A group of professionals and concerned citizens along with Central Missouri Community Action  (CMCA) are getting closer to rolling out a plan to benefit the people of Audrain County.

The group met for the fifth time at the Mexico Housing Authority’s Community Room last Tuesday, Sept. 26, with this meeting’s focus on getting closer to the finish line of a plan. The group started with a data walk in May and has met every month since then.

The meeting broke out into three groups focusing on different topics around the plan's overall mission statement, “Everyone in Audrain County is Safe and Healthy.” From that statement, the three focus areas are food security, healthcare access, and the mental and emotional health of the county’s youth.

Last week’s meeting focused on strategy after the previous meeting looked at the root causes of the issues. The causes were then broken up into two categories: systemic and local. One big item that kept repeating itself no matter the subject was access and transportation. Another subject that kept repeating was the need to identify what was already being done. Some of the issues can be solved simply by letting people know about services they are unaware of.

The next time the group meets it will come up with a plan to put into action. The group will have a website where the public will be able to follow along and track progress. Kelly Lucero, coordinator for the Show Me Strong Project at CMCA, told the group they have the power to make change when they come together.

“Don’t forget your collective power,” Lucero said. “Especially when you have reach. Do not neglect collective power. That’s one of the most powerful things you have when we come together.”