Looking at some of the causes, solutions to Louisville’s violence problem

by Kimberly Sawatka | Apr 20, 2023

Looking at some of the causes, solutions to Louisville’s violence problem

As Louisville tries to get into the thunder and Derby spirit, violence hangs over the metro.

We’ve heard from both sides of the political aisles about how to stop the bloodshed.

Tonight the Jefferson County GOP heard some interesting thoughts in a presentation about the violence in Louisville and how it could be stopped. It might’ve been a meeting of Republicans, but it was hardly political.

Last week’s violence grabbed headlines, but it’s really a problem that’s been going on for years.

“All four of our deadliest years ever have been since 2016,” said Josh Crawford from the Center of Opportunity.

Josh Crawford is the Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Center of Opportunity and he spoke to the crowd the cause of violence and how to combat it.

“One of the things that has gotten a lot of attention recently especially in the wake of the shootings in Chickasaw, there is insufficient protections locally for witnesses,” Crawford said.

It was group of people trying to learn about what’s going on in their city and how they can help.

Read the full article here

Georgia House voted to reject Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 30, 2023

Georgia House voted to reject Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act

Late last night, the Georgia House voted to reject Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, by a vote of 85 to 89. The House then voted 98 to 73 on a motion to reconsider the bill, meaning it is eligible for consideration in next year’s session.Georgia

Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “We are heartbroken for the tens of thousands of kids in Georgia who will remain stuck in low-performing schools due to the inaction of many Georgia lawmakers,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of public policy for GCO. “Despite a majority of Georgians, the governor, and many legislative leaders supporting Promise Scholarships, once again the House failed to pass legislation that would give families hope for their child despite not living in the right zip code or able to make the right income. The disparity of opportunity in education is a tragic injustice. Our state would have made a huge step toward correcting that injustice had the bill passed.”

To learn more about Promise Scholarships and what they would have provided, click here.

To learn more about Promise Scholarships and what the legislation would have provided, click here.

BETTER WORK has resources for high school students

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 28, 2023

BETTER WORK has resources for high school students

Key Points

Not every high school graduate will attend college. There are strong career paths available for those who are ready to learn.
Jobs in the water industry are plentiful.
In addition to excellent pay and stability, careers in the water field offer availability in many locations around the state plus flexible hours to give workers the opportunity to create work-life balance.

There’s a new, exciting opportunity for job seekers and high school students in Gwinnett County! BETTER WORK Gwinnett and The Water Tower have partnered to bring a life-changing job training program to the Gwinnett County community. This training program for careers in the water industry was designed for those in high school work programs and for working age adults looking for a career path to better provide for themselves and their families.

Not every high school student needs nor wants to attend college. High schoolers can begin this training program as part of their curriculum and graduate with on-the-job training as well as highly sought after certifications.

For those looking for a new or different career, the water industry might be an area you haven’t yet considered. You might want to check out this option, though.

Job opportunities in the water industry are plentiful, as the industry expects some 1,200 water-related jobs opening in north Georgia. To help fill the workforce needs, The Water Tower created training programs in the areas of Water and Wastewater Operators, Lab Analyst, Maintenance Technicians, and Field Technicians. The programs allow participants to receive the education and hands-on experience needed to walk into a living-wage career and not just a job.

At GCO, we know that work means so much more than a paycheck. A meaningful job and career brings dignity, independence, and hope for a brighter future.

A career in the water industry transcends pandemics and technology because it is a needed resource no matter what happens around us. Furthermore, careers in the water industry offer stability, competitive wages, and opportunities for advancement, making them an important pathway to a fulfilling and prosperous life.

In addition to excellent pay and stability, careers in the water field offer availability in many locations around the state plus flexible hours to give workers the opportunity to create work-life balance.

At GCO, we know that work means so much more than a paycheck. A meaningful job and career brings dignity, independence, and hope for a brighter future. Employment can change a life and the life of a family.

