The James L. Barnes Community Development Corporation is one of the longest running service organizations originally organized to provide legal aid services to the economically disadvantaged. This year, the organization named a new Executive Director, Tabatha Holley; she is a passionate Community Organizer who has been working with area youth in a summer reading program. “Many of the books we read to the students this summer are not available at their schools,” said Ms. Holley, “the children were really inspired by the stories of young people involved in the Civil Rights Movement. Their activism inspired them to think more about their own communities and voices.”

The children and youth mainly from Dawson, GA (Terrell County) ride a van for 40 minutes per day to swim at the Boys & Girls Club in Albany, GA. They believe it is time for their local elected officials to upgrade their recreation services and should use recreation funds to build a public swimming pool/facility. On Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at 8:30am, the young people along with parents, grandparents and other concerned citizens will voice their concerns at the Terrell County Commissioners monthly meeting. “We believe that it is now time to build a physically fit and healthy community through opportunities to exercise,” said Ms. Holley, “acquire life skills (as swimming is a life skill), generate jobs, and foster a better quality of life for historically underrepresented communities in Terrell County, namely Dawson.”