By GEEARS From the moment a baby is born, their parent or caregiver becomes an advocate. They are their child’s interpreter, their guardrails, their voice. When that child has a disability or developmental delay, advocacy can escalate into a full-time job, as much a part of parenting as changing diapers, running warm baths, and snuggling […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inPoverty & Equity
The Pathway to Self-Sufficiency: A Tale of Two Journeys
This Men’s Health Month, we’re exploring what it means to rebuild stability after homelessness while managing health challenges. In this interview, we spoke with two residents of The Melody, one of Hope Atlanta’s place-based housing locations. Mr. George, an Atlanta native and former truck driver, experienced a series of strokes in a short period of […]
Posted inHigher Education
World Cup Puts Atlanta Back in Global Spotlight
When Spain and Cabo Verde take the pitch inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium (temporarily renamed Atlanta Stadium) on June 15, Atlanta will become one of two U.S. cities to have hosted the Olympics, a Super Bowl, an NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, a College Football National Championship, and a World Cup match, further cementing its status as […]
Posted inSmall Business
What Georgia Manufacturers Need to Know Now
Manufacturing has long been one of the cornerstones of Georgia’s economy. From aerospace and automotive production to food processing, logistics, advanced materials, and industrial equipment, manufacturers across the state help drive economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen Georgia’s position as a national business leader, yet manufacturers are navigating a rapidly changing environment. Workforce shortages, evolving […]
Posted inCommitment to Community
The World’s Most Popular Game is About to Make a Difference in Our Little Corner of It
By Al McRae, president, Bank of America Atlanta They call it the beautiful game for a reason. At its highest level, the sport is art. The precise geometry of a pass toward the goal. The graceful curve of a corner kick. Beyond physical aesthetics, the beauty of soccer is its ability to unite communities all […]
Posted inHigher Education
Christopher L. Augostini named 22nd president of Emory University
The Emory University Board of Trustees announced today that Christopher L. Augostini, the university’s current executive vice president and chief operating officer, has been elected by unanimous vote to serve as Emory’s 22nd president. He will assume his duties on September 1, 2026. The appointment by the Board of Trustees concludes a national search conducted […]
Posted inDesign and Our City
A Reflection on Our World in Design
By Victoria Walsh As architects, it is easy to fall into echo chambers — speaking to the same audiences about the same trends, materials, and ideas that shape our profession. But on April 16, 2026, those conversations broke out of the studio and into the broader world, bringing together voices from academia, medicine, the justice […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Be Vocal: Raising Awareness on Women’s Health
As a doctor of Obstetrics and Gynocology, Jaclyn Nunziato moved from New York to Roanoke, Virginia with a deep understanding of the importance of healthcare during pregnancy. So, when she discovered that many women in southwest Virginia were struggling to access the education and resources they needed to navigate their pregnancy and postpartum experiences, she […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
When Women Can’t Afford to Work, Atlanta Pays the Price
By Danita V. Knight, President & CEO, YWCA Greater Atlanta For generations, women have navigated the competing demands of work, caregiving, and economic stability. But for many across Atlanta today, that balance is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Atlanta’s economy depends on the labor, leadership, and contributions women provide every day. Yet across our region, more women […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
Housing is Just a Start: Why the Path from Homelessness to Self-Sufficiency Isn’t Linear
During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reminded that healing and stability rarely follow a straight line. The same is true for the journey out of homelessness. While receiving the keys to a home is a significant milestone worth celebrating, housing is not the finish line. For many individuals and families, it marks the beginning […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Nominations Open for the 2026 CVC IMPACT Awards Celebrating Corporate Community Leadership
By: Kim Beasley, CVC Volunteer and Member Partner Do you know a company that goes above and beyond for our beloved hometown Atlanta? Now is the time to give them the recognition they deserve! The Corporate Volunteer Council (CVC) of Atlanta is now accepting nominations for the 2026 IMPACT Awards. This annual awards event, now in […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Everyone’s a Birder. They Just Don’t Know It Yet.
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. […]
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 […]
