What Do We Need To Do?
Gateway Macon is an initiative of the Peyton Anderson Foundation tasked with getting the word out about Macon to other places. We've started with Houston & Peach County, the Atlanta area, Savannah, and any other place we can capture the imagination of the traveler and convince them that Macon is a great place to stop.
We've been seeing a lot of conversation about Macon, Georgia. How do we express the things we are disappointed about while still being positive about the things that are actually great? How do we push our city forward? Do we believe we have a part to play in rebuilding Macon along the "right" lines? What are the right lines that Macon needs to move along? Everyone has an opinion and every opinion needs to be heard.
A few places trying to help get the word out about the great things going on in Macon:
Macon 500 - The Macon 500 is more or less like the Fortune 500, except instead of just companies (whom you should nominate) you are also nominating people, organizations, civic groups, and movements. If you think someone or something makes Macon a better place to live, they should be nominated.
I Love Macon - This campaign, started by 10 years of 5 under 40 leaders from Macon Magazine, wants us to start positive conversations about the city we love (yes, Macon, Georgia!) all with one thought in mind: What do you love about Macon, Georgia?
Celebrate Positive - Last year, Macon won an award for being a positive community. We won because of the events we sponsor, the way the downtown area has grown, and many other things. Like dieting, it is hard to see the results while you are around the dieter, but the outside person that hasn't seen the city in years and finally looks in can see the positive changes. Celebrate Positive wants us to remember that there is an outsider view of us that shows that Macon, Georgia is pretty special and are achieving new things every day.
So, what how do you want to do this? Be positive and work to make some changes? Complain, do nothing, and put down every effort? Be critical, but work with those you believe will make a change? There are many answers to this question. What's yours?