Workshop Highlights Georgia's Changing Demographics
Providing city officials with a first-hand look at how Georgia's changing demographics are affecting local governments and how the Rome community has responded was the focus of a special mobile workshop held August 7 in Rome, Georgia.
The session was part of a broader two-day training opportunity carried out in partnership by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and the Vinson Institute.
"This workshop is part of a continuing effort by GMA and the Vinson Institute to help officials recognize the implications of demographic shifts—in this case the Hispanic population—and meet the opportunities and challenges they present in a proactive manner," explained Gordon Maner, Vinson Institute local government training programs manager.
For example, Warren Brown, director of the Institute's new Applied Demography Program, provided the group with an overview of population trends contributing to the state's increasingly diversity and how immigration is playing a major role as a source of new Georgians.
Maner worked with Sammy Rich, Rome assistant city manager, to develop the agenda for the workshop, which was a mix of presentations, site visits, and panel discussions involving officials from the local government, business, public safety, and health services sectors as well as representatives from nonprofit organizations that serve Rome's Hispanic community.
"The City of Rome and our partners were glad to share our story of demographic changes, actions taken, what worked, and what could be done better," Rich explained.
"This was an outstanding workshop. The interactive format and mix of perspectives allowed me to gain a great deal of information about and a better understanding of how immigration affects a community," noted Alvin Payton Jr., City of Valdosta councilman.
