Gandhi taught us that "The future depends on what we do in the present."

Its great to be writing to you again! Over the last few months, I've been positively overwhelmed by the transition from part-time executive director and part- time consultant to full-time President of Common Ground Consulting LLC.

At the end of April, I left my wonderful job as the executive director of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) where I've been since 2000, jumping out of my comfort zone into the arena of international and domestic organizational development.

I've never been busier in my life, but the work is some of the most rewarding of my career. I've been blessed with amazing and supportive family, friends and colleagues, and I am so thankful for all of your wisdom, advice, and support.

This spring, we've worked in five countries (visiting England and Bosnia for the first time) and more than a dozen U.S. cities (with our first project in the gorgeous state of Montana). We've logged 45,000 air miles on 40 flights, worked with hundreds of youth development professionals, expanded a nine-month organizational assessment for the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund, helped to launch Crescent Rising--a major new reconstruction effort for New Orleans, began an exciting new USAID contract in Serbia, and scheduled more than two-dozen unique projects over the coming months.

We've already hired our first sub-contractors--two of the best we've worked with over the past 17 years. Later this summer, we'll be hiring our first part-time operations staff and moving into new offices in downtown DC.

When I began Common Ground all of those years ago, I had a vision of the kind of world I wanted to help create--a world in which every human soul could live into their power, passion, and potential. I am an optimist; a dreamer; a hopeful, positive believer in the best in each of us.

Our work at Common Ground is about embracing the connections that exist between all of us regardless of where we live or what separates us from our common humanity.

I'm grateful for the chance to share this journey with all of our many clients around the world. I'm looking forward to an unbelievable future and the opportunity to live life everyday on the edge of our comfort zone. I hope you'll join us there!

If you haven't visited our website yet, I hope you'll take a look. When you get to our site, go to the login area under "Members" on the left, and enter the email address where you are receiving this; and create a password.

After that simple step, you'll have access to dozens of fully downloadable resources (many new resources just added!) to help you in your work. You'll also be able to view our snapshots gallery; and I'll be able to involve you directly in our cutting-edge work around the world!

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If you have a colleague who could benefit from knowing about our work and our free social profit resources, please feel free to forward them this email (Click "Forward this email" below).

If they are interested, they'll be able to sign-up, otherwise, we'll leave them alone. You have my word!

I can't wait for you to get involved in our online community! For almost two decades, Common Ground Consulting LLC has been providing mission-critical consulting services to social profit organizations. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with you. See you on the web!

In Community, Craig