There's an announcement in this week's paper that EC2055 is planning to hold a major public initiative April 29 and 30. You're invited. I urge you to attend.

There is supposed to be opportunity for your participation. It's supposed to be an opportunity for you to speak up about what you think should unfold in our community over the next 50 years.

I've given much thought to our community's future and the ways to improve the quality of life of its people over the years.

I've not only written countless columns and articles in hope of provoking thought and action, I've thrown my hat in the public arena in an effort to help make things happen.

"But it's not the places that matter. It's the people who can't cope and provide for their own well-being," Jim Wooten of the AJC wrote back in 1999.

"Figure out how to 'save' them and rural Georgia will be just fine," Jim concluded.

Commenting on Jim's column I said...

And as he stated, we figure out how to "save" them and Early County will be just fine.

A long list of reasons for the huge pocket of poverty in Early County could be cited. And understanding why is a big step toward figuring out how to "save" those snared in poverty.

Too often over the years we have looked to the top when making decisions for our community. Maybe we should start looking to the bottom.

We might find the resulting "trickle up" effect would have a more positive impact on our community than any "trickle down" effect we could ever dream of creating. ************

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English, thank a soldier.