For much of her early life, Ayonia Shipp believed she had everything planned out.

Raised in Columbus, Ģ����Ƶ, she excelled in school. She graduated near the top of her class from Shaw High School before earning her associate degree from Columbus Technical College in 2015. She imagined a future where she could build a career, get married, and eventually start a family.

Shortly after graduating high school, Ayonia began working for the Muscogee County Division of Family & Children Services, expecting the job to lead to the career she’d retire from. At the same time, another dream quietly lived in the back of her mind. After participating in Future Business Leaders of America in high school, she hoped to one day own a trucking company and build financial stability for herself and her family.

But life didn’t unfold the way she planned.

After becoming pregnant with her daughter, Dior, Ayonia unexpectedly lost her job. As she searched for new employment, repeated setbacks and barriers made each opportunity feel impossible. With every rejection, it became harder to believe her future could look different from her present.

Still, giving up was never an option.

“I wanted to wake up and not be stressed in my life,” Ayonia said. But beyond a new job, she needed hope.

Rebuilding Her Confidence Through BETTER WORK

That hope arrived in an unexpected place.

While attending a United Way Community Schools meeting to find speech therapy resources for Dior, someone asked if Ayonia had heard about the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s BETTER WORK Program. She enrolled in the class BETTER WORK offered, hoping it might provide the fresh start she’d been looking for.

Ayonia entered the program believing she was already a confident person. But through the program, she began to realize that years of setbacks had affected how confidently she viewed her ability to change them.

“I learned that all the hardships in my life currently don’t have to be in my life in the future,” she said.

As the weeks went on, Ayonia realized that years of disappointment had quietly turned into fear and discouragement. Through conversations with facilitators, volunteers, and fellow participants, she began recognizing the obstacles that had been holding her back, both professionally and personally.

“The lesson that had the most impact on me was learning how to overcome roadblocks,” Ayonia shared. “The facilitators and other participants showed me that nothing is too large for me to overcome.”

One exercise became a turning point.

Through the program’s “30-second commercial” activity, participants practice introducing themselves to potential employers with confidence and clarity. For Ayonia, the exercise opened her eyes to what she was capable of.

“During the commercial exercise, I learned from the Champions that I only had to be myself,” she said. “That boosted my confidence and made me realize I can make a difference in my future job.”

For the first time in a long time, she began seeing herself the way others already did.

“I now know what I am capable of,” she said.

Finding Community Support That Lasts Beyond the Class

For Ayonia, one of the greatest gifts of BETTER WORK was the people she met.

Throughout the class, she found herself surrounded by mentors and classmates who believed in her long before she fully believed in herself. Opening up about her personal journey wasn’t easy, but it became one of the most freeing moments of the experience.

“The BETTER WORK class��was the first time I shared my story,” Ayonia said. “That took the weight off my shoulders.”

Even after graduation, that support didn’t end.

Ayonia continues meeting weekly with BETTER WORK Program Manager Amber, who encourages her as she works toward new goals.

“I am so proud of Ayonia and her growth during and after the BETTER WORK class,” Amber said. “No matter what life throws at her, she always gets back up. Ayonia can find the silver lining in the darkest cloud and is a great encouragement to all of us.”

She also stays connected with her program Champion, Fred Blackwell, whose continued encouragement reminds her she isn’t walking this journey alone.

And Ayonia hears from volunteer Greg from time to time, who checks in to see how she’s doing. 

Those conversations serve as another reminder that the relationships built through BETTER WORK extend beyond the classroom.

Building a Career and a Future with Confidence

Today, Ayonia works for a private duty home health care company, a role that allows her the flexibility to take Dior to her weekly therapy appointments. While she continues pursuing opportunities in customer service, phone support, or data entry, she carries something even more valuable than a resume.

She carries confidence.

Now, Ayonia doesn’t define herself by the setbacks she’s faced. Instead, she chooses to focus on what she’s learned through them.

“You can’t let your past determine your future,” she said.

