Reimagining the Civic Commons (RCC) Macon is announcing the recipients of its first Pleasant Hill mini-grants, a $600 funding opportunity designed to bring public spaces to life through neighborhood-led activities. Funded events in Historic Pleasant Hill began March 7 and are continuing this weekend.
Each grant is being used to purchase equipment and supplies for at least three activities that activate public spaces in Pleasant Hill. These activities are intended to bring neighbors together, promote fairness and inclusion, care for the environment, and support local economic opportunity in Macon-Bibb County. Applications were scored on RCC’s 4 focus areas: community engagement, equity, environmental sustainability, economic sustainability.
“Through these mini-grants, community members and partners are helping activate Pleasant Hill’s public spaces creating opportunities for connection, equity, environmental stewardship, and local vitality,” says Weston Stroud, RCC Macon Co-Chair.
Below is a list of recipients, description of the programs and activities, and the date of the first of their three events.
Historic Pleasant Hill was selected for this mini-grant opportunity because of its long-standing involvement with RCC and its early support of intentional public space investment. RCC has worked alongside the neighborhood, including the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood Organization, on multiple public-space-focused projects since joining the RCC network in 2020.
“Pleasant Hill is one of Macon’s most historic neighborhoods and has been an early and important partner in Reimagining the Civic Commons work,” adds Stroud. “These events will build on our shared commitment to activating parks and public spaces in ways that encourage social connection, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood vitality.”
The grants were announced and the events are beginning as part of Macon’s Public Spaces Week, a week of free, family-friendly activities hosted by local organizations. The week was officially declared this by Mayor Lester Miller in a proclamation presented during the Urban Development Authority Meeting on March 12.
The events are all designed to celebrate the parks, neighborhoods, and gathering spaces that bring our community together, and people are invited and encouraged to come out, connect, and experience the power of public spaces in action.
Other events this weekend include the Macon Mental Health Matters Mental Health Pop-up Shop in Bicentennial Park on March 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and the Macon Pride Graffiti Art Pop Up in Downtown Macon on March 14 from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Macon’s Reimagining Civic Commons efforts are made possible through support from the Knight Foundation, the Freedom Together Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, and the William Penn Foundation.
Pleasant Hill Mini-Grant Recipients
JaCory Marcus
Jefferson Long Park
March 13, 2026 (Collaboration with Monica Miller)
The Pleasant Hill Community Activation Series is a three-event initiative designed to bring neighbors together through a Community Cookout & Resource Day, Small Business Pop-Up, and Outdoor Movie Night. Each event will be free and open to the public, encouraging positive use of shared spaces while strengthening relationships among residents.
The project supports local entrepreneurs by providing vendor opportunities and promotes environmental stewardship through responsible park use. By combining food, entertainment, and economic engagement, the series fosters social trust, inclusion, and community pride while aligning with RCC’s focus on engagement, equity, sustainability, and long-term neighborhood vitality.
Thomas Duval, DDS, MPH
Little Richard House
March 13, 2026
The Pleasant Hill Digital History Reading Mini Grant combines literacy, technology, and local history to engage youth in preserving community heritage. Students will research Historic Pleasant Hill leaders and sites, create animated digital content, and contribute to a community coloring book distributed locally. Using literacy software and animation tools, the project strengthens reading skills while introducing digital media pathways connected to future careers. Intergenerational storytelling and public read-aloud events will further connect youth with community history. By blending cultural preservation with education and technology, the project fosters engagement, pride, literacy advancement, and long-term economic opportunity.
Monica Miller
Jefferson Long Park
March 13, 2026 (Collaboration with JaCory Marcus)
This three-part outdoor movie series transforms Pleasant Hill parks into welcoming “outdoor living rooms.” Events include a “Know Your Neighbor” kickoff with interactive bingo, a Heritage & Family Night featuring locally filmed movies, and a community-choice finale selected by residents. Free food and open access ensure inclusivity, while recycling stations promote environmental care. Equipment will be stored locally for future neighborhood use, creating lasting capacity. By combining entertainment, structured interaction, and local business promotion, the project strengthens social bonds, encourages shared ownership of public space, and builds sustainable community activation beyond the initial grant period.
Kimberly Johnson
Matti Hubbard Jones Park
March 14, 2026
The Porch Pop-Up Series recreates classic “front porch” culture through three outdoor gatherings featuring games, storytelling, music, and food. Events include Game Night with dominoes and chess, a Story Circle connecting elders and youth, and a Music & Open Mic evening showcasing local talent. Free and culturally familiar, the gatherings encourage face-to-face interaction and intergenerational dialogue. Reusable materials reduce waste, and the welcoming format removes barriers to participation. By celebrating history, storytelling, and neighborly connection, the series strengthens social ties, promotes environmental mindfulness, and builds pride in Pleasant Hill’s public spaces.
Cache’t Peterson
Jefferson Long Park
April 18th 2026
This project will host three free community fitness sessions in a Pleasant Hill public space, including a family fitness event, a beginner-friendly group workout, and a guided wellness walk. Designed for all ages and ability levels, the sessions encourage movement, stress reduction, and healthy habits in a supportive environment. By creating accessible outdoor wellness opportunities, the initiative activates public space, promotes physical health, and strengthens neighbor connections. The series fosters consistent engagement, builds community morale, and encourages long-term positive use of neighborhood parks through inclusive and welcoming programming.
Joniece Dorsey
Linear Park
March 7, 2026 (Collaboration with Monica Miller)
Pleasant Hill Wellness Pop-Ups is a three-event series focused on holistic wellness, connection, and shared responsibility in public spaces. Each gathering will include light movement or relaxation activities, a resource table, and a brief community cleanup effort. Designed to be free and accessible for all ages, the events create welcoming spaces for neighbors to connect while promoting environmental stewardship.
Local businesses will be invited to participate, supporting small vendors and strengthening economic circulation within the neighborhood. Hosted at parks and garden spaces in Pleasant Hill, the series builds consistency, trust, and wellness-centered engagement in community commons.
Joe Booze
Booker T. Washington Center
March 7, 2026
“There’s Power in My Voice” is a three-part youth storytelling and civic engagement series hosted in a Pleasant Hill park. Youth ages 12–28 will record short video reflections about neighborhood challenges and solutions through a structured Voice Booth station. The project elevates youth perspectives often excluded from planning conversations and creates visible opportunities for civic participation. At the conclusion, recorded feedback will be compiled into a summary report and shared with neighborhood leaders and RCC. By centering youth voice, the series promotes engagement, equity, and long-term opportunity while encouraging dialogue about public space improvements and community investment.