Our Story
In 2018, Sandy Boyd, Michael Gilligan, and Claudia Quintero, formerly of the national nonprofit Achieve's Coalition Support Network (CSN), founded Seek Common Ground (SCG). The CSN mobilized diverse, nonpartisan coalitions in 15 states, advocating for policies and practices to ensure all students are prepared for college and careers. With civil rights organizers, business leaders, teachers, and parents working together, the CSN advanced equity in education.
Seek Common Ground was intentionally founded on the idea that communities, and their leaders, know the solutions to their persistent problems. And yet, there are also common challenges that impact all communities and that the ability to access experts, funding and learn from one another, together, can improve outcomes and communities.
SCG's mission centers on providing three crucial supports for successful community development: funding, a supportive learning community, and access to expertise. SCG offers these vital supports, nurturing the next generation of leaders and organizations committed to creating positive change.
Our Team
Sandy Boyd
Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder
Claudia quintero
Senior Director & Co-founder
Lydia Burns
Manager, Youth and community Partnerships
Alex Ames
Fellow
Advisory BOARD
Andrew Brennen, Chair
Law Student at Columbia University
Nate Bowling
AP US Government & Politics and Global Studies Teacher at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi
JESSICA RODRIGUEZ BOUDREAU
Education Advocate and School Board Member
Kinkini Banerjee
Founder and Principal, Sage Transformations Trustee, Alameda Health System