Communities of Opportunity Initiative, the Boost We Needed

Hancock County is a community of opportunity with a history of rewarding dreamers, innovators and risk takers. Several influential individuals have become known around the world for their extraordinary accomplishments. Jean Toomer, who lived and worked in Hancock County, wrote the novelCane, starting the Harlem Renaissance. The Grant brothers honed their athletic skills and became NBA stars.David Dickson, a farmer and writer on agriculture, left his entire fortune to his mulatto daughter, makingAmanda America Dickson one of the wealthiest women in America. Zack and Camilla Hubertgave all twelve of their children a college education, two becoming college presidents.

Through the Communities of Opportunity Initiative, local citizens, elected officials and business owners are determined to rekindle the spirit that motivated those early dreamers, risk takers and innovators. This collaborative spirit has resulted in the efforts of Don Bevill, Jessie Mitchell and LaTunya Goodwin to expand the local Chamber of Commerce. The Broadband Taskforce, Commissioner Ted Reid, Ron Waddell, Tanna Revennaugh, Brenda Thornton and Don Bevill, is working to offer affordable countywide broadband services. Becoming a Work Ready Certified Community is a priority in Hancock County as Wilmer Tolbert and Sandersville Tech Director, Shirley Forrest, are leading the charge.

Recently, Don and Edwina Bevill financed and produced two thirty second commercials advertising the advantages of living in Hancock County. Funds from the Communities of Opportunity Initiative were used to air the spots in the Metro-Atlanta cable market. Commissioner Ted Reid, Gladys Archer and LuTunya Goodwin are working to beautify entrances with signage.

Community forum organizers, Anthony Warren, Raymond Reynolds, Cathy Jackson, Adrick Ingram and Zack Reynolds are hosting quarterly community conversations. Assisting with the effort are Dr. Veronica Womack and Dr. Ahmed Reid from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville. Active participants are State Representative Sistie Hudson, Dianne Roberson, Walter Collins, Eugene Robbins, Shawn Bell, and Herbert Monroe, BOE Chairman.

The quarterly forums are collaborations between the Communities of Opportunity Initiative and the Willing Workers of the Hancock County Alumni Association. Together, we are implementing solutions and creating an environment for community development.

Hidden between the statistics, the Communities of Opportunity Initiative is writing another story, an ambitious story, accentuating the talents of local citizens and the natural resources, 600+ historic sites,kaolin, granite, timber, wildlife, water and land. Hancock County is ready to reward another generation of dreamers, innovators and risk takers.

We invite you to come visit, explore and invest in Hancock County, "the hidden jewel of Georgia.

What do I know?

I arrived in Hancock County, my home, thinking I knew something about it. My first thoughts were right. I didn't know anything about Hancock County. Sure, I knew a few facts, I knew a few people and I knew a few things about the economic and political climate.

Recognizing how little I knew and wanting to avoid the "savior complex", my first thoughts were to listen, observe and learn. This went out the window as I was drawn into a budding group of community activist. They had great ideas, great plans, all having been active and successful in their prior communities.

I was dense enough to think we were on to something and would begin to see those long standing problems tumble before our well organized plans. Much to our horror life went on just as usual, in fact we were the grasshoppers trying to slay the giant. The giant swatted us away like so many annoying gnats.

The giants are still ruling the land, flexing their muscles and the gnats have gone into hidding. There are a few still buzzing around, every now and them, we might just sting a bit. Soon the bite stops stinging and the giants forget we are even on the planet.

What I know and what has been successful in my prior life is null and void here. I admit not defeat, but ignorance. I don't know what to do. Starting over, I'm listening, observing, reading, learning and looking for someone that can make sense of Hancock County.

What I don't want is to beginning blaming the citizens because they aren't responding the way I think they should. I am in no position to judge, I haven't walked a mile in their shoes. Somewhere, there is a strategy to mobolize the citizens to act in their own best interest.

Until then, I'm listening, observing and learning.