Ayonia is currently setting new goals, celebrating each milestone, and creating the life she once thought was no longer possible. Whether her future includes owning a trucking company or building a career in corporate America, she now believes she can achieve those goals. She also hopes her story will encourage others who are facing uncertainty to keep moving forward. 

Ayonia celebrates her BETTER WORK graduation with Dior.

Experience the Transformation BETTER WORK Offers

If you’d like to find a supportive community and connect to career pathways, employers, training, and local resources, please visit our BETTER WORK Program page.

The post How a Supportive Community Helped Ayonia See Her Potential Again appeared first on For Opportunity.

Key Points

• The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity and Connect to Work GA have entered into a valuable partnership that will link job seekers with rewarding jobs in the Atlanta area.
• The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s BETTER WORK program will prepare clients for work, and Connect to Work GA will then introduce them to employers.��
• This collaboration will help lift job seekers above the poverty line by providing opportunities for successful careers and upward mobility.

The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity (GCO) entered into a dynamic partnership with in October 2025. Together, the organizations will link participants in with rewarding jobs in the Atlanta area.��

Eric Cochling, GCO’s Chief Program Officer and General Counsel, shared that “GCO is thrilled to partner with Connect to Work GA because it gives our BETTER WORK clients access to the powerful business network of the Metro Atlanta Chamber and the expertise of the Connect to Work team.”

Work is a gateway to a better future, and this collaboration will create a clearer path out of poverty and toward opportunity for many job seekers across Ģ����Ƶ.

Connecting Ģ����Ƶns to work and upward mobility

GCO’s BETTER WORK program joins forces with employers and local organizations in Gwinnett County and in the city of Columbus. Through these strong partnerships, GCO connects people with training and support services that can help them find meaningful work.

Connect to Work GA was launched by the in February 2025, with support from the . The Foundation focuses on increasing access to career pathways for Ģ����Ƶns—and particularly for young people—so they can grow and thrive.��

In the spirit of the Foundation’s mission, the Chamber strives to advance economic growth around Atlanta, and Connect to Work GA contributes to that goal by bridging the gap between pre-qualified job candidates and employers who want to build their teams.

In the new relationship between GCO and Connect to Work GA, GCO’s BETTER WORK program will prepare clients for work by providing them with resume support, interview coaching, and job readiness training. Connect to Work GA will then link those individuals with employers by matching their skills with staffing needs.��

GCO will be a preferred provider of job candidates from Gwinnett County, giving GCO’s BETTER WORK clients a promising opportunity to find rewarding jobs with Metro Atlanta Chamber member companies.

Collaborating to build hope and vibrant communities through work

GCO and Connect to Work GA share the goal of making sure that every Ģ����Ƶn has the chance to experience the sense of dignity, purpose, and potential that comes from a meaningful job and upward mobility. They also aim to help communities across the state benefit from more successful businesses and vibrant local economies.

Together, the organizations will remove barriers to work and open doors to opportunity. In doing so, they will inspire hope and turn poverty into flourishing for many more Ģ����Ƶns, their families, and their communities.

The post Creating Links That Change Lives: Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity Partners with Connect to Work GA appeared first on For Opportunity.

Prison reform debates often focus on reducing prison populations to save taxpayers money. But is that actually possible?

In a for the Manhattan Institute, Joshua Crawford, a Public Safety Fellow at the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity (GCO), argues that marginally decreasing prison populations doesn’t yield the taxpayer savings policymakers have long touted. Crawford also shows that continuing to focus mainly on cost savings instead of on other measures to reduce crime and recidivism may lead to unintended fiscal and social consequences for states, including Ģ����Ƶ.

To understand this argument, it’s essential to first understand the landscape of state prison populations and the associated costs of incarcerating an individual.

Understanding prison populations and associated costs

State prison populations decreased by 24% overall between 2010 and 2023, with 43 out of 50 states experiencing a decline. But despite those significant decreases, Departments of Corrections budgets haven’t followed suit. 

