastern Wisconsin — came together yesterday at Milwaukee’s Midwest Airlines Center to launch the founding of Common Ground. Together we will work to tackle issues like job creation, health care for underserved populations, central city crime and skyrocketing unemployment, among other issues.

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