Recognizing Macon's Next Level Community Development Center

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievements of the Next Level Community Development Center, a community nonprofit organization driven by its mission to foster academic achievement, college and career readiness, parental involvement, and youth development through mentorship and programming in Middle Georgia. The organization celebrated its 25th year of service at their annual closing ceremony on July 10, 2025, at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia.

Executive Director Lakesia Toomer has worked hard with her staff to help ensure that Next Level is a safe haven and launchpad for all children and families that need it. It is their solemn mission to ensure that no child is left behind, and every child is equipped with the tools they need to succeed throughout their lives. For a quarter of a decade, the staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide students with tutoring and educational programs, as well as courses concerning leadership development, financial literacy, and community service. Through these activities, students are given the opportunity to learn about the jobs of the future and to tour nationally ranked colleges and universities while gaining essential college and career readiness skills.

Next Level is known for its immersive summer experiences like Camp Zion, but the organization is not limited to the summer months; its work continues throughout the year, through crucial after-school programming that extends the mission of academic success and personal growth for students, while providing parents opportunities to finding meaningful employment and attending school so that their families can get ahead and stay ahead.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, ``We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.''

At its core, the Next Level Community Development Center is proof that when a community comes together to uplift its children, it doesn't just change individual lives; it transforms generations to make our communities safer, wealthier, and more attractive to economic development and growth.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of Representatives to join me in celebrating the Next Level Community Development Center team and 25 successful years of service to the Middle Georgia community. Their dedication, leadership, and compassion are invaluable, and I am confident that this organization will continue to shape future generations of outstanding young leaders for years to come.

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