In fact, Crawford’s report shows there is little to no relationship between changes in prison populations and changes in corrections spending. 

Departments of Corrections budgets are actually increasing, but corrections costs still account for no more than about 5% of most states’ total budgets. 

Nevertheless, many policymakers and advocates continue to argue that cutting prison populations will save money. So where is the disconnect between the numbers and the messaging? 

Most often, the total cost per inmate per year is calculated by dividing the total costs of the prison system by the number of incarcerated people, but this is a misleading figure. Many of the more costly parts of a Department of Corrections budget (e.g., staff salaries, utility bills) are long-run or fixed costs that don’t vary with marginal changes in a prison’s population. To get a more accurate estimate of possible savings, it’s more important to consider short-run costs, like food and toiletries, which can vary immediately with a change in a prison’s population.

Interpreting the numbers for Ģ����Ƶ prisons

Ģ����Ƶ is one of the 43 states that, on average, saw a decrease in their prison populations between 2010 and 2023. The state experienced an 11.7% decrease in the number of inmates during that time. 

Ģ����Ƶ falls in line with overall national trends year over year. The figure below illustrates the decrease in both Ģ����Ƶ’s and the nation’s number of incarcerated people. The biggest departure was in 2019, when Ģ����Ƶ seemingly had a sharp increase, but that increase was actually minimal at just 2.2%.

And like most states in recent years, Ģ����Ƶ saw a rebound in the number of inmates after the COVID-19 pandemic, when more people were released to help alleviate stress on prison systems.

Black Line = National Trend, Blue Line = Ģ����Ƶ Trend

The data for Ģ����Ƶ also reinforces the lack of a relationship between the change in the number of inmates and the change in corrections spending. The table below reveals that even though Ģ����Ƶ’s prison population decreased from 2010 to 2023, corrections spending increased 23.6% during that time.

Data from 2019 further reinforces this absence of a relationship. During that year, Ģ����Ƶ saw a very slight increase of 1,169 people in its prison population, but the state spent $21,430 less on corrections that year compared to 2018.

A better focus for Ģ����Ƶ policymakers

Instead of focusing on state prison budgets and costs per inmate, policymakers need to consider the total cost of crime—both monetary and social—that a community pays and how to reduce it. 

Crime itself costs our nation anywhere from $2.6 trillion to $5.76 trillion each year, with violent crime accounting for 85% of those costs. A single homicide can cost upwards of $9 million in government resources and lost potential earnings of victims. This doesn’t account for the financial burdens it can put on families and communities. 

In addition to the monetary cost of crime, communities pay a significant social price—and none more so than high-crime, impoverished areas. Effective public safety measures are foundational to upward mobility. Without them, these communities will continue to see the loss of businesses, local resources, and community connections that help people flourish.

With this in mind, policymakers and advocates should refocus criminal justice efforts toward reforms proven to reduce crime and recidivism. Improvements on both of these fronts generate cost savings of their own, in addition to saving lives and lowering fear of personal harm.

Best practice criminal justice reforms fall into eight solution categories that could spark meaningful change:

• Addressing community disrepair
• Investing in a well-trained police force
• Building trust by protecting victims
• Addressing gang violence
• Addressing the low number of homicide detectives and low clearance rates
• Ensuring appropriate sentencing
• Implementing cognitive behavioral therapy for juvenile offenders
• Evaluating and updating re-entry programs

In Ģ����Ƶ, policymakers and advocates should consider these specific efforts to reduce crime and recidivism:

• Implementing reforms to help law enforcement close non-fatal shooting cases (e.g., the Firearm Assault Shoot Team in Denver, Colorado)
• Broadening cognitive behavioral therapy offerings for juvenile offenders, which has shown promising results in juvenile recidivism rates
• Prioritizing data collection and evaluation to help guide future programs and reforms
• Helping communities through a holistic approach that includes job training and opportunities, affordable housing, and family programs

In addition to the above policy suggestions, GCO has prepared in-depth reports focusing on reducing crime in two major Ģ����Ƶ cities—Atlanta and Columbus.

