NEWS & OPINIONS
Understanding How Benefits Cliffs Impact Those In Poverty
We discuss the issue of Benefits Cliffs and what we are doing on this important issue for anyone on welfare or safety net services.
Public School Transfers: How to Go to a School You’re Not Zoned for in Georgia
Do Georgia parents have the option to move their kids to a different public school than the one assigned to their neighborhood? Yes…and no. Setting up a more flexible public school transfer program is one way Georgia could expand public school options and success.
Georgia’s 2024 Legislative Session: An Agenda to Lift Up Vulnerable Communities
Key Points As Georgia lawmakers convene for the 2024 legislative session, multiple bills are on the table that could break down barriers in poor and disadvantaged communities. A key issue to track: education opportunity. Lawmakers have a chance to enact several...
Building Better Work: The Power of Community and Business Partnerships
Key Points Our BETTER WORK program harnesses the transformative power of local partnerships to get more people hired and build prosperous, stable communities. Four standout collaborators—Essendant, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, D.P. Jones Electrical, and...
Georgia School Choice Week: Gov. Kemp Encourages Access to Quality Education for Every Kid
Key Points A new proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp has designated January 21-27, 2024, as School Choice Week in Georgia. Georgia School Choice Week celebrates the fact that every kid is unique and more education options mean parents, educators, and communities can...
2024: A Year of Unique Opportunities to Change Lives and Help Our Neighbors
Key Points Building off our success in 2023, the new year presents unique opportunities to build better lives for our neighbors through the power of work, education, family, and safer communities. Our goal is for 2024 to be the year that safety-net reform takes hold...
Year in Review: A look back at how opportunity expanded in 2023
2023 opened doors to more hope and opportunity because of solutions in five key areas of community life.
The cost of Christmas is up, especially for the poor
This year, inflation is threatening to put a dent in Christmas festivities. The cost of gifts, meals, and trips to see family and friends have gone up, to name a few common items. And Americans are noticing.
Are Food Stamp Benefits Too Little?
Key Points Research Indicating SNAP Benefits Are Too Low: Urban Institute tool suggests that the average cost of a meal exceeds the maximum SNAP benefit, emphasizing the potential inadequacy of the program. Concerns About Research Methodology: Emphasizes that SNAP is...
Missouri is first state to pass law addressing benefits cliffs
Key Points Missouri Leads the Way: The enactment of Senate Bill 82 establishes Missouri as the first state in the nation to address public assistance provisions, breaking ground in reforming safety-net benefits and combating the cycle of dependence on government...
The Georgia Promise Scholarship (SB 233): What Private Schools Need to Know
Get answers to how the proposed Georgia Promise Scholarship Program would affect private school funding, scholarships, and requirements.
The two-parent privilege and how it helps families escape poverty
Key Points The decline in two-parent households is a major driver of income inequality and decreased social mobility in the United States. Two-parent households provide a significant "privilege" for children, leading to better educational and economic outcomes, lower...
MEDIA MENTIONS
New Crime Fighting Proposals in CA – Josh Crawford Guest on Conway and Larson
Leland Conway meets with Josh Crawford to discuss real solutions for combatting crime in California. Listen to the full interview
San Francisco Should Try Punishing Criminals, Not Businesses
Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at Georgia Center for Opportunity, recently appeared on Ave Maria in the Afternoon to discuss one of the nation's most challenging public-safety environments: San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. Crawford shared...
San Francisco Should Try Punishing Criminals, Not Businesses
A new city ordinance mandating nightly business closures in the Tenderloin both fails to address the real problem and hampers economic opportunity. San Francisco’s Tenderloin District is one of the most difficult public-safety environments in the country. Long derided...
Josh Crawford Joins the John Butler Show
In this engaging interview, Josh Crawford, a respected criminal justice specialist, shares his insights on pressing issues related to public safety, crime trends, and effective law enforcement strategies. Hosted by John Butler, the conversation delves into the...
Report: Safety-net programs discourage career advancement
While safety-net programs such as Medicaid and food stamps support those in need, they "discourage career advancement," according to new research from the Georgia Center for Opportunity. The group's "Workforce Engagement: A Missing Link in Understanding Income...
Reforming Welfare to Help Americans Thrive with Randy Hicks | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 110
Episode 110 of the Let People Prosper Show: Dive into a thought-provoking discussion with Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), as he explores how we can reform safety net programs to promote long-term self-sufficiency. Learn...
Impact of crime on the election
Join Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, as he delves into the pressing issue of crime and its significant impact on the upcoming Presidential election. Featured on FOX 5 Mornings, Josh discusses how voters...
Biden should stop ignoring Americans’ economic reality
Over the past few months, President Joe Biden has told Americans that the U.S. economy is strong,inflation is subsiding, and the job market is growing. The narrative being pushed is that everything is just fine. Many people, however, especially younger and poorer...
