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"Shalom Zones" Set Up In Macon
Celeste Smith
Story Created:
Feb 12, 2010 at 6:24 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 12, 2010 at 10:58 PM CDT
Lynmore Estates is changing and not just because of the snow. The neighborhood is in training to become a "Shalom Zone” as part of a national program to help empower local communities.
Mayor Robert Reichert's office introduced the initiative last year. Friday, he and the National Shalom Communities Committee visited Lynmore Estates to learn about their progress.
Keith Moffett, Director of Internal Affairs for the Mayor’s Office, says, "We've asked the community and the citizens in that neighborhood to identify what their resources and assets area, and what we can do as a City to partner with them to accomplish their goals."
In Lynmore Estates, one goal is to get rid of the abandoned homes.
"I think we have done a great job, thus far, of instilling a sense of hope,” says Mayor Robert Reichert. “We've got people now working on plans for their neighborhood."
There are six Shalom Zones in Macon: Lynmore Estates, Village Green, Bellevue/Hillcreast, Pleasant Hill, East Macon and Beall's Hill. Macon is the first city to introduce six zones at once and the city has mobilized more than 100 people to join the effort.
Michael Christensen, National Director of Communities of Shalom, says, "With buildings dilapidated... with abandoned homes... with crime and drugs... the stakes are high enough that it causes folks to come together and say, ‘We can do together what we can't do by ourselves.’”
Residents say the program has already had a positive impact.
"It's brought people together. Everybody is just more concerned about other people. So I think it's doing great,” says Lynmore Estates resident Alma Harrell.
And those involved say if just one neighborhood is lifted up, it'll lift up the entire community.
Training will be completed next month and then the six communities will be commissioned as official “Shalom sites.” Then they can starting putting their plans into action.
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