Macon-Bibb County’s Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS) cohort visited the Thomas Jackson Juvenile Justice Center (560 Oglethorpe Street) on Tuesday, January 13, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. The visit was part of the cohort’s year-long program to learn first-hand the roles and services the consolidated Macon-Bibb County government provides.
During the visit, students participated in a leadership exercise, discussed their community service project and upcoming events, took a tour of the new Juvenile Justice Center, and learned about youth responsibility, and youth and family support programs offered.
So far, this year’s cohort has visited the Macon-Bibb County Government Center, the Emergency Management Agency, Fire Department Headquarters, and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and Law Enforcement Center, and they have assisted at a variety of government functions including Commission Meetings.
“Helping youth achieve their full potential is important, and our GCAPS Initiative seeks to develop lifelong interest in students geared toward serving our community,” says Assistant County Manager Charles Coney. “The trainings and experiences help them take an active role today in preparation for more extensive civic involvement in the future.”
In the coming weeks, the GCAPS Cohort will attend the Georgia Municipal Association’s Mayors’ Day in Atlanta and GCAPS Day at the Capital, and participate in a Job Shadowing Day with Macon-Bibb departments.
Taste of Macon-Bibb Follies Fundraiser
Macon-Bibb County will host the second Taste of Macon-Bibb Follies to help raise money for the GCAPS Cohort to take field trips and learn about government and civic engagement. This year’s event will be held on January 30 at The Douglass Theatre. A reception will be hosted at 6:30 p.m. with the performances beginning at 7:00 p.m. Seating is limited, and tickets can be purchased from any Commissioner or at the Mayor’s Office in Government Center for $15.
Featured performers this year include: Mayor Pro-Tem Bert Bivins, Commissioners Scotty Shepherd and Larry Schlesinger, Mayor Robert Reichert, Macon-Bibb staff members, former elected officials from the City of Macon and Bibb County, representatives from the Health Department, Macon Water Authority, and Fire Department, and more.
About Macon-Bibb GCAPS
For the past two years, Bibb County (and now Macon-Bibb County) has participated in the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s (ACCG) Georgia Civic Awareness Program for Students (GCAPS). More than 100 students from Bibb County public and private schools applied for this year’s cohort, and 33 students were selected through a rigorous application and interview process to participate.
Students in the Macon-Bibb GCAPS cohort will see how government works, what’s changing through consolidation, and how they can be involved with and improve the community now and in the future. Throughout the course of the year, students will take part in team-building exercises, attend Commission meetings, tour county facilities, visit the State Capitol, and interact with local and state leaders.
Click here to watch a feature video from MaconBibbTV about the cohort’s Leadership Summit.