NEWS & OPINIONS
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.
Eddie’s story: Moving from homelessness to a housing and a stable job
Fortunately, Eddie was able to get connected at a new job with the Marriott Hotel, where he’s happily employed and thriving.
Despite the fanfare, inflation is not conquered
In September, President Joe Biden prematurely declared victory over inflation as he held a celebration event over the party-line passage of the Inflation Reduction Act that required the Vice President of the United States to cast the deciding vote in the Senate.
We must rein in violent crime to help those who need economic opportunity
Businesses are moving out of cities and neighborhoods with rising crime rates. By abandoning these high-risk locations, these businesses take with them any job opportunities they provide to poorer residents.
GCO welcomes Josh Crawford as senior fellow focused on criminal justice reform
The Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) is excited to announce a new addition to our team! Josh Crawford joins us as senior fellow focused on criminal justice reform.
MEDIA MENTIONS
‘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,...
Benefits Cliffs in the Aggregate: Consequences for Welfare and Business Cycles
Benefits cliffs - sudden decreases in public benefits that may occur with a small increase in earnings - may inhibit upward mobility. I study the effect of a multitude of cliffs across the universe of benefit programs in nine southern US states on intensive-margin...
Opinion: New Missouri law will help residents escape safety-net cliffs
This new law will help more Missourians escape from an entrapping safety-net system and experience the dignity and opportunity of work.
