By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
Common Grounds is a free-use community space located adjacent to Dave’s Diner on the corner of Albany and Sullivan Streets in Cazenovia.
For over two decades, Common Grounds has served as “the community’s living room.”
The facility features an open first floor space with comfortable seating and tables, as well as second floor conference rooms and offices — several of which are currently leased by Eagle Newspapers.
Common Grounds serves as a meeting place and workspace for a number of diverse groups, as well as a venue for various community events.
In the past year, the facility has hosted study groups, book clubs, educational speakers, a knitting group, sober socials, repair café, open mic nights, Bible study, literacy tutoring, artist demonstrations, Ted Talks, chess group, Cazenovia Call to Action, Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees, a poetry slam and more.
The space is also used by less formalized groups, who use it as a gathering place to chat and catch up.
“So many things are happening [there],” said Lauren Lines, executive director of Cazenovia Area Community Development Association (CACDA). “Every time I [go] in it seems like there is a different group using the space. When I walked in this morning I saw eight people sitting around a table having a conversation. It would be hard to have that happen anywhere else . . . at a coffee shop you’re expected to make a purchase. At Common Grounds you can just come in and you don’t have to buy a thing.”
Common Grounds was the vision of Project CAFÉ (Community Activities for Everyone), a student-directed organization founded in 1995 and incorporated as a non-profit in 1998.
Project CAFÉ’s student members sought to create a drug- and alcohol-free place for the community to gather and enjoy art, music, poetry, discussion and more.
In an effort to make the organization’s dream a reality, local resident and visionary Bob Hood purchased the building at 35 Albany St. and transformed it into a mixed-use facility suitable for both non-profits and businesses.
“The blending of a non-profit public meeting space with a for-profit business has been totally unique over the years and has prompted inquiries from dozens of other communities who would love to replicate the positive impact that Common Grounds has had on Cazenovia,” said Mayor Kurt Wheeler, who serves as Project CAFÉ’s board chairman and primary student leader advisor.
Throughout the years, several different businesses have shared the building with Common Grounds, including Common Grounds Café, Dave’s Diner, and Carter’s Creamery (a division of Dave’s Diner).
“I have always found that a lot of people in the community don’t really understand that the front room — Common Grounds — is not an extension of Dave’s Diner,” said Lori Lewis, the former executive director of Common Grounds. “I think it’s important that people know it’s a free space [that was established] for the benefit of the community. It’s a very special thing that not a lot of communities have.”
Common Grounds is also distinct from Project CAFÉ, which leased an office and ran an afterschool program in the space until 2015.
Although Project CAFÉ no longer operates out of Common Grounds, its student leaders continue to organize a number of community events, including Winter Festival, Earth Day, the Fourth of July Parade and the 9/11 Observance. PC members also continue to coordinate the monthly art exhibits on display at Common Grounds.
Today, Common Grounds is operated with the assistance of a paid executive director — a position currently held by Shawn McGuire.
Throughout its history, Common Grounds has furthered its mission of cultivating community in multiple ways.
In addition to serving as a vibrant meeting space, Common Grounds has provided support and funding to a number of community organizations.
In 2014 and 2015, the Common Grounds Challenge Grant (CGCG) program provided funding for a number of initiatives to help improve the Cazenovia community.
The program was facilitated by CACDA, which collected the applications and dispersed the funds.
The 2014 grant recipients included the Cazenovia Middle School Earth Club, Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, Cazenovia Community Preschool, Cazenovia Public Library, Cazenovia Garden Club, and the Town of Cazenovia.
In 2015, CGCG grants were awarded to Cazenovia American Legion, CazCares, Educational Solutions CNY, The Village of Cazenovia, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, and Cazenovia College.
Common Grounds has also supported the creation of entirely new community organizations, such as Cazenovia Welcomes Refugees — a collaborative project between Common Grounds and InterFaith Works’ Center for New Americans.
According to McGuire, Common Grounds was also instrumental in the creation of Cazenovia Artisans.
Most recently, Common Grounds offered to fund the CazArts creative alliance for its pilot year.
Common Grounds has provided the fledgling organization with an office space, a computer and a printer, and funding for a coordinator position.
“Common Grounds has given Cazenovia such a generous gift by supporting this organization that promotes the benefits of the arts in our lives and community,” said McGuire, who also serves as the CazArts coordinator.
To learn about upcoming activities and events at Common Grounds or to suggest uses for the space, contact the director at [email protected] or 315-444-7999.