Macon Magazine

LOCAL BUZZ Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival celebrates 50 years FOR THE 50TH YEAR, Middle Georgia Art Association's annual craft festival will entice visitors to flock to Mulberry Street in downtown Macon. The idea for the Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival was brainstormed 50 years ago by Middle Georgia Art Association board members. "It was a way to showcase our local artists at a time when street festivals were beginning to become popular," said MGAA Board President John Meyers. The Mulberry Street Arts & Crafts Festival has flourished due to the dedicated members, volunteers, recurring vendors and the growing number of visitors. "It has always been popular. Through the years, it has grown into an annual tradition for many people," Myers said. "People expect it and look forward to it." Happening this year April 4-5, visitors can shop for unique arts and crafts at a variety of booths. More hands-on experiences will be available, including face painting, henna tattooing and candle making. "We are excited to be preparing for our 50th festival," Myers said. "We also look forward to continuing to provide this source of entertainment for Macon and the Middle Georgia area." Festival Directors Theresa Trail and Elaine Foy have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for the huge event. "It's a lot of hard work for our board, the vendors and especially Theresa, who is more or less the brain behind the whole spectacle," Myers said. For more information, visit middlegeorgiaart.org/mulberry-street-festival, call 478-744-9557 or email middlegeorgiaart@bellsouth.net. Updates will be posted on the MGAA Facebook page. – MEGHAN LINDSTROM LOCAL BUZZ Building the Beloved Community Symposium happening Feb. 10 HOW ARE THE PEOPLE, organizations, businesses and churches of Macon-Bibb County to address issues of racial justice and move toward reconciliation? That question is being asked Feb. 10 at the 16th annual Building the Beloved Community Symposium at Mercer University as organizers listen for answers and propose communitywide steps forward. The symposium brings national thinkers and activists in racial reconciliation to Macon-Bibb each year to help inform and inspire local efforts. The keynote speaker at the one-day symposium is the Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, associate professor and program director of Reconciliation Studies at Seattle Pacific University. The symposium is themed "Reconciliation Rooted in Justice." "Dr. McNeil brings 30 years of experience consulting with churches, businesses, colleges and universities seeking greater racial diversity," said John Dunaway, Mercer professor emeritus of French and interdisciplinary studies and founder of the symposium. "We're convinced this symposium has the potential to make an unprecedented impact on Macon." Symposium sessions are free, as are breakfast and lunch for the day. However, Dunaway said breakfast and lunch require registration by Feb.7. Registration information, schedule and session location information is available at community. mercer.edu/beloved. – MICHAEL W. PANNELL REV. DR. BRENDA SALTER MCNEIL 3 2 M ACO N M AG A Z I N E.CO M | F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 0

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