NEWS & OPINIONS
Roadblocks to work make the world a sticky place
Key Points The hindrances to people finding work goes far beyond an unwillingness or inability to work. Those looking for work face many barriers that range from circumstantial to systemic and even policy roadblocks. It is important that we understand the roadblocks...
It’s Graduation Day!
Key Points First graduating class of Jobs for Life and BETTER WORK Columbus partnership Jobs for Life and BETTER WORK are joining forces to get help lift people out of poverty On July 7th the first group 11 men and women graduated from the Better Work Jobs for Life...
What freedom and liberty mean through the eyes of the poor
We just celebrated Independence Day in the United States., a time to reflect on the blessings of freedom and liberty that we enjoy as citizens of this great nation. It is also time to look through the eyes of our neighbors to ensure they have access to opportunities.
Why one woman turned down a $70K job due to the benefits cliffs
Key Points Frankie made an unexpected choice when she turned down a $70,000 a year job opportunity while living in hotel housing. Oftentimes people on safety net services make rational choices to stay on these services because the system would punish them before they...
WATCH: These powerful stories show why we need to share the Success Sequence each and every day
Key Points All young people — not just those who come from rich families — deserve to know this “secret to success”: get an education, work hard, get married, and then have children. No matter the challenges young people face, there is a path to build a bright future...
Better Work Providing On-Site Unemployment Assistance
Key Points BETTER WORK Columbus is launching a new service allowing us to assist clients on-site. BETTER WORK provides connections to local resources and work opportunities. Listening and responding to the needs of our community is how BETTER WORK better serves those...
Jobs For Life Collaborates With BETTER WORK in Columbus
A Partner For Life Several of the Chattahoochee Valley Poverty Reduction Coalition (CVPRC) member organizations attended the May 26th Jobs for Life class to share information on resources and talk with students about overcoming the roadblocks they face. Some of the...
Reality is Likely to be Far Less Rosy
Reality is likely to be less rosy... Some economists are hoping that inflation has peaked and will tick down in the coming months, after the pace of inflation slowed slightly in April. But Erik Randolph, director of research for the Georgia Center For Opportunity...
Why Nonprofits Should Care and What to Do
Key Takeaways: Welfare cliffs and marriage penalties are discouraging people from work and forming families. The cliffs and penalties may mean that our clients are locked into poverty for much longer than they would be otherwise and despite our best efforts. GCO has...
U.S. Gross Domestic Product Update
U.S. Gross Domestic Product update U.S. Gross Domestic Product declined at a 1.4% rate in the first quarter of 2022. The numbers surprised economists, who had predicted a 1% gain.The Georgia Center for Opportunity's (GCO) take: "The tab is coming due for all the...
An epidemic of teen depression (and what to do about it)
An epidemic of teen depression (and what to do about it) Key Takeaways: In the last 10 years, the number of teens identifying as having "experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness" doubled. School connectedness was a key barometer of how well teens...
The U.S Reaches Highest Unadjusted Monthly Rate of Inflation Since March 1980
A look at the highest unadjusted monthly rate of inflation Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in March the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.3%, not seasonally adjusted. This is the highest unadjusted monthly rate of inflation since March 1980....
MEDIA MENTIONS
Josh Crawford, Conservative Criminal Policy Solutions | The Steve Gruber Show
Josh Crawford is a policy leader for Public Safety Solutions for America and the Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives with the Georgia Center for Opportunity where he leads their public safety and re-entry work. Listen to the podcast here
Legislation to improve the expungement process in Kentucky heard in committee
The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary heard testimony Thursday on legislation that would help automate the expungement process for eligible Kentuckians as they have reentered society. During the testimony, Representative Kim Moser said that this legislation would...
Violent crime is up. We need a smart plan to keep our country safe.
Josh Crawford is a policy leader for Public Safety Solutions for America and the Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives with the Georgia Center for Opportunity where he leads their public safety and re-entry work. Listen to the discussion as Josh shares his...
Democratic representative’s move could prompt school choice passage in Georgia
Could a state lawmaker’s jump from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party lead to the passage of school choice in Georgia? Rep. Mesha Mainor of Atlanta announced her intention Tuesday to switch to the Republican Party, drawing expected responses from her new and...
The Bryan Hyde Show – June 20, 2023
Having a society without punishments might sound like a good idea, but in reality, it's causing a lot of problems. Joshua Crawford explains why progressive prosecutors and the Democratic Party's approach are creating difficulties. Read the full article here...
Murder Is Actually Going Down—Wherever They’re Paying Cops More and Targeting Gangs
Since 2015, American cities have experienced elevated levels of homicide and shootings resulting in thousands more lives lost and families torn apart. Then, in recent weeks, good news arrived: Nationally, cities had experienced a 12.5 percent reduction in homicides in...
Georgia uses $83.5 million in COVID relief money for public safety grants
Georgia is giving out more than $83.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief money as grants to fund 118 public safety projects across the Peach State. Departments can use the funds to augment law enforcement staffing and support violent crime reduction initiatives...
Opinion: A path that could reduce Atlanta’s juvenile crime
In January, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens launched the “Year of the Youth” plan to combat juvenile crime rates in the city. The issue is a pressing one. Consider that in 2022, 19 of the 170 homicide victims in Atlanta were children. Deshon DuBose, a 13-year-old, is...
