All Common Ground leaders, teachers, and facilitators follow Common Ground’s Ethical Standards for Harmonious Community Life.
Staff
Guiding Teacher
Mark Nunberg began his practice in 1982 and has been teaching meditation since 1990. He co-founded Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis in 1993 with Wynn Fricke and continues to serve as the center’s Guiding Teacher. Mark has studied with both Asian and Western teachers and finds deep inspiration in the teachings of the Buddha. Mark practiced as a monk for five months in Burma and completed four three-month retreats at Insight Meditation Society Retreat Center, as well as many months of intensive retreat practice at The Forest Refuge. Mark continues to be a grateful student of Buddhist practice.
Associate Director
Shelly Graf
Shelly Graf is Common Ground’s Associate Director and is currently being trained by Insight Meditation Society as part of their four-year Teacher Training. (Note: Shelly uses they/them pronouns.) They are a staff dharma teacher, like Mark Nunberg, the Guiding Teacher. Shelly provides direct support to the guiding teacher with developing and clarifying the center’s vision, policies, and priorities. Currently they teach Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Weekly Practice Groups, and co-lead the DharmaCore Queer Meditation Community.
Shelly is also a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and received their Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 2003. For a long time they have been interested in what it means to serve as a white social worker in brown communities. Shelly is also a huge MN Lynx fan!
Bookkeeping Manager
Gail Iverson, bookkeeper@commongroundmeditation.org
As bookkeeper, Gail is in charge of ensuring that all donations are recorded and deposited properly and that the center’s bills are paid. The bookkeeper also sits on the Finance Committee, which does budgeting and oversees the financial health of Common Ground.
Gail has been practicing mindfulness meditation since 1987 and practicing at Common Ground since 2002. Her first volunteer position was being in charge of the bulletin board at the previous building. Since then, she has been an integral member of our community and served in many important roles. She was chair of the Board of Directors for 6 years. She currently is part of the Operational Team for Common Ground’s retreat property in Wisconsin. She also is one of our main teachers and has led the Intro to Mindfulness Meditation workshop for many years.
Office Manager
Gabe Keller-Flores, gabe@commongroundmeditation.org 
Gabe is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the center, including volunteer coordination, communications support, and program support.
(Note: Gabe uses they/them pronouns.) Gabe has been coming to Common Ground since 2008, when they were in high school and stumbled across the teachings of the Buddha. Since then, they have been a dedicated practitioner and have experienced increasing freedom and connection in their life.
Board of Directors
Stacy McClendon, Board Chair
Jana Larson, Vice-Chair
scottie hall, Director
Ramesh Sairam, Director
ddha’s advice about the deep wisdom inherent in our bodies – “within this very fathom-long body, with its perceptions and inner sense, lies the world, the cause of the world, the cessation of the world and the path that leads to the cessation of the world.” I share some of my experiences through workshops at Common Ground on mindfulness and chronic pain, and finding wisdom in our bodies.Dave Halsey, Treasurer
I have been practicing meditation and studying the Dhamma at Common Ground since 2007. I am a regular participant in the Buddhist Studies program, where I frequently serve as program host.
The fo
cus of my current meditation practice is sustaining awareness of the interconnectedness of all beings through loving-kindness, and the present-moment calm that results from this realization.
I appreciate the many opportunities for retreat practice at Common Ground, including in-center retreats, residential retreats at Holy Spirit, and I am especially grateful for retreat practice at Common Ground’s Prairie Farm.
I have served on the Common Ground Board of Directors since 2015, and previously served on the Board’s Finance Committee. Additionally, I have supported the development of Common Ground’s Prairie Farm retreat property by leading the Planning Committee, and serving as the Board liaison for the Prairie Farm leadership team.
I am married, and have two young adult sons. In early 2015 I retired from Fraser, a nonprofit social service agency. (August 2015)
Gabe Keller-Flores, Secretary
I have been coming to Common Ground since 2008, when I was in high school and stumbled across the teachings of the Buddha. Since then, I have been a dedicated practitioner and have experienced increasing freedom and connection in my life.
I’m very excited to see more young people deepen their practice and engagement with Common Ground. I’m also very excited by the community’s deepening commitment to exploring issues of cultural conditioning and inclusivity. I think the context of our practice of mindfulness and compassion is perfect for exploring and healing the painful ways we create separation around difference.
I view being a Common Ground board member as a great honor and as an opportunity to give back to a community that has given me so much. (August 2015)
Mark Nunberg, Guiding Teacher
We are sure that many of you have felt, as we do, the wisdom, compassion, and deep calm that shine through the community. On behalf of the community, the board wishes to thank our teachers, the vast team of dedicated volunteers, our paid staff, and all those who contribute money to support the center. We would also like to extend deep gratitude to Mark Nunberg, Guiding Teacher and Executive Director, for his leadership and his ongoing deep commitment to practice and the Dharma. Together we are creating a supportive space that allows the heart to open and release.
Find out more about our Ethics and Reconciliation Council (EAR).
