February has been a short but busy month at MidTown, Inc. We are now full speed ahead into 2022 and have begun working on several grants and funding opportunities, which will allow MidTown, Inc. to continue to work with vision and purpose as a local change agent, to advance our initiatives, and to use our organizational capacity to develop and implement innovative new projects and programs. Some of these initiatives, projects and programs will enhance public art and recreation, support on-call expert consultation- often combining public and private development projects- and expand our community outreach into neighborhoods.

The work of community revitalization is incremental and long-term. From its founding, MidTown, Inc. has pursued its mission and sought to erase dividing lines, re-create a heart of the community and celebrate our diverse people and places. These goals are embedded in each of our projects and initiatives. MidTown, Inc.’s greatest impact may be generating community awareness and conversation, and in serving as a catalytic facilitator of positive change, respected partner and leader. Our work is undertaken with the goal of creating a happy, healthy, thriving community, an attractive place to live and work that can “attract and retain” new talent, and that is worthy of all of our citizens.  

With warmest regards,

Julio A. Portillo, Jr.

In observance of Black History Month in February, we celebrate the lives of (l-r, beginning on the top) E.E. Farley, Dr. Delmar Edwards, A.J.McClung and Lizzie Mae Lunsford, just four from scores of African Americans with strong MidTown ties who left quite a mark in Columbus. Click the image for more information.

Donna Dooley Strikes a Chord in MidTown

Small non-profit organizations like MidTown, Inc. are usually long on programming ideas but short on budgets and personnel to pull them off. You can imagine our excitement when we got a call from Donna Dooley, a Lakebottom resident, with an offer to bring the sound of music to MidTown, free of charge.

Dooley recently retired from teaching music with the Muscogee County School District for over ten years. “I was actually a little overwhelmed about the idea of possibly not teaching music. Music is in my soul and I can’t imagine not sharing music with others as a teacher, performer, and director,” explained Dooley.

After noticing a few small gatherings, including a violin recital and Christmas carolers in Lakebottom Park, Donna decided to organize and present small ensemble musical performances using the Red Frame in Lakebottom Park as the stage. “The beauty of Lakebottom serves as the perfect backdrop,” she said, “combining music and nature to nourish the soul.”

She titled the quarterly musical events Tiny Stage Concerts, similar in name to the Tiny Desk Concerts featured on National Public Radio.

Each Tiny Stage Concert theme will mirror the season. Listen for springy upbeat tunes when she launches the concert kick off this weekend, aptly named “Saturday in the Park”, inspired by Chicago’s hit song from the seventies.

“During these difficult times: the pandemic, racial tensions, violence, economic hardships, and now war, I hope the music that we feature at the Tiny Stage Concerts will offer a little relief and send positive vibes and feelings throughout the community,” said Dooley. “Columbus has a wealth of talented people and I hope to feature musicians who will represent various cultures, age groups, and celebrate the diversity that makes our Midtown community a very special place to gather and live.”

We thank Donna for making MidTown EVEN better.

Bring a comfy chair, an open heart, and enjoy!

When: Saturday, March 5^th from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm

Where: Lakebottom Park’s Red Frame, located near the intersection of 18^th Avenue and Virginia Street

Rain date: Saturday, March 12th

For more information about Donna Dooley, click either of the images above.

For friends you think could use a lift,

Please consider a MidTown gift!

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MidTown, Inc. is funded entirely through private and foundation gifts, grants, and our sole fund-raising event, the MidTown Mingle. This is an exciting time of growth for our community, but we cannot do it without you. Please consider making a contribution to help us advance our mission to “Make MidTown EVEN Better”!



To donate, click here.

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MidTown, Inc.: Sustaining and enhancing the neighborhoods and businesses in MidTown Columbus

MidTown, Inc.

1236 Wildwood Avenue Columbus, GA 31906