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Welcome to the On the Ground: Baltimore with Grassroots Grantmakers, hosted by Baltimore Community Foundation - October 5 – 8,  2016
Intentionally small to facilitate networking and peer exchange, our annual “on the ground” gatherings use the work of a field-leading place-based investor as a platform for learning on a particular theme. Balancing time devoted to understanding the host organization’s context, strategy and learning journey with exploring “going deeper” questions that relate to participant’s “back-home” work – matching time out in the community with time for discussion and reflection – “on the grounds” are important professional development, skill-building, and team-building vehicles for people and organizations who are working to increase the vibrancy of local communities by authentically engaging and resourcing the groups that everyday people form for mutual aid and collective action in the place where they live. Grassroots Grantmakers’ On the Ground learning gatherings are designed to begin where standard conference workshops end and go deeper.

Registrations are limited to 80 participants to maximize opportunities for peer to peer connections and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to contribute. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

What is the Learning Marketplace? 
Since we place a high value on peer-to-peer learning, we specifically set aside time in our agenda for it. The Learning Marketplace are blocks of time for you to offer to lead a session, conversation or activity. Do you want to:

• Share your practice (such as your creative approach for using storytelling to generate great final reports)?
• Get help from your peers (for example, you can ask for feedback on a plan you are hatching)?
• Explore a shared question (perhaps using this time to dig into a question that arises during other OTG sessions)?
• Expand your networks (for example, if you’re a funder newbie, inviting other newbies to join you for a conversation)?
• Recharge your batteries (in whatever way that works for you – even if that means an hour or so “off topic” with some new or old friends)?

You can sign up now and we will hold a specific spot for you OR you can offer your session when we call for it on the first night (and at other spots during the OTG). We will have a large scheduling board where participants will write their topics/activity in the time slots and locations of their choosing. The board will remain visible throughout the OTG. 

Who can attend?
On the Grounds are designed for funders and others who are working to strengthen and help resource the work of everyday people and the groups that they form for mutual aid and collective action. Membership in Grassroots Grantmakers is not required to attend. We especially welcome teams that include people from resident-led organizations or committees associated with a funding or resourcing organization.

Lodging?
We encourage you to take advantage of Grassroots Grantmakers’ special lodging rates. Rooms are available at these rates until September 5th or until sold out at: The Embassy Suites Inner Harbor Baltimore 222 St. Paul Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 

To reserve your room, please call (410) 727-2222.  The reservation code for the rate of $159 is GRG.

Questions?
Contact Lisa Duran for anything else you need to know. You can reach Lisa via email or phone (720.634.6227).

Grassroots Grantmakers members receive 50% discount on registration. Not yet, a member? To join, please go to http://www.grassrootsgrantmakers.org/join/