‘Investing in people is what makes a difference’: 25 organizations awarded MVP grant funds

On Wednesday, the sanctuary at Glorious Hope Baptist Church was filled with dozens of people committed to making our community a better place by preventing and reducing violent crime. They all gathered as Mayor Lester Miller and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia (CFCG) announced the newest Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) grant recipients

"This started out as a 10-year-plan, but we're amazed at what we've done together in just two years," said Mayor Lester Miller. "And it's thanks to organizations like these.

More than $800,000 in grant money was awarded to 25 non-profit organizations. Some were new recipients, others were returning recipients like Men About Change, who hosts programs aimed to not only keep students busy when they're not in school but help improve their academic and life skills. This summer, they had 80 children and 20 interns who participated in the camp at Glorious Hope.

"We start our after-school program August 6, and we already have 75 kids signed up for it," said Men About Change Founder Dr. Ervin Clowers. "They get hot meals, access to counselors, and mentorship."

Since the inception of MVP in 2021, $1,685,000 has been awarded to 40 different organizations' missions. In the last 18 months, Macon-Bibb County saw a 43% decrease in the homicide rate, 67% for teenagers.

"MVP is community led," said CFCG President Kathryn Dennis. "This isn't the government telling us how to do things. It's people in need telling us how to do this. Investing in people is what makes a difference."

The Macon Violence Prevention program began in 2021 when Mayor Miller brought together community leaders to address violent crime using evidence-based solutions. Based on feedback from 14 community forums and a series of community-wide surveys, these leaders developed the Macon Violence Prevention Strategic Plan.

100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia, Inc.	Academy to Inspire Readers A.I.R. 100	A.I.R. 100, launched by the 100 Black Men of Macon-Middle Georgia, Inc., teams up with Charles H. Bruce Elementary School to ignite a passion for reading among students. This initiative aims to bolster literacy skills and academic success in a community where educational support is crucial. Students will be tasked with meeting literacy metrics and those that achieve will be rewarded with a chartered flight to Washington D.C.	$20,000.00
Appleton Family Ministries	Appleton Free To Read	This grant will expand their successful summer literacy program to include an afterschool tutoring program for 1st-3rd graders at Ingram-Pye, Lewis, and Southfield elementary schools. With a focus on intensive phonics and math skills, and support from trained college tutors, this program aims to foster academic growth and strengthen community ties year-round, ensuring children receive continuous support in a nurturing environment.	$25,000
Brookdale Resource Center	Brookdale Resource Center After-School Mural Project	This grant will support the creation and installation of two murals at the Brookdale Resource Center, engaging sheltered youth aged 8-17 in creativity and community building and pride. Supervised by a local artist, this initiative aims to foster self empowerment, social change, and life skills development	$10,000
Campus Clubs, Inc.	Creating Avenues of Change for At-Risk Youth	This grant will enhance students' success by teaching essential character development and conflict resolution skills alongside valuable career exposure and work experience. With many students in their program facing challenges like exposure to trauma and financial instability at home, this program aims to equip them with crucial interpersonal skills needed for workplace and life success.	$40,000
Central Georgia CASA, Inc.	CASA Volunteers for Children and Youth	This grant will support CASA's efforts to expand its vital advocacy services for youth in foster care throughout Macon-Bibb County. Through strong partnerships with the Juvenile Court and DFCS, CASA recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children as mandated by the 2014 Georgia Juvenile Code. Thanks to previous MVP funding, CASA has significantly increased its coverage of the foster care population, serving 55% overall and 40% of those aged 12 and over.	$50,000
Communities in Schools of Central Georgia, Inc	IGNITE	This grant will enhance academic success by providing holistic support that empowers students to envision and pursue promising futures. Through collaboration with Bibb County Schools, Mama Hawk Draws, U-Create Macon, and the Griffith Family Foundation, CIS will offer diverse opportunities for student enrichment and mentorship continuity to include career and hobby skills through art business planning, bike shop training, cultural experiences, and summer activities like Macon Bacon games.	$30,000
C-QUL	Programming Booker T Washington Community Center	This grant will activate community spaces in the Pleasant Hill community through the Booker T. Washington Center and Linear Park. Inclusive programming h and safety through targeted interventions that promote community ownership and social cohesion in public spaces such as the soon-to-be-upgraded Linear Park and the Booker T. Washington Center. It includes empowering youth, engaging families, and fostering intergenerational connections through active programming and park activation. Notably, this is a conditional grant, contingent upon the submission of a comprehensive plan for the Booker T. Washington Center prior to the awarding of funds, ensuring effective implementation and alignment with project goals.	$12,500
Diamonds On Our Mind Foundation	a C.H.A.N.C.E Creating Hope & Nurturing Community Engagement 4 Males	This grant will support their partnership with the Bibb County School District and Men About Change to address low attendance and enhance the physical, nutritional, and educational well-being of students across Macon-Bibb. Additionally, funds will enable tutoring, college/university exposure, and job opportunities for underprivileged students, promoting their future success in higher education or technical fields after high school graduation.	$25,000
Epsilon Beta Lambda Foundation Inc	Alpha Esquires Mentoring	This grant will support the enhancement of the Alpha Esquires Mentoring Program allowing for transportation, lodging, meals, and marketing, facilitating transformative experiences such as the Alabama Civil Rights Trail Tour and the HBCU Tour to Nashville, TN. These initiatives aim to foster cultural understanding, promote academic aspirations, and equip participants with essential life skills through workshops on topics like teen dating and mental health practices, ultimately empowering them to succeed academically and socially.	$25,000
Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia	Mental Health Counseling and Case Management Services	This grant provides resources equivalent to a full-time therapist's workload, encompassing approximately 1,000 direct client contact hours and an additional 1,000 hours for preparation and follow-up tasks. These resources will facilitate individual therapy sessions for at-risk populations prone to crime involvement and specialized group sessions for parents of at-risk children.	$40,000