As Crawford says of potential criminal justice reforms in Ģ����Ƶ, “lawmakers should focus conversations about criminal justice where they belong: on protecting the public and creating a fair and just system that values the lives, liberty, and property of Ģ����Ƶ families.” In doing so, policymakers can transform entire communities by making them safer for the people who live there.

Image Credit: Canva

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This week, we launched our Jobs for Life program with an inspiring open house, highlighting the life-changing opportunities available to individuals in our community. Through this free program, participants gain critical job skills, build confidence, and set themselves up for long-term success in the workforce.

At Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s initiative, we believe that investing in people is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and creating lasting change. Our partnership with Jobs for Life ensures that individuals not only receive job training but also the support and mentorship needed to thrive both personally and professionally.

In the news coverage from WTVM, you’ll see how this program is already creating a positive ripple effect in our community. From improving local employment rates to fostering a sense of belonging, Jobs for Life is transforming lives—and it’s just the beginning.

from WTVM 9 Columbus, GA.

The post Free ‘Jobs for Life’ classes underway in the Fountain City appeared first on For Opportunity.

Quendasia’s life was changed forever when she was seriously injured in a car crash several years ago. The accident left her with a traumatic brain injury that made returning to work a challenge. She spent five years struggling with unemployment before hearing about the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity (GCO) program—and its partnership with Jobs for Life.

Like many job-seekers, Quendasia discovered BETTER WORK in a moment of crisis or urgent need. And because GCO prioritizes building a network of community resources and employer partners, we were able to help her find support for her immediate needs.

But part of what makes BETTER WORK unique—and effective—is that we help people move from crisis into developing connections and a fresh mindset to pursue long-term, stable work. This is where BETTER WORK and (JFL) came alongside Quendasia to help her envision and pursue a professional path that was so much more than just a paycheck.

This gets to the heartbeat of GCO—to remove barriers to opportunity and foster thriving communities in which everyone can achieve their fullest potential. Work is a key piece of the puzzle—not only because it unlocks economic mobility, but also because it empowers people to find fulfillment in a sense of personal and collective purpose, structured routines, and relationships that lead to belonging and support.

Together, BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life empower people to see that they have a valuable place in their communities and can make unique contributions through work. 

Back in 2022, we recognized that the focus of our BETTER WORK initiative strongly aligned with the vision and values of Jobs for Life, a network of job-training groups available through churches and nonprofit organizations that break down barriers to work. Originally launched in 1996 in Raleigh, North Carolina, JFL is now available in more than 300 cities nationwide.

This shared vision led to a collaboration with the power to transform the lives of individuals, families, and whole communities.

In Columbus, which is home to one of our BETTER WORK chapters, we partner with Jobs for Life to offer an 11-week course that pairs participants with a one-on-one mentor. JFL’s curriculum has the benefit of incorporating essential skill training and behavioral development into its model. Each class provides two hours of instruction in soft skills, discussions on the importance of work in daily life, and exercises in character development.

Back to Quendasia’s story. 

Prior to coming to Jobs for Life, she had a GED and she was planning to go to college. Through JFL, she honed practical and essential work skills—like how to interact with others and show up on time. These details seem small, but they are often the tools people need most to capably and confidently pursue meaningful work and realize their inherent personal value. 

“Jobs for Life got my mind back on track for working. I met different people and learned different skills,” Quendasia shared. “Before Jobs for Life, I didn’t feel confident enough to get a job. I didn’t really believe in myself. But now I know I can do it.”

BETTER WORK’s Jobs for Life class in Columbus, GA, introduces participants to community resources and champions that offer support on their journeys to pursuing long-term, meaningful work. 

The discovery of personal potential and worth is at the heart of BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life. Both programs share the core belief that everyone has an inherent, God-given dignity worthy of recognition and respect. Through their shared focus on relational support, human connections, and community, BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life empower people to see that they have a valuable place in their communities and can make unique contributions through work. 

