The mission of Search for Common Ground-USA is to foster cooperative approaches to resolving public policy issues. We bring diverse stakeholders together to build consensus solutions to specific, important issues at the national, state and local levels; and we build institutions that foster cooperation and consensus-building over time. We also make use of complementary approaches, such as polling and citizen engagement, so that the views of the public can be actively considered and better inform public policy dialogue.
Same-Sex Couples
Search for Common Ground is in the first stages of developing a national dialogue among key stakeholders to find common ground on the issues surrounding same-sex couples. For the latest information contact Jonah Wittkamper at jwittkamper@sfcg.org.
U.S. Consensus Council
A diverse, bi-partisan leadership group has come together to form the United States Consensus Council (USCC). USCC members include former U.S. Senators, Representatives, Cabinet Officials and Diplomats; former Governors and Mayors; and other leaders from law, business, politics and the non-profit sector.
The USCC already has been involved in advising national policy consensus processes on: faith-based social service initiatives, health care coverage for the uninsured, US-Muslim relaitons, and HIV/AIDS. Additional local consensus projects supported by the USCC include work on reentry of ex-offenders into society in Philadelphia, and creating a viable mixed-income community in near Southeast and Southwest Washington, D.C. [more]
U.S.-Muslim Engagement
SFCG-USA and the U.S. Consensus Council are working in partnership with the Consensus Building Institute to conduct a groundbreaking, interdisciplinary leadership dialogue and public engagement process to improve US-Muslim relations. [more]
A brief TV documentary was made about the work of the U.S. - Muslim Leadership Group and their Report "Changing Course."
Completed Projects
Health Care Coverage for the Uninsured - Consensus-Building Project
There is widespread agreement across the political spectrum that all Americans should have access to health insurance; however, major disagreement on how best to address this problem has left the issue grid-locked for many years. [more]
Working Group on Human Needs and Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
In 2001 members from civil liberties and religious groups released 29 joint recommendations for expanding and strengthening the role of faith-based and community organizations in the delivery of social services to America's neediest citizens. In 2003 the Working Group met again and released 38 joint recommendations for further expanding and strengthening the role of faith-based and community organizations. [more]
Philadelphia Consensus Group on Reentry and Reintegration
They're coming back, whether we like it or not. In a city of 1.5 million people, over 35,000 men, women and youth will go through the Philadelphia Prison System each year and return to their communities. If current trends continue, two-thirds, or almost 23,000 will be rearrested within three years, and over 14,000 will return to jail, having committed new crimes or parole violations. [more]
Search for Common Ground on HIV/AIDS Project
The first meeting of the participants in the Search for Common Ground on HIV/AIDS Project will take place on October 26, 2005. Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) have agreed to be co-convenors of this process, and Democratic and Republican House co-convenors are also expected to join the effort. [more]
Collaboration DC
Collaboration DC is bringing about change in the way the District of Columbia works as a city. Our work includes facilitating public partnerships on critical issues, such as the District of Columbia Education Compact, an ambitious education reform initiative drawing together all parts of the community. [more]
The Common Ground Communities Project
Between 2000 and 2004 we conducted this project to support U.S. communities in developing the capacity to deal constructively with recurring community disputes. We provided training, technical advice and support materials. [more]
