16 leaders of Shalom Zone Neighborhoods gathered on Saturday, January 21 for the first in a series of discussions designed to grow and strengthen existing Shalom Zones in the City of Macon. The series focuses on building relationships and resources in Shalom Zone neighborhoods. The event was held at Southside Community Church’s Family Life and learning center in Lynmore Estates.
Called Macon 3D: A Deliberate Dialogue on Neighborhood Development, the discussion builds on a six-month training in Asset-Based Community Development conducted by Drew University in 2009 for these neighborhood leaders through the Communities of Shalom program. 
In the first session of Macon 3D, facilitator Travis Blackwell recapped the history and mission of the Shalom Zone model, now in use in 130 communities world-wide. Some of the goals of the program are:
•Renewing the spirit of God in communities and congregations
•Developing the prosperity and economies of communities
•Strengthening relationships among neighbors
•Improving community health care and coordination of services
Macon is unique in having six Shalom Zones within its city. Beall’s Hill, Bellvue, East Macon, Lynmore Estates, Pleasant Hill and Village Green.
Participants explored a personal interpretation of the scripture from which the name Communities of Shalom was derived:
“Seek the shalom of the city where I have sent you, for in its shalom, you will find your shalom.” Jeremiah 29:7
Participants also learned more about Asset-Based Community Development including:
•Focusing on Strengths, Not Deficiencies •Solving Community Issues by Connecting the Dots •Building Resources and Creating New Opportunities •Seeing the Glass as Half-Full
Special Guests included Sheknita Davis and Howard Scott of Macon Office of Workforce Development who brought the MOWD Mobile Lab, gave tours of the lab and information about how to utilize this great resource.
Neighborhood leaders also created visual maps of prosperity for their neighborhoods.
The next session, scheduled for February 18, will be experiential as we will attend, support and learn from Pleasant Hill’s Power to Prevent health series being held at the Mother Katherine Drexel Center at St. Peter Claver Church from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The power point from the first session is now available to download. We encourage you to share the information with your churches and neighborhood associations. To join the Macon 3D series, please contact Carolyn Glover at (478) 319-4025 or cglovercgtc@gmail.com. For more information on the Communities of Shalom program, visit www.communitiesofshalom.org
