Mayor’s Literacy Alliance launches month-long Literacy Celebration in Macon-Bibb County
"The whole purpose of the week is to stress the significance of the importance of literacy," MBMLA Executive Director Jim Montgomery said.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Macon-Bibb Mayor’s Literacy Alliance (MBMLA) started its first-ever month-long Literacy Celebration with a luncheon unveiling a two-generation strategic plan to improve literacy throughout the county.
Central High School’s String Quartet, led by Jerry Tolbert, played music as community leaders gathered to start the celebration.
“Macon-Bibb Mayor’s Literacy Alliance has adopted a two generation approach to support programs that address family literacy, digital literacy, environmental literacy, reentry literacy, workforce development, and adult literacy and education to achieve better outcomes for parents and children. Now, therefore, the Mayor, the honorable Lester M. Miller, along with the other nine elected members, County Commission, do hereby proclaim September 2024 as Adult Education and Family Literacy Month in Macon-Bibb County,” District 3 Commissioner Elaine Lucas said, while reading the Mayor’s new proclamation.
Mayor Lester Miller’s proclamation officially makes September Adult Education and Family Literacy Month instead of just a week in Macon-Bibb County.
Various events will be held over the course of the month to promote the importance of literacy.
We spoke with Dr. Wanda West, Chairman of the Board of MBMLA, and also the Special Projects Manager for Central Georgia Technical College, about her thoughts on literacy.
“Literacy matters, and Macon will be lit this month,” she said. “So, we are asking everybody in this community to become involved in helping us to grow the most literate community in this country. We are excited and we ask all of the people out there to watch our schedule because Macon will be lit this month.”
#GetLitMacon, which is the slogan for one event happening next week, Lights on Family Reading Night, is a night during which the MBMLA is encouraging families to read together to demonstrate their commitment to improving literacy and share photos and videos using the hashtag and their email maconbibbliteracyalliance@gmail.com. You could be featured on their website. The event, happening September 18, will start at 7 p.m.
Other events happening include a Neighborhood Cleanup & Community Garden Day at Eastview Park from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 14, Miss Georgia & Miss Georgia’s Teen Educational School Tour on September 16, and The Truth About Reading Movie Night at the Douglass Theatre on September 17.
“The whole purpose of the week is to stress the significance of the importance of literacy,” MBMLA Executive Director Jim Montgomery said.
“We have reached this particular point in our existence and we’re moving forward to raise the literacy rate and the reading rate in Bibb County by at least, 50%, in the next ten years,” MBMLA Vice President Rev. Dr. Henry Ficklin said.
“You won’t be able to bring crime down until we grow a literate community,” West said. “We won’t be able to stop the discipline problems until we get parents and students together.”
