We are always, always seeking creative individuals who love a challenge, thrive in a team atmosphere, and long to make a difference in the lives of others. While we are not currently hiring staff, we have endless meaningful ways in which you can join us. By joining CCG, many of our volunteers have found the perfect opportunity to use their passions and talents. We welcome yours, with open hearts.
Our courses vary in length from approximately 60 - 80 hours. Our “intensive care” programs meet frequently and are “high touch,” with a great deal of one-on-one and small group experiential instruction.
CCG develops our own experiential training curricula covering fundamental life skills, employability basics and industry-specific skills. We have a variety of training modules that span a range of industries.
Our trainees come from all over the world, but the largest number we serve fled from Bhutan, Burma, Nepal, Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, the Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Russia, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.
Currently, our target population is unemployed, at-risk refugees with great barriers to employment. That said, our training and employment programs are designed to serve a variety of at-risk populations.
Good, simple question with a complicated answer. Our office is located in downtown Boise (1161 W. River Street, 83702), our training courses (TRAIN) take place in a variety of locations across town, our farms (GROW) are located in SE Boise (4750 S. Surprise Way, 83716), and our manufacturing operation (CREATE) is co-located with our office.
Why does Create Common Ground’s model of change work?
We focus on training in employment-based skills to provide unemployed refugees long-term job placement potential. We add experiential elements to our curricula, creating relationships with local businesses. We mobilize the talent of other community members and address the needs of local business partners. We “grow” local business ventures as we grow related job skills for our trainees. This symbiotic relationship benefits everyone involved and other communities are already seeking to implement the same model.
“Very simply: to change their world, and to change mine.” Tara Russell, Founder and CEO
Create Common Good grew from a desire to improve the lives of vulnerable individuals, using a model of change that truly challenged the status-quo. We wanted to find the “common ground” between the needs of the refugee community, the talents and resources of our greater community, and authentic market opportunities. In that space, we would create a sustainable model of mutual benefit and a richer, more vibrant community.
In a nutshell, we started CCG to help people land on their feet, discover their potential and enrich their communities. We keep going because there is a genuine need, it works, and it matters.
