July 26th, 2012 in Chicago, American hip-hop artist and actor Common helped welcome Virgin Mobile’s first ever flagship retail store into the neighborhood by participating in the “From the Ground Up” benefit to help battle youth homelessness.
Common is also the founder of the Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit that seeks to empower underprivileged youth to be strong citizens and citizens of the world. The foundation includes programs dedicated to leadership development & empowerment, educational development, creative expression, as well as a book club.
The day included singing and poetry performances with kids and young adults from the Night Ministry, a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, healthcare and human connection to the youth of Chicago that are struggling with poverty or homelessness.
The host for the Virgin Mobile event was Abbey Braden. Common and Virgin Mobile’s Ron Faris awarded the proceeds from the Common benefit concert to the Night Ministry’s Brian Fergemann, Christy Prassas and Jessica Howe at Virgin Mobile’s “From The Ground Up” event.
Following the event, native Chicagoan, Common and Virgin Mobile also put on a benefit concert at The Metro with all ticket proceeds going to the Night Ministry.
Common and youth of the Night Ministry at the Virgin Mobile’s “From The Ground Up” event on Thursday, July 26, 2012 in Chicago, IL.