Athens has come a long way in a number of areas needing improvement but still has progress to make, Athens-Clarke County Mayor Heidi Davison said Monday night.

Davison addressed a mixed crowd of about 40 in the Student Learning Center in a speech sponsored by the University Campus Greens and tackled subjects such as education, poverty and the environment.

Poverty played a significant part in the night’s discussion.

Davison outlined efforts by the local government such as bringing companies to the area to create new jobs and subsidizing local transportation systems in order to help alleviate poverty.

However, she said she must be realistic about the topic.

“I’m not under some delusional ideal that we’re going to eradicate poverty,” she said.

Instead, Davison said the important thing is to concentrate on simple improvements to make life better for those stuck in a cycle of poverty.

Concerning bringing new jobs to the area, she said the key is to concentrate on bringing in a number of small companies to avoid the extreme competition associated with attracting one huge corporation.

“You go for smaller companies because it doesn’t matter if you get five companies with 50 employees,” she said. “The economy is really built on small business.”

Davison also outlined her philosophy on serving the community as mayor.

The key to public office is to increase citizen participation and to give a voice to groups that previously had none, she said.

“For a democracy to work, it must have interested, committed and caring citizens,” she said.

Those in attendance expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the work Davison has done while in office.

Dan Everett, an assistant professor of computer science at the University and faculty adviser for the Campus Greens, said the area has improved tremendously during Davison’s tenure.

“It’s been a lot more fun in Athens since (you’ve) been mayor,” he said.

However, Davison said while she is proud of what the city has accomplished, there always will be more to do.

“We’re not through yet,” she said. “We’ve got a long way to go.”