The Macon-Bibb Mayor's Literacy Alliance will hold its first-ever Strategic Planning Retreat on Thursday, February 23, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Bibb County School District Professional Learning Center (2007 Riverside Drive). Community leaders from various organizations and businesses will discuss literacy improvement across the county through a variety of discussions facilitated by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

“This collaborative effort will allow us the chance to better identify the literacy needs, set targets, and plan our steps to improve literacy for children and adults,” says MLA Executive Director Jim Montgomery. “This work is too important for each of us to do it alone; this is a team effort requiring us to work more closely together if we are to make the strides needed.”

“Literacy is at the core of all that helps people be successful…it’s not just about being able to read,” says Mayor Lester Miller. “In order for us to make sure we are helping all people be successful, we must better understand the needs of people, the available resources, and the gaps that currently exist.”

The five identified areas of focus are family literacy, workforce development literacy, digital literacy, environmental literacy, and re-entry literacy, and the discussions during the day will lead to the recommendation of 3-5 priorities for each. Participants will then discuss for each area the community’s existing resources, the driving and restraining forces in the community, and how they can plan for future success. Everything from this first session will be used as the basis for an Action Planning session to be held on April 6.

"We are excited to have so many community leaders assemble to continue discussions about literacy in Macon-Bibb,” says Dr. Wanda West, Special Projects Manager for Adult Education at Central Georgia Technical College. “As we undertake this critical work, it is important for us to remain intentional if we are to reach viable solutions to address everyone’s literacy needs.”

In attendance during the first Strategic Planning Session will be WorkSource Macon-Bibb, Middle Georgia Regional Library, Central Georgia Technical College, Bibb County School District, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentors Project of Bibb County, Department of Juvenile Justice, Civil and Magistrate Court, Habitat for Humanity, Mayor's Council of Clergy, Que Pasa, and YKK (U.S.A.), Inc. Other partners working with the MLA include The Knight Foundation, Macon Magazine, MidSouth Community Federal Credit Union, Macon Housing Authority, Bibb Community Partnerships, and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful.

This session is open to invited organizations and the media. Future sessions involving the public are currently being planned.