By Yolanda Marroquin Far too many children in Georgia struggle with reading, with only 30% of fourth graders reading at or above grade level. The Georgia Early Literacy Act (House Bill 538), enacted in 2023, seeks to change that by aligning reading instruction in schools with the science of reading—a research-backed approach that strengthens foundational […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inPoverty & Equity
One Payroll Away: The High-Stakes Fight for Nonprofits
By Julio Carrillo, CEO of Hope Atlanta What Happens If the Safety Net Disappears? For decades, I’ve dedicated my career to leading and strengthening nonprofit organizations. I’ve seen firsthand what happens when mission-driven organizations are financially vulnerable—when they lack the resources to pivot in a crisis, the reserves to withstand funding shifts, or the independence […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Black History Month: Pathways to Progress – The History of Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway
Atlanta’s historic Westside is a living testament to the city’s rich past and enduring legacy. Throughout the community, streets and landmarks tell the stories of trailblazing leaders whose contributions shaped Atlanta—and the nation. In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a blog series exploring the namesakes of four significant streets that run through […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
Atlanta Habitat CEO reflects on Jimmy Carter’s Legacy
In this video, Atlanta Habitat President & CEO Rosalyn Merrick recounts her experience attending the funeral of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. with Atlanta Habitat’s 1,000th homeowner, Linnette. Highlights include: This is sponsored content.
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
A Vision Connecting Westside Residents to New Beltline Parks
We’re witnessing a transformative moment for Atlanta’s Westside as several major initiatives come together to create lasting positive change in our communities. Through our Advancing the Vision campaign, generous donors are supporting the creation of two new parks along the Atlanta Beltline’s Westside corridor while ensuring current residents are able to enjoy the benefits these […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Volunteering During Times of Change
By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta It is only February, but 2025 has been quite a year. Between political shifts, extreme winter weather, and the spread of Bird Flu, uncertainty feels like the only constant. In times of change, volunteering provides purpose, stability, and unity. Working toward a common goal with […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Black History Month: Pathways to Progress – The History of James P. Brawley Drive
Atlanta’s historic Westside is a living testament to the city’s rich past and enduring legacy. Throughout the community, streets and landmarks tell the stories of trailblazing leaders whose contributions shaped Atlanta—and the nation. In honor of Black History Month, we are launching a blog series exploring the namesakes of four significant streets that run through […]
Posted inHigher Education
Science Gallery Atlanta’s ‘Resilient Earth’ imagines sustainable futures
A sculpture of cupped hands raising a tree skyward greets those who enter Science Gallery Atlanta’s newly opened exhibition, “Resilient Earth.” Setting the tone for the exhibition’s theme, the work is made entirely of reclaimed materials by artist William Massey. Just around the corner, thousands of plastic water bottles collected from throughout metro Atlanta form winding, […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Overdose Response Coming to Rural Communities in Georgia
Provisional data indicate that drug overdose deaths dropped 17 percent in the United States between July 2023 to July 2024—the largest decrease on record. That adds up to about 19,000 lives saved. And after decades of rising fatalities, it’s heartening to those who’ve spent years diligently working to address this devastating crisis. A program similar to […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
Sustainability Issues to Watch in Georgia’s 2025 Utility Plans
Georgia Power filed their 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Public Service Commission (PSC) on January 31, outlining how they plan to invest funds from their 2.8 million customers over the next two decades. Stakeholders and the public now have a valuable opportunity to engage in the process before the PSC votes on the […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Meet Jon Ingram: Westside Future Fund’s Chief Development Officer
For Jon Ingram, joining Westside Future Fund (WFF) as Chief Development Officer is more than a professional milestone—it’s a homecoming. Raised with deep roots in Atlanta’s Westside, Ingram brings both a wealth of experience in nonprofit development and an intrinsic understanding of the community WFF serves. A Career Built on Service and Community Engagement Ingram’s […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
Service to Others: Volunteering Leads to a Healthier Community
By Michele Egan, Chief Development Officer, MedShare The significance of service to others cannot be overstated – volunteering and performing simple acts of kindness contribute to our well-being and foster community connections that can also combat feelings of isolation. According to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy’s 2023 Report on the Loneliness Epidemic, nearly half […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
Why Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Message Still Matters in the Second Trump Era
By John Hope Bryant The “times” we live in now are challenging, yet familiar. They are marked by division, fear, and uncertainty—but also by an enduring potential for hope and transformation. Dr. King famously said, “Evil and fear have within them the seeds of their own destruction,” a truth that Amb. Andrew J. Young recently […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Breaking the Grass Ceiling: The GNPS Annual Symposium
Many of us are looking for hope and optimism right now. Spending time outdoors is usually the key a lot of us tap for a refresh, but winter is certainly here in Georgia in full force and it’s been too cold or slippery to take a jaunt in the woods. How about a few hours […]
Posted inHistoric Westside
Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy Through Service: Westside Future Fund’s 2025 MLK Day of Service
On the weekend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, over 1,200 volunteers gathered in Atlanta’s historic Westside to honor his enduring legacy of justice, equality, and service. Westside Future Fund’s 2025 MLK Day of Service showcased the power of collective action, inspired by Dr. King’s vision of a future built on opportunity and equity […]
Posted inPhilanthropy
“Why Do I Do This?”
On a cold, rainy, morning volunteer Lynn Merrill recalls asking her husband, “Why do I do this?” before heading out to a build site. She had been volunteering with Habitat for a few years and was an unofficial spokesperson of the mission at that point. There were plenty of other ways she could be contributing […]
Posted inFinancial Inclusion
MLB Joins Top Major Sports Leagues as Members of Financial Literacy for All Movement Following Annual HOPE Global Forums Meeting Last Month
Operation HOPE, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in an ever-changing economy, announced today that Major League Baseball has joined Financial Literacy for All (FL4A), a coalition of more than 50 leading business organizations that have committed to embedding financial literacy into the nation’s schools, workplaces, communities and culture. This announcement […]
Posted inHigher Education
Fox Center undergraduate students thrive under the ‘big tent’ of humanities
What does it mean to study democracy? At Emory University’s Fox Center for Humanistic Inquiry, it may mean researching protest culture in Black music traditions. Or the politics behind ideological shifts in the Czech and Slovak punk scene. Or the intersection of personal space and the public sphere in women’s writing across cultures. Regardless of topic, […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
GEEARS Invites Families with Children Ages Zero to Five to Attend the Eighth Annual Strolling Thunder
By Jessica Woltjen, Senior Policy Manager for Early Education, GEEARS The eighth annual Strolling Thunder is happening on February 6th at the Georgia capitol! At this powerful day of advocacy for family-friendly policies, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students convenes families from all over Georgia, helps them hone their messages, then provides them […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Connecting on Common Ground at Park Pride’s Parks & Greenspace Conference
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Parks are for everyone. They are places of common ground that give us a shared sense of community, where people of different backgrounds, ages and incomes can gather, play and relax. Parks remind us that our differences aren’t as big as we sometimes imagine. Community […]
