Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1512887
104 maconmagazine.com | DECEMBER 2023/JANUARY 2024 200 years The bicentennial anthem and community partnerships Over the summer, Macon200 created an iconic photo of 200+ Maconites on the 200th day of the year in Rosa Parks Square, with drone footage shot by Olivia Walter with City Hall as a vibrant backdrop. Macon200 also premiered its official bicentennial anthem downtown in June at the Capitol Theatre to celebrate Black Music Month. "I Love My City" by CMD Styles quickly reached over 15,000 views online, with comments praising the positivity and references to dozens of Macon's landmarks and history. "Makin' each other smile, makin' our city better, makin' the type of memories that's gon' last forever." That lyric from the catchy, feel-good anthem is what the Macon200 effort was all about. The committee partnered with several extant organizations to foster music and community, from presenting Bragg Jam's Second Sundays to dropping the puck at a Macon Mayhem hockey game to working with Macon's Juneteenth celebration in Tattnall Square Park. A fter a year of celebration, Macon's 200th birthday is almost over. During the bicentennial celebration, known as Macon200, thousands of visitors and citizens reflected on their city's history (its triumphs, endemic injustices, and untold stories). We expressed our voices about the current moment and discovered ways to promote a harmonious future. When Mayor Lester Miller appointed a commission of citizens to carry out the year's activities in 2022, Macon's sense of renewal made for a hopeful mood. Bicentennial kickoff Citizens kicked off the bicentennial in style downtown with the inaugural Mayor's Sneaker Ball in December 2022 (for details about 2023's Sneaker Ball, see page 96). Maconites came together to dance and show off their kicks at Macon City Auditorium. Across from the newly renovated venue, technology funded by the Knight Foundation allowed for large-scale, 3-D video installations to be projected onto the Auditorium's limestone colonnade. Four films have been created so far, with more in the works. THE BICENTENNIAL COMMIT TEE WRAPS UP AN INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR OUR CITY BY JULIA MORRISON lo oks go o d on you, Macon