Today, Quendasia works at Piedmont Healthcare—an opportunity she never would have had without the support and networking she found through JFL.

The BETTER WORK partnership with Jobs for Life allows GCO to leverage our existing network of employers, community leaders, and resource providers to make JFL classes even more successful for the local churches and organizations that choose to host and sponsor the training in a BETTER WORK community.

Take one more example. Recently, Tiarra connected with BETTER WORK through our partnership with the Jobs for Life program. She was looking for new opportunities at a job fair after losing her job.

“The class pushed me even further,” Tiarra said. “I wouldn’t have ever found my mentor or the job I’m in right now. I love all the teachers. Every lesson was a blessing,” 

Today, Tiarra is at Troy University online school working toward a bachelor’s degree in social work. “I used to live in fear, and now I embrace challenges and try to work through them instead of shying away from them,” she added.

Across the nation, the need for programs like BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life is significant:, as of February 2024, nearly 6.5 million Americans were unemployed, 22 million were underemployed, and 80% of workers were disengaged. 

These numbers can seem overwhelming and even impossible to change. But that only becomes true when we forget that the biggest differences start close to home. 

When it comes to empowering vibrant communities and upward mobility, the most important place to start is at the community level. That’s what BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life are built for. Quendasia and Tiarra’s stories are testimonies to the good that can come when mission-aligned programs like BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life work together to build hope and opportunities in the places where people need them most—in the communities where everyday lives are lived.

The post BETTER WORK and Jobs for Life: Giving Ģ����Ƶns a Path to Find Purpose and Possibility in Work appeared first on For Opportunity.

• Our BETTER WORK program harnesses the transformative power of local partnerships to get more people hired and build prosperous, stable communities.

• Four standout collaborators—Essendant, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, D.P. Jones Electrical, and Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries (CVEM)—are showing how business and nonprofit involvement can fuel economic opportunity and serve the holistic needs of those working to escape poverty.

• Together, GCO and our partners are dedicated to more than building better work. We’re building environments where everyone has a chance to reach their full potential.

In the tapestry of a thriving community, threads of collaboration weave a narrative of hope and opportunity for those who need it most. The collective efforts of local organizations, community leaders, and neighbors form the foundation upon which individuals facing challenges can build a brighter future.��

In the pursuit of creating a more prosperous and stable community, the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) BETTER WORK program has harnessed the transformative power of partnerships. Among these alliances, four standout collaborators—Essendant, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, D.P. Jones Electrical, and Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries (CVEM)—exemplify how synergy between businesses and nonprofits makes it possible for communities to experience greater transformation and well-being.��

Essendant: A Distributor with a Difference

Type of Business: Distinguished distribution company based in Suwanee, Ģ����Ƶ.

Partnership History: Has been an employer partner in GCO’s BETTER WORK Gwinnett (BWG) program since August 2022.��

Their Impact: ’s involvement is not merely transactional—it represents a commitment to community growth and development. By actively participating in the BETTER WORK program, Essendant contributes to the creation of a more vibrant and economically stable community.��

• Their commitment to the program is evident in their proactive approach, going above and beyond in reaching out and interviewing every candidate referred by GCO.
• Their consistency in communication has been a cornerstone of their partnership. By keeping us updated on the progress of candidates, they ensure a transparent and collaborative process.
• Three individuals referred by BWG have been employed at Essendant for over three months, highlighting the tangible impact of this partnership on local employment opportunities.

Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries: Nurturing Communities, Transforming Lives

Type of Business: Nonprofit organization in Norcross, Ģ����Ƶ.

