Community Knowledge Centre - Toronto Community Foundation

About this organization

Mission

Common Ground Co-operative’s mission is to bring together talent, knowledge and expertise found in existing institutions, agencies, businesses and other community groups to support the creation and maintenance of social enterprises in the form of small business partnerships among people with developmental disabilities.

History of Organization

Over the last eleven years, Common Ground has created a solid reputation of starting and supporting successful social purpose enterprises, enhancing and empowering a marginalized population by offering self-employment opportunities through recognized business partnerships to adults with developmental disabilities, called partners. Lemon & Allspice Cookery began in 1998 with three partners and a part-time job coach. Due to increased demand for opportunities Common Ground Co-operative was created in 2000. Today five businesses with over sixty-five partners and seven job coaches are providing long-term employment. These partnerships provide the dignity of meaningful and sustainable employment while encouraging and facilitating integration into the community.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Common Ground Co-operative, its partners and their enterprises have been the recipients of numerous awards including the Queen’s Medal, City of Toronto Access Award, Disability Day Award, the June Callwood Award, the International Day of Disabilities Unsung Hero Award, an Ontario Co-op Association Spirit Award and the Vital Idea Award and grant from the Toronto Community Foundation. Common Ground’s model for business partnerships has gained the attention and support of government officials such as the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and the Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynne M.P.P.

In 2009/10 we were seen on the Global News segment “Making a Difference” and TV Ontario’s “Get Involved”, heard on Voice Print and CBC Radio’s “Here and Now” and read about through articles appearing in various publications such as Bloom Magazine. Common Ground continues to be dedicated to increasing awareness of our valuable services and programs.

Programs

>Business Partnership Replication Project
>Foundations Program
>Coffee Sheds and Lemon & Allspice Cookery

Common Ground provides a range of key operational services and educational training to support adults with developmental disabilities to earn an income running their own social purpose enterprise as a partnership. In addition to the five business partnerships we provide a Skills Training and Work Readiness Program (called the Foundations Program) for individuals with developmental disabilities who are interested in gaining skills, knowledge and experience towards part or full-time employment.

Our trained staff offer a number of in-house programs such as our Fitness and Nutrition Program, Resume Writing and Interview Skills, Self-Awareness and Math and Money and are currently planning to deliver workshops on Customer Service, Public Speaking and Abuse Awareness and Prevention for 2012.

Access to Literacy and Computer Skills Class, and Financial Literacy Classes teaching long and short term goals, how to set a budget, how to read bills and how to contribute to an RSDP account is also provided through partnerships formed with Frontier College and George Brown College, respectively.

Business Partnership Replication Project

This program involves the successful replication of the business partnership model. To support this goal we will create the business plan that would serve as the model for all new start-ups, including the creation of marketing and communication plans for future delivery of the model, thus encouraging increased use of the business partnership model by others and setting the groundwork for expansion. Common Ground will support individuals, organizations or other agencies to replicate the business partnership model, creating at least three new social purpose enterprises by 2011, serving a minimum of 30 adults with developmental disabilities, their families, and impacting the community they operate in.

Program Impact

Common Ground is proud that our program provides access to best workplace expectations, impacting positively on the partners lives. Our partnership model provides the dignity of sustainable employment to people with developmental disabilities in Toronto. Our partners, their families, our customers, and other stakeholders tell us that being involved with one of the Business Partnerships creates a significant advancement in the quality of life for all involved.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Strong and vibrant cities provide a wide variety of opportunities for secure, well-paid work.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Common Ground’s partnership model provides the dignity of sustainable employment to people with developmental disabilities in Toronto. 

Participant Vignette

“Social Enterprise, as an employment approach for (persons with disabilities), is gaining much interest. Common Ground Co-op has the history and experience to provide the type of technical services in Social Enterprise Development that is needed for the sector dealing with workers with developmental disabilities. We support Common Ground Coop in their plan to provide their (Business Partnership Model) services to a wide outreach to agencies and families across the province of Ontario.” Marge McRae, Families Matter Co-op.

