Our beginnings were quite humble. We were first offered a room (Lucky 13) in the Historic Banner Elk School. The catch, we could only use it one night per week. Not much was happening and most of the building was unoccupied. We were just glad to have space to meet. We began with no heat or air making the first winter of 2015 quite cold!

Slowly but surely, with a great deal of sweat equity, Common Ground became a hang out and sort of a home away from home for Lees-McRae students.

Fast forward to the present day!

We moved from Lucky 13, when Ensemble Stage Company came to Banner Elk and began renting Lucky Room #7.  We've been blessed with generous donors who have provided everything from sofas to microwaves; a TV and a small fridge, and a steady income stream that allows us to pay rent and provide events, food, and more. 

We average eighteen students at Common Ground on Thursday night each week of the school year who come for home cooking, fun, engaging conversation, and to escape the occasional craziness of college life

Common Ground - Then to Now!