Partnership History: Has been a community partner since the inception of GCO’s BETTER WORK program.��

Their Impact: NCM has stood as an unwavering partner, embodying values of compassion, faithfulness, and trustworthiness that align seamlessly with the BETTER WORK initiative’s people-centric approach. Their impact extends well beyond the professional realm, delving into the core of individual needs.��

• Their comprehensive support system—encompassing financial aid, shelter, and food resources—plays a pivotal role in empowering candidates referred by the BETTER WORK program.��
• NCM’s commitment to addressing the holistic needs of individuals creates an environment where securing employment becomes a stepping stone toward self-sufficiency.
  
• Together, BETTER WORK and NCM orchestrate various initiatives, with NCM hosting job events that connect job seekers with potential employers. NCM’s clients benefit from the invaluable support provided by the BETTER WORK program, including job coaching, resume assistance, and essential career advice.

“Through these partnerships, GCO and our collaborators are doing so much more than building better work. We are tirelessly constructing a better future for all, fostering an environment where individuals can reach their full potential and proving that this approach is possible for any community seeking hope and opportunity.”

“Through these partnerships, GCO and our collaborators are doing so much more than building better work. We are tirelessly constructing a better future for all, fostering an environment where individuals can reach their full potential and proving that this approach is possible for any community seeking hope and opportunity.”

D.P. Jones Electrical: Illuminating Opportunities

Type of Business: Family-owned and operated business established in 1939.��

Partnership History: Recent addition to the employer partner network for BETTER WORK Columbus.��

Their Impact: brings with them a legacy of customer satisfaction and an eagerness to give back to the community.��

• Their commitment to offering opportunities is exemplified by the employment of a BETTER WORK candidate who was initially feeling defeated in his job search.

• The collaborative efforts between the candidate, the BETTER WORK team, and D.P. Jones Electrical resulted in permanent full-time employment. Edward Russel, the newest member of the D.P. Jones’ team, expresses his appreciation for working in a company that values him and shares his family values.

• The company’s commitment to on-the-job training provides individuals like Edward with the chance to learn a trade while supporting their families.

Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries (CVEM): Empowering Communities in Times of Need

Type of Business: A non-profit outreach ministry in Columbus, GA

Partnership History: Community partner with BETTER WORK Columbus

Their Impact: stands as a beacon of support for individuals facing great need or crisis.��

• Collaborating with BETTER WORK Columbus, CVEM addresses concerns related to housing, medical expenses, household furnishings, education, and job-related expenses.��
• Their flexibility and responsiveness empower individuals to succeed as they position themselves for better job opportunities and futures.

Partnerships Unlock the Life-Changing Power of Work

It’s through local partnerships that we are able to help more people achieve a better life through the power of work. Partners like Essendant, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, D.P. Jones Electrical, and Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries are a few of the shining examples that illustrate the positive outcomes that come from strategic alliances.��

Through these partnerships, GCO and our collaborators are doing so much more than building better work. We are tirelessly constructing a better future for all, fostering an environment where individuals can reach their full potential and proving that this approach is possible for any community seeking hope and opportunity.��

Learn More Ģ����Ƶ Partnering with BETTER WORK

If you are connected to a business or nonprofit organization interested in collaborating with our local BETTER WORK chapters, go here to learn more and contact us:

The post Building Better Work: The Power of Community and Business Partnerships appeared first on For Opportunity.

A new community initiative is set to launch in Columbus, but it’s not run by any one person or organization. It’s running name is the “Columbus Empowerment Initiative.”

The program is based on – but not affiliated with – a similar group in Nebraska, the Omaha Empowerment Initiative. The Nebraska-based group, also known as Omaha 360, is “focused on Collaboration, Prevention, Intervention, Enforcement Support, Reentry and Community Engagement,” according to its .

Roughly 60 individuals showed up, including Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson, local philanthropists, businesspersons and other community leaders. Representatives of the Ģ����Ƶ Center Opportunity and Better Work Columbus were also in attendance.

“Violence, homicide in particular, is the worst thing that a human being can do to another person,” said Josh Crawford, director of criminal justice initiatives at the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity.

He continued, “By restoring public safety in a community with a high rate of violence, you’re really taking the first step towards making a more prosperous and flourishing community.”

