Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/837756
SUSAN & FRANK Frank: "We wanted more diversity, and we saw the emerging life downtown … It's our ministry." Susan: "It's important to us to be hospitable ... because most of these people have had other things going on. They've been busy looking for a house, or they've been trying to adjust to a new job, or we have someone there now who needed a safer place to live ..." MARGUERITE "My family's been here since the beginning. And, I love Macon. I just love Macon. I do. Coming from North Macon, everybody said, 'Oh, aren't you afraid of being downtown?' Oh my goodness, I feel so much safer being downtown than I ever felt in North Macon. I am loving that I am outside of my box that I have been in for pretty much all of my life. I love the people. The people who sit out here on the corner at The Dempsey, they're all your friends! The restaurants … everybody just knows you." CHRISTINA "... when I was growing up, we would not come to Macon; we would not go downtown. It was kind of dangerous. Macon was gritty; it was dark. So, coming to school here, it's really built up a lot. I love going downtown. I don't think enough Mercer students come downtown. One of my favorite things is to come during First Fridays and stop at the art galleries. I mean, free wine and cheeses! Students should take advantage of that." LEILA "If we went to New York it wouldn't make a difference. If we came to Macon, we might actually be a part of something. And, I had no idea. I thought I was going to be so bored. I honestly was planning on raising chickens and sewing. That was my plan. I have never been so busy in my entire life. I've been really honored that I got to see Macon grow how it has. No matter what, that's always something I am grateful I got to be a part of." MACON HAS A STORY TO TELL. One by one, The Maconites tell their own piece of that story. See and read the ongoing story. The documented stories and photos personify our Urban Core and the heart of Macon. This project is funded by The Downtown Challenge Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, created to implement the Macon Action Plan through a series of grants to local businesses, nonprofits, individuals, and government entities. To read the Macon Action Plan, please visit MaconActionPlan.com. www.TheMaconites.com