On Oct. 26, the Macon-Bibb Commission Committee came together to discuss a resolution calling for an "Equitable, Diverse and Inclusive World Class Community."
The resolution would lead to the creation of a diverse and all-inclusive urban community with secure, attractive residential and commercial neighborhoods for its citizens to live in.
"Equity lends a much deeper dive into what we do. All doors are open in equality, but equity looks at outcomes on the back end," District 8 Commissioner Virgil Watkins Jr. said.
Equality refers to how an individual or group is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity, however, recognizes that each person or group has different circumstances and allots the resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
The resolution would seek to improve education and literacy in underfunded elementary schools in Macon-Bibb County, working to eliminate racial and socioeconomic barriers.
To accomplish this, Macon-Bibb County would work with partners such as Bibb County Public Schools, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, The Community Foundation, The Knight Foundation and other beneficial groups.
"The school to prison pipeline is real. We need to have these tough conversations," Al Tillman said during the committee meeting before voting on the resolution.
The resolution would also recognize native Spanish speakers in the Macon-Bibb community and offer a translation for important broadcast information for native Spanish speakers.
This idea would follow the resolution’s idea that Macon-Bibb County would consider those who are benefitted and those who are burdened in the community by the Macon-Bibb Commission Committee’s decision-making, their policies and their responsiveness to the citizens.
Overall, the resolution would recognize how conditions in the community affect the opportunities and well-being of the citizens including the economy, environment, housing, public facilities and infrastructure, healthcare, land use policy, neighborhoods, education, and social connectedness in the community.
The resolution was passed when the committee reconvened Nov. 3 with a 5-4 tie-breaking vote by Mayor Lester Miller.
According to Mayor Miller, County Manager Keith Moffett would direct a staff member to keep track of the metrics of the resolution with any additional funds to be brought up as a request to the commission at a future date.