Girls Dig Deeper Initiative	The Winners' Mindset and Project reNew	This grant will provide school-hour mentorship and community-based after-school and summer programs like The Winners' Mindset; which is a comprehensive leadership development initiative that includes components on Leadership, Personal Growth, Mental Health, and Conflict Resolution, aiming to empower girls to overcome challenges and succeed. Additionally, with this grant GDDI will be able to host community-based events such as mental health check-ins and money management classes in collaboration with local organizations, supporting parents and caregivers while providing supervised activities for youth growth and development.	$15,000
Grow Macon Inc.	GROW MACON Community Initiative for Sustainable Living	This grant will support the expansion of supervised activities for youth in East Macon, engaging them in gardening, harvest distribution, community clean-ups, and educational workshops and events tailored to their age and interests. Through educational programs, residents will be empowered to enhance their financial stability and personal resilience, fostering a supportive community environment that empowers participants to break the cycle of poverty.	$30,000
I Am King Foundation, Inc.	I Am King Boys Camp (Extended)	This grant will support the expansion of youth services, including summer and winter camps, extended enrichment programs in math and reading, tutoring, group mentorship, and quarterly social activities. Additionally, we aim to provide essential mental health services through licensed therapists and social workers. This funding will also support facility use and travel expenses for programming and field trips, allowing us to enhance our impact and support more youth in our community effectively.	$33,000
Lead With Literacy	Macon Family Time	This grant will engage 30 families with children in grades K-12 through Macon Family Time, a dynamic family literacy and learning initiative. Expert family coaches will use research-based strategies to strengthen family bonds, increase reading habits, enhance mental health, and reduce youth engagement in harmful behaviors such as alcohol and drug use, violence, and delinquency. The program spans 11 weeks with weekly 2-hour sessions featuring family mealtime, skills training classes for adults and youth, and interactive family activities centered around a Book of the Week.	$50,000
Living Bread Restoration Outreach, Inc.	Victory Academy After School Program	This grant will serve children, youth, and teens ages 5 to 18, offering opportunities to develop positive life skills and engage in meaningful activities such as arts exposure, mentorship, and exploration of STEAM career paths. Their programming provides academic support, individual music lessons including piano, voice, drum, and guitar, access to a production studio for music recording, an aviation introduction via a flight simulator, robotics, gardening, and more.	$75,000
Macon Black Culture	Macon Black Culture Inclusion Initiative	This grant will support Macon Black Culture Inc (MBCI) in its initiative to engage local youth ages 11 through 17 with year-round arts, culture, and humanities programs. These activities are designed to inspire creativity, encourage personal growth, and reduce the risk of youth involvement in criminal activities by providing meaningful opportunities for artistic expression and cultural exploration.	$15,000
Macon Hope, Inc	Golf Camps for Middle Georgia Youth	This grant will support First Tee - Middle Georgia in launching year-round on-course programming for youth aged 7-18, with a strong emphasis on recruiting children from underserved communities. Programming will integrate golf with a life skills curriculum to foster inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience in young people.	$20,000
Macon-Bibb County Health Department	Project SHIELD: Students Helping Individuals Engage Life's Dilemmas	This grant will support the Macon-Bibb County Health Department (MBCHD) in facilitating and hosting in-person Youth Mental Health First Aid sessions for high school students in Macon-Bibb County. Youth Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training program aimed at teaching participants aged 12-18 how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse challenges among their peers.The sessions will empower students to initiate supportive conversations about mental health and substance abuse, equipping them with the skills to seek help from responsible adults when needed.	$15,000
Men About Change, Inc.	Supporting our "Learning for Life" Approach	This grant will support Men About Change (MAC) in their Afterschool and Summer Programs for youth ages 5-18, featuring literacy and STEM-focused academic support, mentorship programs to enhance communication skills and social accountability, and mental health services aligned with the Second Step SEL framework, targeting enrollees with psychological or behavioral concerns. MAC aims to foster holistic development and prepare youth for future education and workforce opportunities through their integrated "Learning for Life" approach.	$30,000
Middle Georgia Justice	Macon Judicial Circuit Second Opportunity Desk (The Desk)	This grant will enable The Desk to continue offering structured and visible criminal history relief services to residents of Bibb County. These services are crucial in helping individuals resolve issues related to their criminal histories, thereby significantly improving their prospects for employment and enhancing their overall quality of life.This initiative addresses a fundamental barrier to employment and societal reintegration faced by many individuals with criminal histories, fostering a more inclusive and productive community environment.	$65,000

