BRINGING THE DIGNITY OF WORK TO EVERY ABLE AND WILLING INDIVIDUAL
WORK
EMAIL UPDATES
MORE THAN A PAYCHECK
CKS Packaging is a successful business that also supports those in their community. Through worker training programs, they are providing long-term employment in a stable work environment.
President Biden to reinstate the work search requirements for unemployment benefits
President Joe Biden has instructed the federal Department of Labor to work with state labor commissioners to reinstate the work search requirements for unemployment benefits. The Georgia Center for Opportunity's (GCO) take: "Detaching the work-search requirement from...
Unemployment Figures for the U.S. Contrary to Analysts’ Expectations
At 8:30am today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated unemployment figures for the U.S. Contrary to analysts' expectations, the U.S. unemployment rate increased for the first time since April 2020 to 6.1%. The Georgia Center for Opportunity's...
Guaranteed Income Subsidizes Poverty And Trivializes Those In Need
How guaranteed incomes and anti-poverty measures are actually devaluing those we serve and how we can restore dignity to those in need.
PROGRAMS
HIRING WELL DOING GOOD
A platform that brings local non-profits and businesses together to provide work.
PRISONER RE-ENTRY
Resources for ex-offenders to help bring opportunity and hope.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS
Offering opportunities that will jump start opportunity for youth in our communities.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARKETING YOURSELF: GET YOUR DREAM JOB
COLUMBUS, GA | Free Online and In-Person Training
The training includes discovering what employers care about, mastering interviews, showing your strengths, and dressing for success.
THE CHANGING COVID WORKFORCE
COLUMBUS, GA | Business Training Sessions
Join us for discussions that will feature leaders from the Columbus-area sharing expertise on how to adapt to the changing work environment during and after the pandemic.
POLICY
CIVIL ASSET FORFEITURE
The opportunity for abuse and the lack of accountability is resulting in a system of corruption.
PAID FAMILY LEAVE
How businesses can support and foster strong families through workplace initiatives.
WELFARE REFORM
Addressing the policies of welfare so that we meet needs while removing obstacles that trap people on welfare.
HIRING EX-OFFENDERS
How and why businesses can institute second chance programs in their community.
POLICY HANDBOOK
Public Policies for a Thriving Georgia.
BENEFIT CLIFFS
A website for identifying unintended consequences of policy that traps people in dependencies.
ADDITIONAL POLICY
INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY
Exploring ways to break the cycle of poverty passed from generation-to-generation.
Cooperation Needed to Solve Welfare Cliff Problem
Confirmed. Welfare Cliffs Pervasive in 8 Southeast States
A review of the welfare cliffs that exist in the southeast of the United States and how legislatures can identify where cliffs exist in their state.
YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP IN GEORGIA
Dr. Lerman’s most recent report, focuses on Georgia’s Youth Apprenticeship program, created in the mid 1990s with fewer than 400 student participants. Today, the program has grown to more than 3,000 students in nearly 350 schools across the state.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA: PART 1 THE CASE FOR REFORM
Part 1 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. This report demonstrates how the current system does not meet these assumptions and points to the need for reform.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA: PART 2 PRINCIPLES AND FRAMEWORK FOR REFORM
Part 2 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. In this report we explore the new system as we imagine it could be, give guiding principles, provide a general framework for how the reformed system can function, and establish preliminary steps needed to implement the vision.
SYSTEMIC WELFARE IN GEORGIA: PART 3 HOW THE NEW SYSTEM WILL WORK
Part 3 of 3 in a report on systemic welfare. In the final report we present a structure Georgia’s governor and executive agencies could adopt to effectively and in relatively short order implement a reformed system.
PRISON REFORM
TRUTH GRAF FOUND HER VOICE AND BECAME A CHAMPION FOR PRISON REFORM
OUR PARTNERS
OUR WORK STAFF
Eric Cochling
Chief Program Officer
Kristin Barker
HWDG Program Manager
Jace Brooks
Director of the Gwinnett Workforce Initiative
Kelsey Underwood
Agile Product Manager
Erik Randolph
Director Of Research