Foundations Program

Common Ground provides pre-vocational life skills instruction through the Foundations Program. In this program, individuals are taught the skills needed to successfully enter the world of work. Participants are educated through structured workshops covering topics such as “Business Communication” and “Problem Solving”, as well as hard-skills, such as operating a cash register and on-site training at one of the partnerships where we put a special emphasis on the majority of learning being peer directed and led. In order to become a partner, the participant must complete a three month apprenticeship and be voted into the partnership.

Program Impact

The Foundations Program and the daily activities at our business locations contribute to the individual’s personal development and growth. Some partners have gone on to present workshops about their abilities and achievements at conferences and seminars across Ontario. Families and support workers credit our Foundations Program and business partnership model for empowering and educating the partners, helping them to express themselves and experience the pride of business ownership. Most importantly, the adults working towards the goal of becoming a partner represent the potential of many other people with developmental disabilities.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Strong and vibrant cities provide a wide variety of opportunities for secure, well-paid work.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Common Ground Partners engaged in the Business Partnership Model work toward advocacy and social change by challenging beliefs and demonstrating the skill and ability of persons with developmental disabilities, while enjoying the stability of self-directed employment.

Participant Vignette

“This is a program like none other, with a job (placement) that is very successful. I feel this program is very good the way it teaches us the importance of running our own business. It has given me the tools to be a valued part of the community. I would recommend people to this program” Ron W – Foundation Program participant 2009/10

Coffee Sheds and Lemon & Allspice Cookery

Common Ground provides a range of key operational services and educational training to support adults with developmental disabilities, whom we call partners, to earn an income running their own social purpose enterprise as a partnership. The partnerships are legally registered non-share capital business partnerships which operate based on a profit sharing payment structure. The day-to-day operations of the partnerships are made possible with the support of job coaches, who provide an effective learning environment by working alongside the partners, allowing them to develop and utilize their skills and strengthen the development of the businesses. Today over 65 business partners with developmental disabilities are registered owners and operators of five thriving food-sector enterprises in Toronto - a catering company called the Lemon & Allspice Cookery, three coffee kiosks called the Coffee Sheds (located at Surrey Place Centre, The Univeristy of Toronto and JVS Toronto) and one therapeutic toy sanitation company called CleanABLE which runs out of Surrey Place Centre as well.

Program Impact

Partners in the businesses have the best of two worlds – they have a social network among their peers at work and another network with those in Common Ground and in the community who interact with them daily. They overcome the isolation of working in an individual mainstream work placement or a sheltered workshop. Their social lives improve; they receive a discretionary income; many learn to live on their own; and they have numerous opportunities for learning within and outside their workplaces.

Toronto's Vital Signs® indicator(s) addressed by Program

“Strong and vibrant cities provide a wide variety of opportunities for secure, well-paid work.” (Toronto’s Vital Signs®, 2009)

Common Ground provides a range of services and training to support adults with developmental disabilities to earn an income running their own social purpose enterprise.

Participant Vignette

“My name is Joanna and I have Aspergers Syndrome. I work at the Lemon & Allspice Cookery in Toronto. Aspergers Syndrome is a developmental disorder that I have lived with my whole life. It’s hard to express my thoughts and feelings, and I don’t adapt to change very well. I become fixated on things and this causes me to be easily distracted. My job at the Lemon & Allspice Cookery has helped me. I started as an apprentice and then after three months I was voted in as a partner. Working at Lemon & Allspice has helped me in so many ways. Because of my job, I’m able to live independently, hang out with friends, buy my groceries and pay my phone bill. With the help of Common Ground Co-op, I’ve learned to give speeches, use a cash register, cook, bake and work with my team. I’ve also learned about the importance of customer service, and marketing. Working here gives me more independence and pride. It also gives my life meaning.”