Next Level Community Development Center Inc.	Next Level Community Development Center Inc (NLCDC) DBA Camp Zion	This grant aims to reduce violence and crime in Macon-Bibb County by expanding prevention/intervention services, mental health support, academic remediation, and seasonal camps for marginalized youth. Targeting 175 youths aged 5-19 at high risk, the program focuses on self-esteem, community peace, social skills, and college/career readiness to foster academic success and healthier lifestyles, measured through reduced suspensions, academic growth, increased parent involvement, and improved mental health awareness.	$90,000
PACE Center for Girls, Inc.	Empowering Girls Against Violence	This grant will provide prevention, intervention, and diversion services to middle and high school girls at-risk for juvenile justice involvement, focusing on those with multiple adverse childhood experiences. Pace Macon's holistic approach, validated by MDRC, aims to enhance school success, reduce delinquency, and improve mental health outcomes among at-risk girls aged 11 to 18.	$40,000
Real IMAPCT Center, Inc.	STEAM Program for Girls- Macon STEAMtrips	This grant will support Real IMPACT Center (RIC) in empowering young girls from underserved communities in Macon-Bibb County, spanning 3rd to 12th grades. RIC aims to close the gender gap in STEAM education by providing hands-on learning, exposure to professional role models, and innovative technologies. The funding will enhance program retention, facilitate travel opportunities for middle school-aged girls and their parents, and establish pathways to pre-college STEAM programs.	$40,000
United Way of Central Georgia	Parent AcSELerator Program	This grant will support the United Way of Central Georgia's Parent AcSELerator Program, which aims to enhance parenting skills and family environments by providing personalized support to parents managing their children's home-school balance. AcSELerators offer non-institutional, informal, and confidential guidance through well-check calls, resource navigation, parenting tips, and encouragement. This initiative at LH Williams Elementary will empower parent participants to mitigate disengagement, isolation, and antisocial interactions, ultimately fostering a nurturing family environment and reducing social exclusion.	$30,000
United Way of Central Georgia	Ma-Con men better	This proposal aims to implement a comprehensive support and education program for men, utilizing evidence-based practices to address Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and promote non-violent conflict resolution skills. By providing structured support and fostering accountability, the initiative seeks to empower men to adopt healthier behaviors and relationships. Ultimately, the project aims not only to reduce instances of IPV but also to cultivate a community where strong, responsible men contribute positively to the overall well-being and future prosperity of Macon and Bibb County.	$30,000

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