Rodrick Green Builds ‘Common Ground’ and Movement for Local Entrepreneurs
BY CLYDE HUGHES | AC JosepH Media
PLEASANTVILLE – Rodrick Green proudly calls himself a “serial entrepreneur,” always creating new opportunities for himself and for the people around him. Now, he’s channeling that drive into helping others do the same through his growing grassroots networking series, Last Wednesdays.
Held monthly on the second floor of the Ideal Institute of Technology—inside the former Press of Atlantic City building now known as Common Ground—Green said the event is designed to be a hub for dreamers, start?ups, and small business owners ready to take their ideas to the next level.
“Common Ground was an ode to my mother, honoring her life and her legacy,” Green said. “When she transitioned, I launched Common Ground, where shared purpose drives collective prosperity. I realized the work I was doing behind the scenes and the impact it was making.”
Green’s behind?the?scenes work includes longtime involvement with the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. That experience, he said, pushed him to step forward and create a platform of his own.
“It was time for me to be effective out front,” he said. “Common Ground was birthed out of that period, and from that came Last Wednesdays once I got everything established.”
A Mission to Empower Local Economies
Last Wednesdays aims to empower families, communities, entrepreneurs, and visionaries by connecting them with social, financial, and technical resources that foster collective economic growth. Green said he wants the momentum from these gatherings to help transform local economies through business advocacy, economic mobility opportunities, and stronger community foundations.
Common Ground itself spans roughly 15,000 square feet, featuring co?working spaces, an auditorium, café, and marketplace. To make entrepreneurship accessible, Green is offering workspace for $1 a day or $30 a month, whether for virtual office use or co?working.
“We’re also a commercial mail receiving agency,” he added. “We offer an official United States Postal Service corporate address for micro and small businesses.”
What sets Common Ground apart, Green said, is its commitment to customization.
“We create fully customized systems tailored to your unique needs that scale alongside your ambitions.”
A Partnership Strengthening the Vision
Green credits local businesswoman Celeste Fernandez, who served on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s transition team, as a major force behind the growth of Common Ground and Last Wednesdays.
“She’s been a gem,” Green said. “For the past 10 years, she has supported everything we’ve done—from opening our music studio to each of our headquarters, and with the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame. She’s always been there, either holding a ribbon or standing next to us.”
Fernandez has been instrumental in promoting Last Wednesdays on social media and connecting Green with business owners. During Front Runner’s visit, she led tours of the co?working space and highlighted the amenities available to entrepreneurs.
“Celeste has definitely been out front for us in a positive way, connecting us with business owners and those interested in starting businesses. That makes a difference.”
Community, Culture, and Entrepreneurship
Last Wednesdays events have become lively community gatherings. During one recent event, a large crowd watched the Haiti national team compete in a World Cup match while enjoying donated food and drinks.
For Green, entrepreneurship is woven into his family’s story. His father, a military veteran, owned businesses ranging from landscaping to deejaying. Today, Green sees that same spirit in his own household.
“My daughter is an influencer on TikTok, my youngest daughter has her esthetician business after graduating from ACIT, and my wife has her holistic business with mocktails and helping people from the inside out. That’s our household.”
Born in Fayetteville, N.C., with time spent in Georgia, Green said his father’s attention to detail shaped him—even if he didn’t appreciate it at the time.
“I wasn’t crazy about it then, but boy, is it paying off now,” he said.
Growing the Movement
Green’s immediate goal is to continue expanding Last Wednesdays—attracting more small businesses, start?ups, and residents eager to support local entrepreneurship. He hopes to help more people move their business dreams from ideas on paper into real?world ventures.
Last Wednesdays is held at the Ideal Institute of Technology, 1000 West Washington Avenue in Pleasantville, beginning at 7 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month.
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. You can reach Editor Clyde Hughes at chughes@acjosephmedia.com. Thank you for reading!
About Author
