Macon Magazine

February/March 2026 | maconmagazine.com 35 Nancy Anderson Former Director, Museum of Arts and Sciences I may not be a good judge since I am not as involved in the community at large as I was in the 1990s. But from my perspective, there does seem to have been progress in the sense that African Americans are expected to be, and are, active participants in community affairs. We're not as divided as we once were, though class differences continue. Inclusion probably began when districting led to blacks holding elective office, and expanded as leaders began to realize the value of having all citizens vested in the city's progress—as Robert Reichert said in his inaugural address: "We're all the the same boat, so if one part is leaking, we're all in trouble." African Americans are much more present in civic organizations — the Chamber, civic clubs, nonprofit boards. And yet social attitudes have been slow to change, in particular whites having totally abandoned the public school system is a huge impediment to cohesion. Nothing could better heal the racial and public divide better than children and parents coming together to create the future. Sylvia McGee Social worker Several predictions, such as consolidation of Macon–Bibb government and the growing diversity of our community were generally accurate, and evidence can be seen today. The predictions regarding illiteracy, teen pregnancy, and youth violence are still concerns, but I believe community leaders have a clearer context on why they persist. Poverty is a perennial in our community and those issues stem from the poverty rate in our community. Now, our community — government, education, foundations, business, nonprofits, and civic organizations — work collaboratively to respond to these concerns through meaningful prevention and intervention programs and strategies. That is growth. Charles Richardson Community Liaison, Office of the President, Middle Georgia State University I would say that my 2005 predictions fall into the "Still have work to do" category. In 2005 a revitalized downtown was just a fantasy. Consolidation was still years away. Race relations have dramatically improved, led in part by NewTown's visionary leader, the late Josh Rogers. Education remains the key to our future success. I am heartened by the progress we have made. School infrastructure has been improved immeasurably, and the graduation rates have risen. However, we have yet to sufficiently attack poverty of the mind and surroundings and our district teacher's pay still lags. I n the November/December 1995 issue, Skippy Lawson wrote: Downtown Macon bustles with shoppers and tourists. On the riverfront joggers move briskly along the trails of the greenway. At what was once City Hall, now the Macon-Bibb County Government Complex, the consolidated government is farsighted, well-planned and cost-effective. The community and schools have taken revolutionary steps to eradicate illiteracy, poverty, and racial disharmony and are reaping the benefits of their pro-active efforts. The economy burgeons: industries flock in; local entrepreneurship flourishes. OK, wake up. It's a great dream, but it couldn't really happen here, could it? We wondered if it could and as we began our 10th anniversary year, Macon Magazine asked community leaders to share their vision for 2005. Some of their comments were depressing, but all aimed to tell the truth. Many mentioned race relations. Read the full story with the original ten visionaries at maconmagazine.com We followed up with several of those who are still living with the question: Did your predictions of the community come true? Or what do we still have to work on?

• Cover