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

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Nov 19, 2024

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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.

Strengthening Partnerships: Valley Hospital & Community Organizations

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Sep 26, 2024

Strengthening Partnerships: Valley Hospital & 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.

Report: Welfare a barrier to economic mobility for low-income workers

by David Bass | Sep 18, 2024

Report: Welfare a barrier to economic mobility for low-income workers

At a campaign stop in North Carolina last month, Vice President Kamala Harris suggested that efforts to combat price gouging are needed to help poor and middle-class households. But a new research report shows that government transfer benefits are contributing to the financial burdens and limitations of low-income households.

The report from the Georgia Center for Opportunity highlights how social safety-net programs, while providing a baseline of support, may inadvertently deter low-income workers from seeking higher-paying jobs due to the “benefits cliff.”

The report, titled “Workforce Engagement: A Missing Link in Understanding Income Inequality,” examines how programs like food stamps, Medicaid, and housing subsidies create barriers to long-term financial independence.

The benefits cliff occurs when a small increase in wages results in a significant reduction or loss of government benefits, leaving workers with a net loss in income. This phenomenon discourages individuals from pursuing career advancements and higher-paying jobs.

The report emphasizes that these safety-net benefits can create disincentives for the lowest-paid workers to move up the economic ladder. After adjusting for taxes and transfer payments, the bottom quintile has nearly the same net income as the second quintile, despite earning almost four times less. This is primarily due to the higher level of government support received by the former group.

Read the full article here