The Story:

Tara and Joel: For years, it's been our dream to open a community gathering place where people can meet, share ideas and work together to make the South Side the best it can be. When we asked our friends Colleen Dempsey and Danny Lemmon to join the cause, they immediately had ideas about how they would use the space to create the community they wanted. 

Colleen, a social worker who lives and works on the South Side dreamed of support groups, having often thought, “I wish there was an AA for people who aren't alcoholics. A place to check in, to listen and be listened to.”  Colleen would also love to bring yoga to a community that may not yet have been exposed to the practice.   

Danny's head went straight to music, “I came into music in a scene built by people who were under 21. We couldn't play at bars and clubs, so we played in churches, and our parents' basements. To have a permanent space for shows that did not rely on alcohol sales to stay open would be fantastic.” 

So that's Community Grounds, a place to gather, and host the kinds of events we dream of, but more importantly the kind of events YOU dream of. There's a reason the place is called Community Grounds, and a reason the website is mycommunitygrounds.com. Tell us what you want to do here, we can do more together than any of us could alone. 

The Funds:

We need YOUR help to create YOUR Community Grounds. Funds will be used for the contracting work necessary to open shop! We've teamed up with community-oriented contractor Brian Higgins of Arch City Development to bring our vision to life.  We have chosen the "flexible funding option" for this campaign.  If our goal is not met, all perks will be delivered in full and all money contributed will be used for the contracting work. 

The Vision: 

To sell ethically and, when possible, locally sourced coffee, tea, and food to keep the lights on. Provide a meeting space for community groups of all sorts, from block watches to event planning groups, and from political activists to board game enthusiasts. 

Use the sound stage to host all ages shows that are truly welcoming to all, including those under 18 years old, and others in recovery from addiction. Most venues rely heavily on alcohol sales for profit, and in doing so become inherently unwelcoming spaces for people who can’t or don’t drink.

We will also be using the space to host low-cost and free training sessions for anyone who is able to attend. From CPR/First Aid to music lessons, there will be a variety of options available for those who would otherwise be unable to afford to attend such classes.

There is also going to be a partnership with local high schools so that students are able to fulfill their volunteer and internship hours. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer at the many year-round events in Ganthers Place and to learn various new skills by interning at Community Grounds.

Over the course of this campaign, we'll be posting several different videos shared with us by people who are excited to share what they plan to host at Community Grounds. Feel free to join them on social media #mycommunitygrounds. 

The Coffee and Food:

As much as possible, our food will be grown within our community gardens. There are currently three pocket gardens (with more soon to come) where the vegetables for several events, including Tara and Joel's wedding, were grown. Eventually, we'll create a green space on the roof of the building for growing even more vegetables and herbs. We believe we have more green thumbs per capita than most of the city!

Several local coffee houses have offered to provide us with the training needed to ensure our success. From making the best pour over coffee to working an espresso machine that costs as much as some of our cars, our fellow coffee aficionados will help us guarantee that every drop of coffee served is among the best. We will be working with local Ohio suppliers who use fair trade practices to provide the community with honestly sourced coffee and organic teas. We'll also be working with local restaurants and chefs to provide our neighbors with a variety of options including vegetarian and vegan choices.  

The Meeting House:

When you see “Coffee and Meeting House,” the "meeting house" could mean lots of different things to different people.  To us, that's a perk!  We want to create a space that enables people to host the things they want and need.

Want to put on a play? We'll provide the stage! 

Want to play us some tunes? We'll have a sound system!

Want to screen a film? We'll have a projector! 

Want to put on an educational workshop? Let us help! 

Cooking class? Yum! 

Activist organizing meeting? Please! 

Game night? Uno!  

Another idea we haven't thought of? Chances are good!

The Neighborhood:

 Community Grounds will be located within the borders of the Ganthers Place Civic Association, and the residents are our biggest asset.  This strong and active community that has been a shining example for the South Side of Columbus will be working together to help us succeed using everyone's unique skills. We are proud to live with a diverse group that consists of business owners, legal counselors, social workers, musicians, artists, community activists & leaders, landscapers, woodworkers, and pretty much any skill you can imagine. 

You will become an honorary member of the community by contributing to this project. We hope that, regardless of where in the world you live, you'll know that you have a second home in Ganthers Place, Columbus, OH.