At a meeting on October 21, Mayor Lester Miller and the Commission approved $25,000 in Macon Violence Prevention program funding for afterschool program services through Next Level Community Development Center. They currently serve students in 14 schools around the county, and Next Level has a documented history of successfully serving students and preparing them for their future.
“We’re very intentional about serving the children who need us the most,” says Lakesia Toomer, Next Level Executive Director, pointing out they served more than 250 students in summer camps and currently have about 100 students in their afterschool programs. Thanks to county funding through the Macon Violence Prevention program the past few years, they have been able to expand services.
About Next Level Community Development Center
At Next Level Community Development Center, we are committed to educating, inspiring, and empowering students in the Macon-Bibb County area to help them achieve lifelong success. We believe every student has the potential to transform the world when given the right opportunities.
Our programs are designed to develop well-rounded individuals who excel academically and are prepared for success in college and the workforce. Through our Afterschool Program, Summer Program, and E.L.I.T.E. Leadership Academy, students gain leadership and life skills, receive academic support, engage in enriching extracurricular activities, and build lasting relationships with their peers.
Founded in 2000 as an outreach ministry of Bibb Mount Zion Baptist Church under the visionary leadership of the late Pastor Teddy Parker, Jr., NLCDC has grown from serving 35 students to impacting over 225 students each summer and 90 students in our afterschool program.
Call 478-781-0401 to learn more about how we are shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
About the Macon Violence Prevention Program
Macon Violence Prevention is an evidence-based, multifaceted program created to address public safety in Macon-Bibb County. Supported and funded by the consolidated government, MVP is a community-wide effort that brings together elected officials, community leaders and representatives from more than 20 agencies, organizations, and departments.
The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, which was created in June of 2021 by community stakeholders and violent crime experts. The plan combines data and research with community feedback to identify and implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.
Since its inception, more than $2.5 million has been granted to local nonprofit and community organizations. From 2022 to 2024, the Macon-Bibb homicide rate dropped by 45%, and the youth homicide rate fell by 87% between 2022 and 2024.