NEWS & OPINIONS
Free the Future Campaign Making an Impact in Columbus
Key Points Free the Future is an initiative of the Mayor of Columbus Georgia’s Commission on Reentry, in partnership with the Urban League of the Chattahoochee Valley. The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s BETTER WORK Columbus program director, Kristin Barker, is...
Navigating the current economic crisis: A guide to surviving the job market
Key Points As of March 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a nationwide unemployment rate of 3.5%. Well-known companies are conducting large-scale layoffs—in some cases, laying off tens of thousands of employees. The BETTER WORK program can help you take...
Why parental involvement is key to a child’s health
Key Points Parental involvement makes a big difference in children's development. Students with involved parents have better attendance and behavior, get better grades, demonstrate better social skills and adapt better to school. Parents need access to tools, which is...
Education successes from the 2023 Georgia legislative session
We have much to celebrate as the 2023 Georgia legislative session comes to a close. At the same time, there is still much work to be done. That’s what this blog post is all about. First, we’ll take a look at recent victories in the area of education during the...
Lyft and BETTER WORK Unite
Key Points Transportation is a barrier for some when it comes to maintaining employment. Lyft saw a need in the community and stepped in to fill the gap. Lyft’s free rides have assisted BETTER WORK participants and given them time to make a plan. “You’re hired!”...
Georgia is poised to expand workforce opportunity
Key Points Georgia General Assembly, lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 155, which creates a pathway for thousands of Georgians who might face roadblocks to getting an occupational license to smooth the path for doing so, provided they held a license One in...
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...
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...
Arkansas creates educational opportunity. It’s time for Georgia to step up
Arkansas recently joined a growing list of states that have approved Education Scholarship Accounts, empowering parents to make the best decisions for their child’s unique educational needs.
Let’s transform parenting in Georgia! Recapping the Raising Highly Capable Kids kickoff event
Key Points Positive relationships impact the opportunities and potential future for every child. GCO is partnering with RezilientKids to bring the evidence-based program, Raising Highly Capable Kids to the Gwinnett area. GCO is recruiting partners who are willing to...
The Georgia Promise Scholarship (SB 233): Questions and Answers
Key Points The Georgia Promise Scholarship (Senate Bill 233) is the state's newest education choice program to empower parents to access the best schooling option for their child. It creates state-funded scholarships that give eligible families $6,500 per student for...
Georgia is one of the top states for economic freedom
Key Points Georgia continues to be one of the most business friendly states. Georgia did not impose strict lockdowns during the pandemic. We believe that when the government refrains from heavy-handed intervention in the economy, everything from community life to...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Josh Crawford Talks Criminal Justice, Policies and more
Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives, joins Leland Conway to discuss realistic solutions to policy initiatives to keep our neighbors and communities safe. Listen to the podcast
Rod Arquette Show: Intolerant Bigots Have Taken Over U.S. Universities
Joshua Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, discusses in his Wall Street Journal piece how COVID-19 has been used as an excuse for the surge in crime, shifting focus away from underlying policy issues that have...
The Alan Nathan Show
Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, was featured on The Alan Nathan Show, the longest-running Centrist show in the United States with over 25 years in national radio syndication. The show's mantra is centered...
‘We didn’t have any kind of chaos’: Louisville gang prevention program turns attention to juveniles
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Looking at a picture of her son Tyree, Sherita Smith remembers the birthday present he got her in September 2021. "It always takes me back to a couple weeks before it happened," Smith said. "My birthday was on the first and he said, 'Mama, your...
Covid Becomes an Excuse for Crime: The focus on comparing 2019 and 2022 rates obscures how bad policy has worsened violence.
Digging Deeper into FBI's Crime Statistics: The Role of Public Safety Policies In a recent opinion editorial featured in The Wall Street Journal, by our own Josh Crawford, he highlights an important aspect of the FBI's Crime in the Nation Statistics: while the...
Local organizations host first meeting for community collaborative effort, ‘The Columbus Empowerment Network’
Representatives from Cure Violence Columbus and the Georgia Center For Opportunity are bringing what they call The Columbus Empowerment Network to the city.
PRESS RELEASE: New report seeks to ease spike in Columbus crime, restore community safety
Violent crime is on the rise in Columbus, Georgia. What are the reasons, and can anything be done to stop it?
Georgia announces new program to attend colleges
A new Georgia program to grant academic eligibility for direct admission to Georgia’s 22 technical colleges is a "win for Georgia," a leading business group said. On Thursday, Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, and state leaders announced GEORGIA MATCH, which they touted...
