MACON, Ga. — Macon's Booker T. Washington Community Center has a new after school program, aimed at children and families in central Georgia.
At the Booker T. Washington Center, they want to provide a safe space for kids and families to learn and grow together. Lorietta Moss and her husband Robbie are from Macon, and they're starting an afterschool program called Greater Outlook.
They're calling all kids aged 6 to 12 along with their families to help bridge the community together.
"It takes a collaborative effort for our kids to work together as a unit," Lorietta said.
Moss spent about 23 years in childcare, and says she treats every kid like her own.
"I sort of wanted to branch off from just childcare to actually just focus on the meat and potatoes of the issues that are at hand in the community right now," she said.
Both Lorietta and her husband grew up in Macon. They said crime has gotten worse - and resources are becoming fewer.
Now, they want to make a difference not only in kids lives, but in the lives of their families.
"A lot of our kids, they're lost right now. They're lost in the community," said Robbie.
They say they make sure the kids handle all their homework before having fun, and there's lots around for them to interact with.
They'll have counselors and tutors on deck for kids, and they practice personal development. They also plan computer time and gaming tournaments.
"I just feel like being able to provide these services will show the community that we are here. We do have a heart for this because I hate to see my city look like this and the kids have no where to go," Lorietta said.
They say they want to be a resource to help kids and families.
"We want to be one big happy family in the city, sort of like the heartbeat, put the heartbeat back into Macon," Lorietta said.
It's open enrollment for Greater Outlook, and they're in business every month except for July.