Macon Magazine

February/March 2026 | maconmagazine.com 83 communication tool, the Clergy Council helps ensure that accurate, timely information reaches deep into the community, and everyone has a seat at the table. NEXT GENERATION CITIZENS The Department of Community Affairs also runs the GCAPS program, which stands for the Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students. Developed by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, GCAPS seeks to address a persistent challenge in civic life, that many people do not understand how local government works until something goes wrong. GCAPS introduces high school students to county government by touring facilities and meeting local and state officials. They learn not only who does what, but also why those roles matter, and get any lingering questions answered. On the day MM followed Ficklin, he accompanied GCAPS students to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office Annex. For many of them, the combination of seeing how information and technology coordinate law enforcement behind the scenes was eye-opening. In many ways, the program serves as a live "how stuff works" lesson, like this column. "There's just a lot of little nooks and crannies that people really don't understand about government," Ficklin said. FROM THE CLASSROOM TO CITY HALL Ficklin's approach to community affairs is inseparable from his personal history. His early ambitions ranged from FBI agent to lawyer to doctor, but his path ultimately led him to education and ministry. He worked overnight jobs cleaning floors and served as a hospital orderly before settling into teaching at Ballard-Hudson Middle School. His experiences shaped his understanding of fairness and persistence. "I think that, especially in Macon, my experiences have caused me to understand basically what people go through in trying to get justice and equality, because I've been through it myself," Ficklin said, pointing to a recent protest at city hall about jail conditions. "Of course, I went out on the porch, and then [the demonstrators] verbally attacked me. It was funny to me because I've been arrested for protesting before. I understood where they were coming from." His ministry began early, teaching Bible classes at age 13, and he has served as pastor of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church since 1978. Teaching and preaching felt like parallel tracks to Ficklin. "I love teaching and helping others," he says. "So going into the ministry was a natural step." Now working just down the hall from him, Ficklin said he's known the mayor since Miller was in high school, and supports him intuitively. That background also informs how he handles difficult encounters at City Hall, prioritizing dignity and de-escalation for citizens. Ficklin emphasizes acknowledging concerns and responding in ways that do not inflame already fragile situations in his work. His historical knowledge extends beyond policy into place. Ficklin has a passion for local Black history, speaking at length about the origin of the Unionville neighborhood, which Ficklin says was founded by formerly enslaved people freed by Union soldiers. He believes learning that kind of context reframes community pride and reinforces why civic engagement matters. Asked what advice he would give to someone who wants to help their community thrive, Ficklin's answer is simple and consistent with his life's work: start by gathering people, listening to them, and building consensus around what they need. In many ways, that is the mission of the Department of Community Affairs, and of Ficklin's career. Gathering neighbors persistently, with a deep understanding that government can only work when people believe it is listening. "I think that, especially in Macon, my experiences have caused me to understand basically what people go through in trying to get justice and equality, because I've been through it myself." RIGHT Ficklin keeps hundreds of diverse interfaith clergy informed through the program.

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