Defending Ideas: How to empower those on the social safety net to pursue work and opportunity

by Kimberly Sawatka | Nov 19, 2024

Georgia news, in the news, current events, Georgia happenings, GA happenings

Defending Ideas: How to empower those on the social safety net to pursue work and opportunity

In a recent interview with the Sutherland Institute’s Defending Ideas series, Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, shared his vision for empowering individuals on the social safety net to achieve greater independence and opportunity.

Hicks emphasized the importance of fostering dignity through work, reducing barriers that trap individuals in poverty, and creating pathways to self-sufficiency. He discussed how programs like Georgia Center for Opportunity’s BETTER WORK initiative connect individuals with job resources, skills training, and community support. Hicks also highlighted the critical role of public policies in addressing challenges like benefits cliffs that can disincentivize employment.

The conversation underscored the need for collaborative efforts to build systems that encourage work, restore hope, and help individuals flourish in their communities.

Watch the full interview to explore innovative solutions to one of the most pressing challenges of our time.

Watch the full interview

Graduate puts on ‘another shield of armor’ to build career, and a better life.

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Nov 19, 2024

Graduate puts on ‘another shield of armor’ to build career, and a better life.

As the time for his graduation ceremony approached, Michael Averett joined his classmates in a small classroom. He donned his cap and gown. Just down a short hallway, family and friends waited for the ceremony to commence. When asked for his thoughts, Averett said it was a great feeling. “It just feels like putting on another shield of armor to try to conquer my career,” Averett said.

Averett was one of nine students who graduated Nov. 14 from the Jobs for Life program at Victory Mission in Columbus, Georgia. Another group of students is scheduled to graduate this week from a Jobs for Life program at Spirit Filled Ministries.

Jobs for Life is 10-week class that’s free for participants and designed to help adults overcome barriers to employment, build confidence, and get ready for successful careers. “This night means I’ve achieved another milestone in my life to become a better person,” said graduate Michael Averett. The Georgia Center for Opportunity, as part of the BETTER WORK Columbus initiative, hosts the program, with BETTER WORK serving as the hub for the program in Columbus. They partner with local churches, provide administrative tools, and train leadership to host the classes.

Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor

by Eric Cochling | Oct 2, 2024

Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor

As Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a critical flaw in the U.S. safety net system remains largely unaddressed: benefits cliffs.

Our research, alongside studies from the Atlanta Fed and others, highlights a troubling reality. Many vital safety net programs penalize participants for working and earning “too much” money. These benefits cliffs mean that working poor who receive even a modest raise can suddenly see important benefits like child care, food stamps, and Medicaid dramatically reduced or eliminated entirely.

The loss often far exceeds the raise that triggered it. Compounding the issue, each of these programs is typically administered by different agencies and caseworkers in most states, leaving recipients unable to get a comprehensive view of their financial situation.

Read the full opinion in The Black Chronicle.

Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor

by Eric Cochling | Oct 1, 2024

Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor

As Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a critical flaw in the U.S. safety net system remains largely unaddressed: benefits cliffs.

Our research, alongside studies from the Atlanta Fed and others, highlights a troubling reality. Many vital safety net programs penalize participants for working and earning “too much” money. These benefits cliffs mean that working poor who receive even a modest raise can suddenly see important benefits like child care, food stamps, and Medicaid dramatically reduced or eliminated entirely.

Read the full opinion in The Center Square.

STRENTHENING PARTNERSHIPS: VALLEY HOSPITALITY & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

by Kimberly Sawatka | Sep 26, 2024

STRENTHENING PARTNERSHIPS: VALLEY HOSPITALITY & COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

Featured in the Valley Hospitality Newsletter

We’re excited to share that on Thursday, September 19, 2024, Bella Marshall from our Human Resources team met with key leaders to solidify partnerships that will enhance our workforce initiatives at Valley Hospitality.

Bella had the pleasure of discussing collaborative opportunities with Margaret Jones, CEO of Jobs for Life, and Kristin Barker, VP of Workforce Solutions at Georgia Center for Opportunity & Better Work Columbus. These organizations play a pivotal role in workforce development and align with our commitment to building a strong and sustainable workforce.

The Better Work program is relational which is essential to our goal of life transformation. One way we do this is through Jobs for Life classes o_ered in partnership with churches and non-profits throughout our community.

This program teaches essential skills, incorporates meaningful relationships, and provides ongoing support to Jobs for Life graduates as they transition into the workforce. After completing the 10-week course, participants are not left to navigate the job market alone; instead, they become part of a supportive community committed to their success.

Graduates receive personalized assistance tailored to their unique needs, including connections to job interviewing opportunities that align with their skills and aspirations.

Valley Hospitality is excited to support these e_orts by helping provide these jobs, further strengthening our community through this meaningful partnership!

Point: When Violent Crime Was at Its Worst, Congressional Action Helped – DC Journal – InsideSources

by Josh Crawford | Sep 26, 2024

Point: When Violent Crime Was at Its Worst, Congressional Action Helped – DC Journal – InsideSources

For an alternate viewpoint, see “Counterpoint: The 1994 Crime Bill’s Legacy — Thirty Years of Failure.”

By the early 1990s, the United States had experienced dramatic and unprecedented surges in crime, with the violent crime rate up 470 percent from 1961 and the murder rate up 92 percent from that year.

Life in American cities was more dangerous than ever, and punishment was not fitting the crimes. While the median sentence for murder was 15 years, the median time served was only 5.5 years. The median sentence for rape was five years, but the median time served was a paltry three. Overall, violent criminals served, on average, 37 percent (2 years, 11 months) of their sentenced time. Forty-four percent of Americans said there was an area near where they lived that they would be afraid to walk alone at night.

In response to widespread pressure from law enforcement and residents, on September 13, 1994, former president Bill Clinton signed the bipartisan Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Commonly referred to as the 1994 Crime Bill, this omnibus package was the most serious federal effort to reduce violent crime in U.S. history. The bill injected billions into hiring police, created a grant program to encourage state adoption of Truth in Sentencing laws, added prison capacity, and criminalized gang membership — among other provisions.

To read the full article click here.