Eden Prairie Common Ground

Eden Prairie Common Ground is a consortium of churches in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, formed to empower and encourage its member churches through cooperative effort to bring charitable and just solutions to social needs in the community. These needs may be too large for any one of the member churches to handle alone.

Our current member churches include:

"Let your light shine before all in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Since our inception in 1995, our activities have included the following:

Several Habitat for Humanity homes, including several whole-house projects
Financial support of Habitat homes in Central America as part of the Hurricane Mitch relief effort
Receiving the City of Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission and the Eden Prairie Chamber of Commerce's 1997 Human Rights Award
Continued financial and church-broadcast support for Mary Keating and Project Hope, Bridging, Inc., and PROP (People Reaching Out to People)
Coordination and support of Red Cross disaster training (both First Aid and CPR) for our member churches.
Continued financial and building improvement support for Eden Prairie ABC (A Better Chance Foundation)
Coordination of volunteers and classrooms for ESL (English as a Second Language) classes of SHAPE (South Hennepin Adult Programs in Education)
Financial support for MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) and the JRLC (Joint Religious Legislative Coalition) for their advocacy efforts in affordable housing issues
Financial support for Redemption Ministries' Hospitality House
Sponsorship of Latin American children through Compassion International.

From Our January 5, 2008 Annual Meeting

At our January 5, 2008 Annual Meeting, Drake Talbert presented the following Annual Report summarizing our activities in 2007.

January 5, 2008

Eden Prairie Common Ground wants to give thanks to our God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon our efforts throughout 2007, our 13th year.

Through the dedication of our member churches, we were able to continue our history of sharing His blessings with Habitat for Humanities, A Better Chance Foundation (ABC), Project Hope, and Compassion International.

In 2007, EPCG committed to two weeks with Thrivent Financial on a Habitat project in Chaska, MN. For the week of August 6th and again September 24th, we coordinated the efforts of over 100 volunteers from participating churches as well as donating $12,000 towards the construction of 2 homes. Because of excellent coordination and high volunteer turnout, this year's Habitat outreach was very successful.

We also continued our commitment to ABC, Project Hope, and Compassion International. In May of this year, we coordinated an ABC spring clean up of their grounds and buildings. For 2007, we provided $1,500 to Project Hope and continued our financial support of two children through Compassion International.

Finally, we met with two new outreach opportunities: Eden Prairie's Office of Housing and Human Services and the PROP Shop. In an effort to support our community's multi cultural efforts, we met with organizers of the Interfaith Service held in November, 2007, as well holding our June meeting at Eden Prairie's Office of Housing and Human Services. We also held our July meeting at the new PROP Shop in an effort to increase awareness and support of this wonderful community outreach.

In conclusion, we again give thanks and all glory to our Lord who has enabled us through Eden Prairie Common Ground to share in His joy and blessings.

Sincerely,

Drake Talbert
President

Our 2007 Habitat for Humanity Projects

In August and September of 2007 we completed two one-week Habitat for Humanity projects. The first was on Faulkner Drive in Chaska. The second was on Irving Avenue North in Minneapolis. Thanks to all of our volunteers for their work on these projects!

These projects have been done in conjunction with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Builds.

If you are interested in volunteering for future projects, please see our volunteer page.

Our 2006 Habitat Project

Our 2006 Habitat for Humanity project was a home in Wayzata, MN. This was a twin home site, with our volunteers working there from September 25 through October 6, 2006. The before and after comparison picture on the right shows the work accomplished in those two weeks by our volunteers.

Thanks to all who volunteered on this project!

For information on future volunteering opportunities, see our volunteer page.

Other Recent Projects

Another of our recent projects was a Habitat for Humanity project consisting of a new twin home in Minneapolis, at 1212 and 1214 11th Ave. North (in the Heritage Park development, near Highways 55 and 94). Construction took place during the weeks of September 26, October 3, and October 10, 2005. Builders at all levels of experience, from general workers with little or no experience, to crew leaders who could teach and supervise others, volunteered and contributed to this project. Additional volunteers have served as site hosts, phone callers, and food and beverage donators/deliverers. A dedication ceremony for this and other Habitat homes in this area took place on June 17, 2006. Thanks to all who volunteered on this project!

For more photos showing the work of Eden Prairie Common Ground volunteers on more projects, see our photos page. For further information on us and our projects, please email us. Please include your name and a phone number where we can reach you.

Also, for information on future volunteering opportunities, please see our volunteer page.

Other Projects

In April and May, 2005, our volunteers worked to complete the interior painting and staining of a HWR (Homes Within Reach) house. For this project, Homes Within Reach / West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust (WHALT) partnered with the City of Eden Prairie, Habitat for Technology, Hennepin Technical College, Hennepin County, Eden Prairie Businesses, Dunwoody College of Technology, Dakota Technical College, and Eden Prairie Common Ground. The house was built by students and then moved to its lot near Valley View Road at Eden Prairie Road. It is now complete, and a family has moved into it. (Click on the image on the right for a more detailed view.)

Thanks to all of you who volunteered on this project!

For a list of links to our member churches and some other organizations, see our links page.

If you are interested in contributing financially to the projects of Eden Prairie Common Ground, please consider shopping on-line at giveline.com, where a portion of your purchase price can go to Eden Prairie Common Ground.

For further information on opportunities for volunteering through Eden Prairie Common Ground, please contact us.