Reimagining the Civic Commons (RCC) released a report on civic engagement, Investing with Intention: Our Four Outcomes, that focuses on the successes of two cities: Macon, GA and Lexington, KY. They were selected because of their work to advance civic engagement and strengthen democracy through public spaces. For Macon, RCC cites the Macon Action Plan (MAP) as a national example of how cities can creatively involve residents in improving their communities.

“Our Downtown and surrounding neighborhood’s current resurgence and successes can be tied directly to the partnerships, shared vision, passion, and strength of will formed through the Macon Action Plan,” says Alex Morrison, Executive Director of the Urban Development Authority, which is the convening organization. “We could not have done this without the support of people living and working throughout Downtown, as well as the support of the Knight Foundation, Peyton Anderson Foundation, and city government.”

“There is strong evidence of the benefits of a civically engaged community. In today’s environment of declining trust and a threatened democracy, reviving local public life is more important than ever,” says Bridget Marquis, Director of the Reimagining the Civic Commons Network. “People who live in communities with robust local civic life trust one another more, share more resources, and experience a greater sense of social cohesion. And when people have higher levels of trust, economies are bolstered, and democracy is strengthened.”

“At Knight, we know public spaces work best when they intentionally meet residents’ needs and that only happens best when people are informed and engaged. We have proudly supported this work in Macon for close to two decades and are thrilled that, with this national recognition, others will now have an opportunity to learn from Macon’s success,” says Lynn Murphey, Knight Foundation Director for Macon.

The RCC’s report cites the Macon team’s use of “democraticized implementation,” meaning they actively engage people and groups in planning, designing, and building projects, as opposed to centralizing it with one organization. It was approved in 2015 after an 18 month-long planning process that was open to the entire community and included input from more than two thousand people through engaging public meetings and events, online forms, and more.

The plan - thanks to initial funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Peyton Anderson Foundation ($1.5 million from each) and grant implementation by the Community Foundation of Central Georgia - the Downtown community and surrounding neighborhoods have completed eighty percent of the strategies and project in the original plan. Downtown, through the success of MAP, has also attracted more than $400 million in additional public and private investment.

“Unlike many master plans that involve community input but rely on government implementation, MAP centers the community in its implementation of projects,” the report reads. “By doing so, they’ve created a fertile environment for sustained civic engagement.”

With the overwhelming success that was led by the community through MAP, Macon has been selected to host the next nation-wide Civic Commons Studio from April 11-13, and will feature more than 100 public space experts from cities and leading nonprofits from across the country. They will tour the city, learn about Macon’s public spaces and revitalization efforts, explore Downtown’s connection to the Historic Pleasant Hill neighborhood, and learn about the collaborative efforts to turn Ocmulgee Mounds National Historic Park into Georgia’s first National Park. Click here for the Studio’s full agenda.

“This will be a great chance for leaders from across the country to understand how Macon’s unique approach, through the Macon Action Plan, is bringing people back into public life to shape their community’s future,” adds Marquis.

“This is an accomplishment made possible by a number of outstanding local leaders and partners, including the local Reimagining Civic Commons co-chairs, Alex Morrison, Urban Development Authority Executive Director, and Robert Walker, Macon-Bibb’s Director of Recreation,” adds Murphey.

“Being selected to host the studio is a validation of the work we have been doing in Macon to create a better future together through civic engagement and an improved public realm,” adds Morrison. “Once again, the nation is looking at Macon as a national leader of democratizing both its planning and implementation of public projects, and building a more inviting, inclusive, and prosperous community for all people.”