By Brooke Michael, Birds Georgia Communications Coordinator Everyone’s a birder. They just don’t know it yet. That’s a common refrain among Birds Georgia staff, because we know that once you start noticing birds, you’re hooked. And lately, it seems like more and more people are joining the flock. Bird feeder cameras have become must-have gadgets. […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inHigher Education
In an Era of Automation and AI, Learning Takes a Lifetime
In an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and technological changes, the idea that education happens only at the beginning of a career no longer reflects how people live or work. In an ever-changing labor market, candidates are looking for an edge, and employers are looking for opportunities to attract talent and upskill their employees. The College of […]
Posted inSmall Business
Closing the Skills Gap: How Georgia Businesses Are Building the Workforce of Tomorrow
Georgia’s economic momentum continues to outpace much of the country. From advanced manufacturing and logistics to technology and life sciences, companies are expanding, relocating, and investing across the state. Yet alongside this growth is a persistent and widely acknowledged challenge: a widening gap between the skills employers need and the workforce available to meet that […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Drought is a wakeup call for Atlanta’s park and tree communities
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Atlanta is parched. At the time of writing this column, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the entire state of Georgia is under severe, extreme, or exceptional drought. While our dry spell has finally come to an end with recent rain, predictions show that the […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Recent Leadership Forum Proves that Family-Friendly Is Business-Friendly
Last week at the Metro Atlanta Chamber, dozens of business leaders gathered for a Leadership Forum hosted by GEEARS, the Georgia Chamber Foundation, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. The topic of the day: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent through Family-Friendly Policies and HR Best Practices. One of the speakers, […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
A New Neighbor with Roots: Wayfair Invests in Atlanta’s Housing Stability from Day One
On Friday, April 17th, residents of midtown Atlanta and the surrounding communities lined up outside of the new Wayfair store for its grand opening and to welcome the e-commerce giant into the community. It was a warm welcome indeed as many anxious shoppers danced to the sounds of the DJ while wearing the company’s signature […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Housing Forum to tackle capital barriers to affordable housing
The next Atlanta Regional Housing Forum will continue its 2026 focus on Barriers to Producing Affordable Housing. Our June topic will focus specifically on Capital Barriers—what we’ve learned from the recent surge of housing investment across the Atlanta region, and what comes next. Over the past several years, Atlanta has mobilized significant new capital through […]
Posted inHigher Education
Student mural project expands from Georgia State campus to South Downtown in time for World Cup
As Laura Hayes made her way from class to class last fall, she sometimes walked past a 14-foot-wide mural, marveling at the colors, patterns and scale of the design on the wall under downtown Atlanta’s Courtland Street viaduct. This semester, her own work is part of a new mural in the same space. But her […]
Posted inCommitment to Community
More Than a Build: Bank of America’s Commitment to Affordable Housing in Atlanta
By Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta This month, Atlanta was once again at the center of one of the most recognized volunteer events in the country. Thousands of people gathered at the Sylvan Hills neighborhood for Habitat for Humanity’s 40th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, the first time the event has returned […]
Posted inHigher Education
Molly McGehee named dean of Oxford College of Emory University
Molly McGehee has been appointed the next dean of Oxford College of Emory University effective July 1, 2026. A longtime faculty member and administrative leader at Oxford, she has served as interim dean of the college since Nov. 1, 2025. “Dr. McGehee is exactly the right leader for Oxford College at this moment,” says Badia Ahad, provost […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Marking a Milestone: MedShare’s Safe Birth Initiative Nears Completion in West Africa
Over the past decade, MedShare has played a critical role in strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare systems in West Africa. Today, that work is approaching an important milestone. MedShare is currently preparing the final 10 container shipments of life-saving medical supplies and biomedical equipment to charitable hospitals in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire—regions long challenged by […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Introducing Georgia’s Roadmap For Marsh Conservation
A regional partnership spanning North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida released targeted plans for each state this month to conserve coastal salt marshes—grassy wetlands that fill with saltwater and drain as the tides ebb and flow. These habitats protect communities and more than a dozen at-risk military installations from floods, provide fish breeding grounds, […]
Posted inHigher Education
Helping children collaborate with AI through storytelling
As artificial intelligence becomes more common in classrooms and everyday life, researchers at Emory University are asking a new question: How can children learn to use AI thoughtfully from the start? A team in Emory’s Natural Language Processing lab is developing Tinker Tales, an interactive storytelling experience designed to help young children understand how AI works by building […]
Posted inSmall Business
Engineering Leadership Driving Georgia Forward
The Georgia Business Council will feature Meg Pirkle, P.E., Chief Engineer of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), as the keynote speaker for its upcoming Executive Breakfast Series on May 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The program will highlight the leadership perspective and practical experience that have defined Pirkle’s decades-long career in […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Safeguarding Health: Addressing the Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance
Antibiotics are one of the most powerful tools in medicine, and most are prescribed in outpatient settings, like doctors’ offices and clinics. However, research has shown that in the United States up to 28 percent of these prescriptions are unnecessary. Unnecessary or inappropriate antibiotic use can allow pathogens to develop the ability to resist the […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
More Than a Meal: How Hope Atlanta’s Women’s Community Kitchen is Donor Fed, Volunteer Led
In a city defined by connection, there is a place where that connection shows up in one of the most cherished ways: over a shared meal. At Hope Atlanta’s Women’s Community Kitchen, the work seems simple – but the impact is profound. Plates are served. Conversations begin. Trust is built. And for women and children […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Today’s Atlanta Student Movement: How Youth Are Impacting the Education Ecosystem of Georgia
By Taylor Hall and Mikayla Johnson Atlanta has long been shaped by young people who refused to accept the conditions of their education and instead worked to transform them. In the 1960s, students across the Atlanta University Center formed what became known as the Atlanta Student Movement, organizing against segregation in schools and throughout the […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Atlanta Beltline’s 404 Day of Service Unites 200+ Volunteers and 12 Colleges Across the City
On 404 Day 2026, Shirley Clarke Franklin Park was alive with the energy of more than 200 volunteers from 12 Atlanta-area colleges and universities, all showing up to give back to the city they love, and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined in the fun. The annual 404 Day of Service, held on Atlanta’s April 4 […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
CVC Board Members: Ambassadors for Corporate Citizenship
By Doll Thomas, CVC Volunteer The Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta (CVC) is proud to announce its 2026 Board of Directors, an inspiring group of leaders dedicated to advancing corporate volunteerism and strengthening communities across metro Atlanta. Representing a diverse range of industries and expertise, this year’s board reflects the passion, innovation, and collaboration that […]
Posted inHigher Education
Panther Book Access Pilot Saves Georgia State Students More Than $560,000
Georgia State University has taken a significant step toward addressing one of the most persistent barriers to student success: the high cost of textbooks. Over two semesters, students saved more than $560,000 in textbook costs through the Panther Book Access pilot, a university-wide effort to address textbook affordability. Launched in fall 2025, Panther Book Access […]
