NEWS & OPINIONS
Why educational opportunity is good for rural areas, too
This year, the Georgia Legislature is poised to once again consider creating Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) for families statewide. These scholarships would allocate funds to allow parents to choose the best educational option for their child’s unique needs.
A Georgia Center for Opportunity agenda for 2023
We’re excited about everything we were able to accomplish with your support in 2022. But our focus is also forward, and our team is excited to expand our growth and reach into Georgia communities and beyond in 2023.
Why are so many families switching schools?
One-in-five families switched the school their child attended during the pandemic. The Harris Poll found that 89% of parents whose children have switched school types report that they or their child experienced a positive change as a result of the switch.
Holiday cheer, from our GCO family to yours!
To spread some holiday cheer, we put together a short, fun video of the Georgia Center for Opportunity staff sharing a little more about what makes the season so special.
A look back at everything we accomplished together in 2022
As 2022 comes to a close, let’s take a moment to share some of the many accomplishments the Georgia Center for Opportunity achieved with your help this year. Each of these wins contributes to our enduring legacy of helping fellow Georgians live a better life through the power of work, education, and family.
What will 2023 hold for educational opportunity in Georgia?
That’s because a new lineup of leadership in the Georgia Legislature increases the likelihood that our state will soon see new and innovative ways for parents to access the right and best educational option for their child.
Q&A with Amber Gorman at BETTER WORK Columbus
Amber Gorman joined the BETTER WORK Columbus team in October, 2022 as a program specialist. We recently had a chance to sit down with her and hear more about her background and what brought her to BETTER WORK.
Wishing you an abundant Thanksgiving
But one thing stands out to me when thinking about the stories of the men and women we serve everyday here at the Georgia Center for Opportunity — and that’s being thankful for a second chance.
Q&A with North Georgia Works
In this interview, we sat down with Michael Giddens, executive director of North Georgia Works, to hear more about his organization, the good work being done in the community, and how GCO is helping to advance their mission.
The midterm election is over (sort of). What’s next?
While who holds the reins of power in Washington and Atlanta does matter, ultimately it’s in local communities where the true change happens that leads to human flourishing.
Nearly half a million Georgians have given up on work
A new analysis from the Georgia Center for Opportunity shows that around 454,100 Georgians are missing from the labor force. This figure comes even as pundits celebrate a statewide and national unemployment rate that remains at historic lows.
Key Policy Takeaways from 30 years of Child Poverty Decline
Childhood poverty leads to worse educational attainment, worse future labor market outcomes, worse mental and physical health and development, and increased risk of engaging in delinquent behavior.
MEDIA MENTIONS
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...
The Ripple Effect of Local Philanthropy
Reflecting on her two-month tenure, Ms. T remarked, "Things are going great. I'm beyond pleased with the job. It's hard to believe it's approaching two months; it feels longer." The center emphasizes that continuous backing, via one-time or recurring donations,...
