Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1233225
MACONMAGAZINE.COM 4 1 I had never felt that instant family and belonging before," she said. And though the things she loves most about our community have not changed, Kelley has. The life she is building this time around involves a fiance, a 2-year old and a new-found voice. Macon still may be home to the people who folded her in, but she recognizes that there are so many others who have not been able to find their place in this community – no matter how long they've lived here. "Opportunities seem to be flying out toward the new mall area and forgetting about central and south Macon. For so many, opportunities have been taken away. But then I look downtown and I see a concentrated effort to provide folks something to do. Downtown there are parks, places to eat and shop, free music shows and the Washington Memorial Library, which is our favorite," she said. "Downtown Macon is thriving. I love living downtown. It's where I feel the most healthy and comfortable. ... If all of Macon focused on offering basic quality of life needs for everyone, I believe we'd see a decline in crime, segregation and political apathy. "People don't think they can change anything. There is still a lot of brokenness in Macon. Often times people have a lot of the same needs but don't want to work together. If we seek to pull the sameness out of each other, we can discover where our heart is. Because we all have the same problems, just in different circumstances." The disconnect she sees when she looks beyond her circle is something Kelley hopes to help. She believes that Macon is building toward a better future, and that it is a journey we can all choose to be part of. For Kelley, that means using her talents and even her pain to connect and lift up those around her. "After having my daughter two years ago, I went through postpartum depression, which I still struggle with. ... I'm trying to find a way to take the talents and abilities that I do have and leverage them to help others," she said. "One way I plan to do that is through a group I started called Village Potluck. It pulls from the idea that it takes a village to raise a child and that we all have something to bring to the table. A lot of moms just need an outlet and art can be a wonderful way to do that. "We are starting a podcast called apPARENTly that's based on motherhood and the arts. We hope to inspire moms to use what they have, because people, mothers in particular, have to be really resourceful. We are creative and what we have to say matters. ... We have a voice and need to use that voice to move things around and shape our community – to support us and not to break us apart." In my conversation with Kelley, I discovered that we share so much more than a love of music, we share a hope and a vision for Macon. Her passion for this community is evident, not only through her choice to return and give of herself here, but also through her willingness to be vulnerable. Whether it be expressing courage by sharing a song or sharing her struggles, Kelley is choosing Macon and she's all in. "IF WE SOUGHT TO PULL THE SAMENESS OUT OF EACH OTHER, WE CAN DISCOVER WHERE OUR HEART IS. BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS, JUST IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES." - KELLEY DIXSON 438 Cherry Street 746-9485 macon Celebrating the good life & great stories magazine