An OU student created The Middle Ground, a brand set to build community between social classes through events, partnerships and philanthropy.
Gretchen Hansz, a sophomore entrepreneurship major, always wanted to start a business and dreamed of owning a restaurant. After doing philanthropy work in high school, Hansz realized owning a restaurant was not what she wanted and began working on The Middle Ground.
Hansz knew she wanted to name it The Middle Ground because it represents the idea behind her brand. She wanted to create a shared space for all social classes.
“There's always been a division between them,” Hansz said. “You don't see them ever interlocking, so I wanted to create a place where they interlock and show that just because you look super fancy, super nice and you're living this high life versus someone on the streets, y'all really are the same, just living different.”
The Middle Ground started last year with an event called Tip the Trailer in collaboration with Mission Norman. The event collected enough Thanksgiving meal donations to fill a trailer to the point where it tipped over. Hansz said she hopes to make Tip the Trailer an annual event.
The brand’s slogan “support for all walks of life,” translates into their work in the community. Currently, the brand helps JM Designs, a Native American jewelry brand, and Kingdom Builders, a nonprofit that will help low-risk inmates’ transition into society smoother.
“When you hear the middle ground, you think of a safe space,” Hansz said. “That escape that's gonna help you get connected to whoever you need, and just that feeling that's going to come with a name.”
Hansz said the brand is a work in progress right now with goals to have a physical space for people. The brand hopes to stay local, but is considering expanding to Texas.
“One of our other slogans is, ‘Supported by those who can, so you can,’” Hansz said. “And really that just comes down to a community is only as strong as they're willing to put up like I’m not the middle ground. I can't do it alone. I'm building something that's going to be bigger than myself, because it's not about Gretchen, it's about what people can get and people can give.”
A team works with Hansz to find projects that need help. Additional help comes from AVI, the holding company that The Middle Ground is under.
A merchandise line will be available for purchase soon, with a portion of proceeds going to Kingdom Builders. Membership packages will also be available soon so people can have a solid involvement with the brand.
More information on The Middle Ground can be found on Instagram.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