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We know that crime in major metro areas across the United States is up. Here in Ģ����Ƶ, Atlanta is front and center on that issue, highlighted by a recent report by the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity showing a concerning rise in violent and property crime over the last few years.

While the crime problem in larger cities is crucial to address, smaller cities tend to get overlooked. Yet these cities represent a large portion of the country’s population. , but only 14 cities with populations over one million.

Take Columbus, Ģ����Ƶ as an example. —a slight reduction from 2020 when the population was 207,000. Since 2017, Columbus has seen a spike in crime.

The crime problem—and what to do about it—is the focus of a new GCO report. Titled “Reducing Crime in Columbus: Safer Communities Through Policy,” the report is authored by Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at GCO.

Quick Facts on Crime in Columbus

• Columbus saw one of its most violent years with 59 murders in 2021.
• The city’s population is on the decline, correlated to the rise in violent crime.
• A decrease in Columbus police has gone hand-in-hand with the crime spike.
• Attempted murder convicts in Columbus who were released in 2022 only served 35% of their time.

“The human cost of this violence is dramatic, cutting lives short and leaving behind grieving families and fractured communities,” Crawford said. “The toll of violent crime goes beyond the physical cost to those directly impacted and includes financial costs to victims and taxpayers, the loss of productive years, and decreased economic mobility and growth in communities afflicted with high rates of crime.”

Access the Report:

Reducing Crime in Columbus

Our Columbus Crime Report details six practical solutions that city leaders can use to reduce crime in Columbus and restore safety, hope, and opportunity to the broader community. 

Learn Ģ����Ƶ the Report

Why Smaller Cities Matter

Our focus at GCO is on empowering underserved, disadvantaged, and low-income communities. By starting with Columbus, we want to equip more of these overlooked cities across Ģ����Ƶ and the U.S. with policy reforms that will reduce crime and restore community safety. 

Six Policy Recommendations to Reduce Crime

Because Columbus is smaller, it’s easier to implement changes that would make a big difference. Success in Columbus could provide a model to inspire change in similar-sized cities.

Fixing the Columbus crime problem is about focusing on the most violent offenders. By addressing gang-related violence and solving more homicide investigations, Columbus can restore community safety, improve trust with city officials and law enforcement, and expand upward mobility and opportunity for residents.

Crawford suggests:

• Addressing disrepair in Columbus’ communities by expanding cleanup efforts, tearing down or renovating abandoned buildings, and installing adequate street lighting.
  
• Building trust between community residents and law enforcement and social services, particularly through protecting the rights of victims.
  
• Removing egregious offenders from communities by implementing gang-enhancement provisions such as SB44 (2023) that keep these individuals incarcerated.
• Improving and requiring pre-entry cognitive behavioral therapy services for all juvenile offenders, no matter how non-violent their offenses.
• Reevaluating reentry programs through an external third party, examining the impact on revocation, rearrest, and reconviction.

The post Why crime in smaller cities like Columbus matters appeared first on For Opportunity.

Key Points

• Community Collaboration for Empowerment: The Collaborative Community Connection (C3) organized a successful job fair in South Columbus through a partnership involving various entities, including the City of Columbus Parks and Recreation, Boys and Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley, Goodwill Southern Rivers, YMCA of Metro Columbus GA, BETTER WORK Columbus team, and more.��
• Diverse Employment Opportunities: The job fair showcased a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, law enforcement, and retail, providing immediate employment opportunities.��
• Impact and Hope for Neglected Community: Better Work Columbus played a significant role in assisting job seekers and facilitating connections with potential employers. Beyond the event’s surface, the job fair highlighted the significance of community support for an often-neglected area.

