Celebration to Honor A PHILANTHROPIC HERO

Lexi Doherty had no desire to live in Georgia beyond obtaining her master's at the University of Georgia Like many college students, a college town is temporary, but she quickly became a part of a bustling community

Her passion and love for small businesses came from her mother, an entrepreneur who lost her business during the 2008 economic recession. The recession also led to an erosion of Main Street, which was owned and operated locally, compared to a corporation-controlled one

“I saw my mother’s business go from thriving to surviving to closing This was the same story for many of the businesses on Main Street, and one by one, all of the storefronts became occupied with corporate chains who had zero ties and connection to the community,” she said. These businesses just come in and siphon our dollars away from the region, all while our representatives just watched it happen ”

With her motto, ‘Progress Today, a Vision for Tomorrow,’ she is very concerned about small businesses and young people, particularly Generation Z and Millennials.

Economics is the bond that all generations, from Generation Z to Baby Boomers, share as the concerns of inflation are hitting everyone

“We have young people fresh out of college who are struggling to find quality work at decent wages, young professionals who cannot afford a home, and older people who are struggling to keep their homes,” she said. Inflation is a problem for all of us, but we cannot let corporations off the hook who are using this time to price gauge to increase profits on the backs of hardworking Americans ”

Even with economic hardships, she does not want anyone, particularly young people, to skip voting As more Americans grow weary of politics, Doherty believes that voting provides checks and balances along with a voice.