To learn more about The Water Tower and the training programs offered, contact our BETTER WORK Gwinnett team.

The GCO 2022 year in review

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 27, 2023

The GCO 2022 year in review

Curious about our projects. progress, and achievements over the past year? The Georgia Center for Opportunity 2022 Annual Report is now available online. This year-in-review consolidates the most crucial information about where we’ve been and where we’re headed, all in one place.

We’re incredibly proud of the strides we’ve made for Georgia families in 2022. The GCO team stepped into 2022 on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, ready to lead the charge toward helping our neighbors thrive in education, work, and at home. In today’s climate, the need to alleviate suffering in our communities has never been more urgent.

Here at GCO, we believe that change at the community level is the most important of all. While state and federal policies can drive positive results, nothing is as personally impactful as change close to home. When our friends, families, and neighbors build better lives for themselves, those stories don’t just impact the individuals involved. They reverberate into the greater community.

Throughout 2022, we remained laser focused on local change. Here’s how we made an impact:

We supported 715 families across the state.
Our team hosted 13 workshops and trainings, with 234 in-person attendees and 266 virtual attendees.
Through the BETTER WORK program, we continued to help Georgia’s most vulnerable individuals find self-supporting, meaningful work.
Our Gwinnett County and Columbus BETTER WORK chapters expanded to 400 new job-seekers, 95 workplace partners, and 42 mentors.
GCO added Missouri and Utah to the BenefitsCliffs.org program, fueling our ongoing goal to encourage employment by overhauling the social safety net—bringing the overall initiative to 12 states (one-third of the nation’s population).
Our team successfully advocated for a bill during the Georgia General Assembly’s 2022 session that expands the state’s tuition tax credit scholarship by $20 million—giving over 4,000 additional students access to the program.
We attracted over 500 individuals to be a part of our relationship enrichment program, offering the classes across seven nonprofit partner agencies and seven schools.
Through assessments administered by the University of Georgia, we showed that our programs improve behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge, which are all top indicators of future relational wellbeing.
GCO’s Promise Scholarship campaign drove 1,050 messages and 7,573 calls to lawmakers across 10 districts.

In addition to our impact, we garnered some notable achievements:

Randy Hicks, GCO president and CEO, was named the 2022 recipient of State Policy Network’s Thomas A. Roe Award.
The GCO team received the State Policy Network’s Bob Williams Award for Outstanding Policy Achievement.
GCO was included in Atlas Network’s “Top 10 to Watch in 2022”

“While state and federal policies can drive positive results, nothing is as personally impactful as change close to home.”

“While state and federal policies can drive positive results, nothing is as personally impactful as change close to home.”

Throughout our report, we share stories of triumph: marriages revitalized, able-bodied workers gainfully employed, benefits cliffs overcome, and educational opportunities that honor students’ individual needs. You’ll get a glimpse of not only our state and local impact, but of some of the individual lives GCO’s work touched over the past year. These are just a few of our successes, and we’re thrilled to drive more transformation in Georgia over the coming year.

We’re proud of the legacy we’re helping to build for families and individuals in Georgia. Through stronger jobs, educational opportunities, and families, we’re bringing hope and positive charge to the most vulnerable people in our state. Most importantly, we wouldn’t be here without your support.

Here’s to an impactful 2023.

Read our 2022 annual report here.

Louisville leaders say violence reduction strategy falling short in key areas

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 23, 2023

Louisville leaders say violence reduction strategy falling short in key areas

According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, 2022 was the third-deadliest year in Louisville’s history.

There were 160 homicides last year, a 150% increase from 2012 when the Metro finished the year with 64 homicides.

“It is simultaneously fully operational, and not operating optimally,” Josh Crawford, who is on Louisville’s GVI governance committee, said.

Crawford, who also serves as head of the Board of Directors for Chris 2X Gamechangers, said one of the main hurdles for GVI thus far has been the frequency and attendance of “call-in” meetings.

Read the full article here