Macon Magazine

Leadership Macon Class of 2012 Chad Allen Kathleen Ashley Janel Bailey Mary Beth Barnes Stacie Barrett Robert Betzel Paul Bronson Mike Cady Morris Carr Natalie Chambliss-Beach Angel Collins Devlin Cooper Trence Cooper Clint Courson Jonathan Dye Andrea Freeman Lara Geller Christopher Gibson Danny Glover Eric Griffin Field Gudenrath Laura Jackson O'Claudia Johnson Nick Kouloungis Yolanda Latimore Summer Sterling Liipfert Tony Lowden Mechel McKinley Mary Lane McNeely Tameka Milligan Honey Miscall Jill Myers Trysha Stephens Brenda Sutton Daniel Tate Holly Taylor Chris Tsavatewa Tonia Vance Paula Wallace Wesley Walthall Pilar Wilder Eddie Wilson Greg Winters Koryn Young Power of Change By Jonathan Dye, Leadership Macon Class Being from a rural community in Central Georgia, Macon was the big city to my small town. My family would drive up to shop at the mall or visit someone in the hospital. After college graduation, I was reintroduced to the city and its rich cultural offerings. When I moved here in 2011, I thought I knew what to expect. Going through Leadership Macon showed me that I had only scratched the surface. Leadership Macon opened the eyes, and hearts, of the entire Class of 2012 to the issues that face our county. Economic and community development are powerful forces that can change lives. Servant leadership is required of all of us, and homelessness and poverty must be faced head on. We learned this and much more over the course of a year. As part of the Leadership Macon program, each group must complete a class project. The entire class must agree to it and no one can opt out of it. The project must have a lasting impact, and everyone in the group must put in sweat equity to complete it. We were given a platform and a mission, and our class chose the toughest of topics — homelessness. The "Power of Change" is a project designed to raise awareness about the organizations working to end homelessness within Macon and Bibb County and to provide a sustainable source of revenue for those non-profits. The program consists of nine donation stations (similar to parking meters) located throughout downtown. People can use these stations to make donations that go to benefit the member organizations of the Macon Coalition to End Homelessness (MCEH). Businesses and organizations embraced the project. Several stepped up to sponsor donation stations for up to three years. Those sponsorships can be renewed at the end of their terms and the revenue is donated to members of the MCEH. By engaging individuals and businesses, the "Power of Change" was able to bring the community together and change the conversation about homelessness. The dedication of the "Power of Change" donation stations was held on November 15, 2012. Class members, sponsors, friends, family, local elected officials, and community members gathered in Third Street Park to show their support. While that day marked the end of our time as a class, it was really just the beginning. The power of change doesn't lie in a meter downtown. Change occurs when people change. When we reject the stereotypes about those who are living in poverty and homelessness, change occurs. When a new person learns that they can volunteer with an organizational member of the coalition, and they do, change occurs. When a city faces its toughest problems with tenacity and grit, change occurs. The "Power of Change" should inspire us all to be better citizens. Individuals can make a difference by putting money into a donation station, by volunteering, or simply by recognizing the humanity of others. Businesses can make a difference by sponsoring a donation station, by encouraging employees to volunteer locally, or by donating to a coalition member. Everyone in the Leadership Macon Class of 2012 put his or her heart into this project. To accomplish it meant long hours outside of the regular workday. Over the course of the year, we worked together, cried together and laughed together. When we received City Council's unanimous approval to install the stations, we rejoiced together. These are the bonds built by Leadership Macon. The program requires so much but inspires even more. We are proud of what we have done so far. We believed in the "Power of Change" because Leadership Macon changed us. With our project, we hope to inspire change in others. Learn more about the "Power of Change" at PowerOfChangeMacon.com. Learn more about Leadership Macon at LeadershipMacon.org. Leadership Macon Class of 2012 Embraces the

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