In a display of community solidarity, the Collaborative Community Connection (C3) recently hosted a transformative job fair at the Frank Chester Recreation Center. This dynamic partnership, comprising entities such as the City of Columbus Parks and Recreation, Boys and Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley, Goodwill Southern Rivers, YMCA of Metro Columbus GA, our team and more, united to channel resources where they’re needed most in South Columbus. The event’s spotlight shone on a diverse range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, law enforcement, and retail, all of which offered immediate employment opportunities. With local employers like Pratt and Whitney, Aflac, and Kia in attendance, the job fair collectively sought to fill over 2,000 positions.

One organization that played a pivotal role in the success of the event was Better Work Columbus. Their on-site assistance and support proved invaluable in helping job seekers navigate the job fair and connect with potential employers.The job fair’s impact reverberated beyond the surface, as it underscored the importance of community support in an area that has often faced neglect. By uniting organizations with a shared goal of upliftment, C3 demonstrated their unwavering belief in the untapped potential and inherent value of South Columbus residents.

Beyond the event’s surface, the job fair highlighted the significance of community support for an often-neglected area. It emphasized the belief in the potential of South Columbus residents and demonstrated that collaborative efforts can lead to transformative change and a brighter future for the community.

Beyond the event’s surface, the job fair highlighted the significance of community support for an often-neglected area. It emphasized the belief in the potential of South Columbus residents and demonstrated that collaborative efforts can lead to transformative change and a brighter future for the community.

The C3 job fair not only provided a platform for individuals to secure gainful employment but also symbolized a beacon of hope for an often-overlooked community. It signified that collaborative efforts, like those of C3, can bridge gaps, open doors, and amplify voices that deserve to be heard. As this successful event has shown, when a community comes together with dedication and purpose, it can spark transformative change and pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future.

The post Empowering South Columbus Through Collaboration: C3 Job Fair Success appeared first on For Opportunity.

Key Points

• Free the Future is an initiative of the Mayor of Columbus Ģ����Ƶ’s Commission on Reentry, in partnership with the Urban League of the Chattahoochee Valley.
• The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s program director, Kristin Barker, is leading this effort, serving as the chair of the Reentry Commission.

• The campaign aims to address existing biases and create a sustainable impact on the health and well-being of the community and its residents.

Breaking the cycle of recidivism is a critical issue in many communities across the United States. The Mayor’s Commission on Reentry in Columbus, Ģ����Ƶ is taking a multi-pronged approach to address this problem, with a mission to prevent recidivism by strengthening cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies, corrections and supervision entities, resource agencies, social service and non-profit organizations, community members, and other private and public stakeholders.

The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s program director, Kristin Barker, is leading this effort, serving as the chair of the Reentry Commission. “We have developed subcommittees to focus on priority areas that will provide the greatest impact for the reentry population in our community,” Kristin explains. “These areas are employment, housing and connectivity of resources.”��

One project that recently launched through the employment subcommittee is the . The initiative is aimed at educating private employers on the value of Second Chance hiring. Many people who exit incarceration after serving their time are eager to start afresh, but they face significant challenges in finding suitable housing and jobs that pay a livable wage. Often, they have outstanding fines and fees that they are unable to pay without a steady income. The inability to find good employment quickly leads to a cycle of recidivism, which is hard to break.

The mission of BETTER WORK is to support the underserved in our communities and promote their long-term success. The FREE THE FUTURE campaign in Columbus is a key part of this effort, designed to challenge false narratives that hold people back from making positive life changes. The campaign aims to address existing biases and create a sustainable impact on the health and well-being of the community and its residents.

The FREE THE FUTURE campaign is easily accessible through, , and its website. Monthly meetings of the Mayor’s Commission on Reentry are open to the public, and many community organizations attend these meetings to become more educated and engaged with reentry in Muscogee County.��

��is aimed at educating private employers on the value of Second Chance hiring.

��is aimed at educating private employers on the value of Second Chance hiring.

Key partners in this initiative include BETTER WORK Columbus, , , , , , , , and .

To learn more about this campaign, , or access the information via and . Monthly meetings of the Mayor’s Commission on Reentry are open to the public, and many community organizations attend these meetings to become more educated and engaged with reentry in Muscogee County.

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