On any given Tuesday night, loud bursts of laughter can be heard from the library classroom at St. Paul Academy and Summit School. This is where Common Ground, the school’s affinity group, meets for their weekly gatherings. Following the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day assembly on Jan. 28, the group continues to discuss the topic of race in the school’s community.

The group ranges from 10-15 students each week and enjoys food, talking with friends and catching up on work. “The first hour we do homework and we get help from teachers who volunteer to stay after school,” junior Common Ground member Emma Chang said. “The second hour we discuss what has been happening in our school,” The group also talks about Intercultural Club and other activities. Chang said that Common Ground members who attended a diversity conference in Houston, Texas in the fall brought back many interesting topics that the group discusses.

Chang said that the best part of Common Ground is “the experience you get to share” and “the openness everyone has.” Common Ground is open to any student who identifies themselves as a person of color.