NEWS & OPINIONS
2024 Election Results Confirm Public Safety Is a Priority for Americans
In state and local elections, voters across the political spectrum chose candidates who shared their priority for greater public safety and order.
Why Focus More on Public Safety and Order? Kids Need More of It.
A new book, “Doing Right by Kids” features a chapter from GCO’s Josh Crawford on how community violence impacts kids and their opportunities for economic and social mobility.
Poverty and Crime in America: What Can Happen in a Neighborhood When Violent Crime Goes Up
Research has found that violent crime negatively affects property values, employment, and outcomes for children. Good public safety policies are a prerequisite for fostering community environments where opportunities for upward mobility and a better life can flourish.
How safety-net benefits discourage low-income workers from escaping poverty
A new research paper from GCO shows the ways social safety-net programs like food stamps and Medicaid provide critical support but also discourage career advancement.
Want our kids to be seen, heard, and valued? Get the community involved.
By engaging with the building blocks of raising highly capable kids, parents and communities can get kids on a path to enriching relationships, meaningful work, and better quality of life.
Marriage Rates in Georgia Are Down. But Marriage Still Matters For Quality of Life and Upward Mobility.
Georgia has seen a decline in marriage rates, mirroring a national trend and raising important questions about the impact of marriage on personal well-being and societal mobility.
Two new laws bring good news for charitable giving in Georgia
Thanks to two bills passed in 2024, Georgians can continue donating generously without fear their wishes will be violated or their identity disclosed.
Op-Ed: This Father’s Day, men are struggling. We need to help them
RANDY HICKS, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR As we celebrate Father’s Day on June 16, it’s time for a renewed call to help men flourish in modern-day America. It’s well past time to begin addressing what has emerged as a deep problem in the United States: Aimless, lonely,...
Atlanta has $29.8 million in public safety funding for 2025. Here’s why it matters.
Atlanta’s City Council has adopted its budget for 2025, and it has devoted public safety funding to a few best practices that are good news for crime-weary residents.
9 Benefits of Work for Teens and Young Adults
Our review of the research uncovered nine benefits of work that help young people develop the foundations for success in every area of life.
Everything to Know About Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in Georgia
Education plays a powerful role in breaking the cycle of poverty and helping children lead healthy, flourishing lives. Education savings accounts in Georgia are a solution to help more of Georgia’s kids get the benefits of a quality education.
BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life: Giving Georgians a Path to Find Purpose and Possibility in Work
Our BETTER WORK initiative is unique because we help people move from crisis situations and into a mindset and support system that empowers them to pursue long-term employment. How do we do it? A partnership with Jobs for Life.
MEDIA MENTIONS
Substantial policy moves sought for Georgia child care costs
(The Center Square) – State Sen. Brian Strickland said he hopes the Legislature will make “substantial policy moves in the coming years” to address child care issues for Georgia families. Stickland, a Republican, is chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Access to...
Georgia unveils its newest private school choice program
The Georgia Promise Scholarship was passed by the state General Assembly earlier this year. According to pro-school choice organization EdChoice, it joins two other private school choice programs in the state. Eligible families can use the funds for private school...
Defending Ideas: How to empower those on the social safety net to pursue work and opportunity
In a recent interview with the Sutherland Institute's Defending Ideas series, Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, shared his vision for empowering individuals on the social safety net to achieve greater independence and opportunity....
Graduate puts on ‘another shield of armor’ to build career, and a better life.
As the time for his graduation ceremony approached, Michael Averett joined his classmates in a small classroom. He donned his cap and gown. Just down a short hallway, family and friends waited for the ceremony to commence. When asked for his thoughts, Averett said it...
Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor
As Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a critical flaw in the U.S. safety net system remains largely unaddressed: benefits cliffs. Our research, alongside studies from the Atlanta Fed and...
Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor
As Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a critical flaw in the U.S. safety net system remains largely unaddressed: benefits cliffs. Our research, alongside studies from the Atlanta Fed and...
Strengthening Partnerships: Valley Hospital & Community Organizations
Featured in the Valley Hospitality Newsletter We’re excited to share that on Thursday, September 19, 2024, Bella Marshall from our Human Resources team met with key leaders to solidify partnerships that will enhance our workforce initiatives at Valley Hospitality....
Point: When Violent Crime Was at Its Worst, Congressional Action Helped – DC Journal – InsideSources
For an alternate viewpoint, see “Counterpoint: The 1994 Crime Bill’s Legacy — Thirty Years of Failure.” By the early 1990s, the United States had experienced dramatic and unprecedented surges in crime, with the violent crime rate up 470 percent from 1961 and the...
