That was Lester Miller on a cool evening on Monday, February 3, talking to a group of nearly 100 people representing Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) partners. They were gathered for one of their regular Collaborative Learning Exchanges, and on this evening, they heard from the Mayor, MVP Coordinator Jeremy Grissom, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Heart of Middle Georgia President & CEO Betsy Fitzgerald.  

“We want you to learn something from your neighborhood,” Grissom told them before giving tips on reporting and accountability.  

“You find the best practices here, and not have to try and reinvent the wheel,” added Mayor Miller, pointing out that other cities have contacted Macon-Bibb to learn more about how they made this happen. “We have 537 cities in Georgia, and it was Macon that won the Visionary Coty Award for MVP.” 

At this Collaborative Exchange, the presentation was on the importance of protecting children being served by background checking volunteers and other policies. Betsy Fitzgerald with Big Brothers Big Sisters gave a very informational and important presentation on the importance of safety. 

  Following the welcome and presentations, the partners worked together to compare notes, identify challenges, find resources, and see if there are new ways they can together.