Macon Magazine

APRIL/MAY 2022 | maconmagazine.com 45 LIVING PROOF DK Williams, who goes by the artist name DKOMX, said his experience at Otis Redding camps and lessons was life changing. "The main thing is, as a kid I would always be rapping and doing music in an unorganized, unprofessional way," he said. "Being at the center was really eye-opening and helped me approach things in a more beneficial, organized way and realize what I was doing could be more than playing around. It could be a career path and something I needed to take seriously." He said another benefit was singing in the foundation's Dream Team performance group in community settings. He said it gave him confidence to perform before large crowds. Today, DK attends Florida A&M University pursuing a double major in theater and psychology. One major will help further his dream of being a full-time recording artist and possible television or film director, and the other will allow him to help others. COMMUNITY ON BOARD In 2020, the Knight Foundation provided a $200,000 research grant to locate property and develop a plan for the new arts center. "The arts play a pivotal role in building more inclusive and engaged communities," said Koven Smith, Knight Foundation's senior director of arts. "Knight is looking forward to new opportunities that will be available to Macon's music students and musicians in the Otis Redding Foundation's new state-of- the-art facility. We see the facility as a key means for the Otis Redding Foundation to continue to cultivate Macon as the music hub of the South." Once located, Zelma Redding gave $1 million toward purchasing the Cotton Avenue-Cherry Street site consisting of a corner parking lot, adjacent property that was home to Nu-Way Wieners before being destroyed by fire, plus two additional buildings. Architectural work incorporating the new and existing buildings were led by BTBB Inc. Another early donor in the project was the Griffith Foundation, led by Benjy Griffith, who gave $1 million. Most recently, the Peyton Anderson Foundation pledged $1 million to be paid when matched by other donations totaling $4 million. LEFT: JUSTIN ANDREWS, ORF DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS & OUTREACH; BENJY GRIFFITH, THE GRIFFITH FOUNDATION; KARLA REDDING-ANDREWS; ZELMA REDDING; MACON-BIBB MAYOR LESTER MILLER; DR. KEVIN WILLIAMS, ORF BOARD MEMBER; KIMBERLY KELSEY EPPS, ORF CENTER DIRECTOR; MIRAKO LOYD, MOUNT DE SALES STUDENT OF ORF PROGRAMS ABOVE: CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN

• Cover