For Nancy Jo Cleveland and Andrea Cooke, it’s more than just spreading awareness. When it comes to mental health wellness, it’s about taking action and getting results.

The two women are leaders in Mayor Lester Miller’s Macon Mental Health Matters initiative. Mayor Miller announced the initiative in February 2021 as a way to support the well-being of people in our community by bringing support and services into the neighborhoods, rather than expecting people to seek them out.

On May 8, 2021, the group took help directly to people at Filmore Thomas Park with the first ever mental health pop-up gym. It included a Zen tea garden, yoga, and a free therapy session. The goal was to show our community there are many other ways you can get to better health.

“This is a way to bridge the gap of what mental wellness is,” says Andrea Cook with the Southern Center for Choice Theory. “Everyone won’t seek mental health care in the traditional sense, where they talk to a therapist.”

Cleveland, Executive Director of Macon Headspace, says the idea started off small with just one event in mind.

“Two years later, it went from one event to 24,” said Cleveland.

The group plans to host two pop-up gyms a month for the rest of the year in different neighborhoods. They are using data to figure out which neighborhoods could benefit the most from these events.

“The initiative is to level the playing field,” said Cooke. “And to show everybody that every individual in Macon-Bibb matters.”