At the start of quarantine, the Brooklyn Rail asked how might we stay connected to each other in a time of self-isolation? Now we ask: How can we stay involved and engaged in upholding our civic responsibility to one another across communities? How can we deploy this community we have built through the New Social Environment—through hundreds of conversations and meals shared over the past six months—to mobilize daily action for grassroots movements, social justice and equity projects, and for the political good of our most marginalized communities across the nation? Common Ground will be taking over the New Social Environment Thursday 1pm slot—beginning immediately and continuing up to the presidential election—and will convene weekly on Thursdays at 1pm Eastern from Sept 3rd through Nov 5th.

Please join us for our inaugural episode of Common Ground, where we will be joined by Dwight M. Bullard, Political Director of The New Florida Majority, an independent political organization working to increase the voting and political power of marginalized and excluded constituencies toward an inclusive, equitable, and just Florida, where people can be their whole selves in a truly participatory democracy. Bullard formerly served in both the Florida State Senate and the Florida House of Representatives from 2008–2016.

He will be joined by Rail host, a public interest lawyer and civic technologist focused on improving the experience of public services so that they put people first. They were named a Legal Rebel by the American Bar Association and continues to work on problems that sit at the intersection of law and technology.

We will close with a reading from writer and translator Ted Dodson.