As Atlanta marks Earth Month, the role of trees in the city’s future is getting renewed attention. For many, Atlanta’s canopy is more than a defining feature of the skyline. It is part of what makes the city livable, recognizable, and deeply valued by the people who call it home. For nearly two decades, Georgia Tech has been […]
Category: Thought Leadership
Posted inSmall Business
Georgia Business Council Launches New Digital Platform to Strengthen Business Engagement and Economic Impact
The Georgia Business Council has officially launched a new website, marking a significant step forward in how the organization connects with businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders across the state. The new platform, available at www.georgiacouncil.org, reflects a broader commitment to accessibility, transparency, and engagement in Georgia’s evolving economic landscape. For more than five decades, the Georgia […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Recreating Community, One Park and One Home at a Time
By John Ahmann, President & CEO, Westside Future Fund, and Michael Halicki, President & CEO, Park Pride Prior to 2015, English Avenue didn’t have a single park. Not one. In a neighborhood nested in the historic Westside community that was once one of the most vital centers of Black intellectual and civic life in America — […]
Posted inCommitment to Community
How Atlanta Small Businesses Can Prepare for the World Cup
By Al McRae, President, and Scott Kelly, Business Banking Market Executive, Bank of America Atlanta There’s a reason why cities compete to host popular festivals, tournaments, and tours: Major live events create a “halo effect” that extends beyond the event itself, boosting local economies and benefiting surrounding businesses. This is why the U.S. made two bids over […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
How Will Georgia’s Newest Laws and Budget Items Affect Families with Young Children? The GEEARS Team Weighs In
With Sine Die in the rearview mirror, we at GEEARS are reflecting upon our state legislature’s 2026 session. An ongoing focus on early literacy and the introduction of the Families First Legislative Initiative by House leadership were indicators that the needs of families with young children were high on our elected officials’ priority lists as […]
Posted inSustainable Communities
To Build Stable Communities, We Must Tackle Wealth-Stripping and Wealth-Building Together
Efforts to stabilize communities often focus on what we can build: affordable housing, small businesses, childcare, and access to credit. These investments are essential, but they tell only half the story. Across Atlanta’s historically disinvested neighborhoods, wealth is not only scarce — it is actively being stripped away through predatory lending and high-cost financial products. […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
Corporate Citizenship in Action: FanDuel and Hope Atlanta Strengthen Community Impact
Atlanta is a city on the rise. Growth, investment, and opportunity are shaping our skyline and our future. But alongside that progress is a reality we cannot ignore: too many of our neighbors are still navigating housing instability, food insecurity, and barriers to long-term stability. Meeting this moment requires more than any one organization can […]
Posted inSmall Business
The Hidden Risk in Your Supply Chain Isn’t Cost. It’s Concentration
For most organizations, supply chain conversations begin and end with cost. What are we paying? Where can we reduce? How do we negotiate better terms? Those questions matter. But they are not the most important ones. The more significant risk, and the one that is often overlooked, is concentration. On paper, supplier consolidation looks smart. […]
Posted inHigher Education
Delta CEO Ed Bastian to deliver Emory’s 2026 Commencement address
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian will deliver the keynote address at Emory University’s 181st Commencement, scheduled for Monday, May 11. Bastian will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree during the ceremony in recognition of his exceptional contributions to business and society. “Our graduates are entering a world that demands resilience, adaptability and […]
Posted inGlobal Health & Development
A Haven from Addiction in Rural Georgia
Your Haven, an addiction recovery community organization in Buchanan, Georgia, sits on a quiet side street—a small, beige building against a stand of Loblolly pines. But its unassuming façade belies its impact here as a place of deep connections, second chances and new beginnings. Opened in 2020 in response to the opioid crisis in rural […]
Posted inHigher Education
Building the Neuroarts Movement: Georgia State at the Crossroads of Art and Neuroscience
Across Atlanta, a vibrant new field of study is taking shape — one that blurs the boundaries between laboratory and rehearsal hall, museum and MRI suite, coding studio and concert stage. Neuroarts, as this field is known, sits at the intersection of two of humanity’s most forceful energies: artistic expression and brain power. As the […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Georgia Bird Fest Is a Celebration of Spring Migration
By Brooke Michael, Birds Georgia Communications Coordinator It’s been a long, cold winter for birders. Don’t get me wrong: winter birding can be fun. There are weird ducks, sneaky sparrows, and less foliage to contend with when trying to spot birds up in the trees. But nothing compares to spotting your first warbler of spring […]
Posted inCorporate Community Impact
Supporting Nonprofit Resilience is Essential for Metro Atlanta’s Economic Vitality
By Cheryl Kortemeier, Executive Director, CVC of Atlanta The social impact sector in Atlanta is being reshaped by a new reality: nonprofits are under increasing strain. As spring unfolds, many organizations are facing rising demand for services alongside tightening funding, creating a pivotal moment for corporate engagement. This financial strain, coupled with growing demand, is driving a […]
Posted inSmall Business
Building a Technology Enterprise That Evolves with the Times
For nearly three decades, Kanchana Raman has been building and reshaping her technology company in response to constant industry disruption. As founder of the Avion Networks, she has navigated the transition from traditional telecommunications infrastructure to advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence solutions, all while scaling a business that now operates across multiple industries. Raman describes her entrepreneurial path as […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Women Advocating for Women at the Georgia Capitol
By Elle Knott and Madison Potts-McAdoo, YWCA Greater Atlanta Each March, Women’s History Month reminds us that generations of women have advocated for greater opportunity for women, girls, and families across Georgia. Their perseverance has reshaped workplaces, schools, and communities throughout the state. That legacy is not only something to celebrate — it is a […]
Posted inSmall Business
2026 Financial Summit: Strengthening Small Business for a Changing Economy
Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy. Yet despite their impact, many businesses face financial challenges early on. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20 percent of businesses fail within their first year and nearly 50 percent do not survive past five years. The 2026 Financial Summit, taking place on April […]
Posted inPeople, Places & Parks
Springtime in the city: See you in a park!
By Hannah E. Jones, Park Pride’s Marketing & Communications Manager Spring is almost here, y’all! Some days it feels like summer, others we’re back to winter. But on March 20th, spring will have officially sprung! The beauty of living in such a forested city means that you don’t have to go far to enjoy the […]
Posted inPoverty & Equity
Place-Based Solutions That Work
Atlanta’s homelessness response is not one program or one property. It is a coordinated ecosystem grounded in housing as the solution. At the center is Hope Atlanta, working alongside Partners for Home and community partners through a Housing First, place-based approach. That work is visible at: WATERWORKS Permanent supportive housing with on-site case management, healthcare […]
Posted inHigher Education
Celebrate STEAM Launches Atlanta Science Festival
To kick off the 13th annual Atlanta Science Festival (ASF), Georgia Tech hosted Celebrate STEAM on March 7, welcoming thousands of visitors to experience hands-on demonstrations and interactive displays showcasing the innovation and excitement at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Setting the stage for the festival, which runs through March 21, Celebrate STEAM saw over 4,000 attendees take part […]
Posted inSecuring Atlanta's Future
Georgia’s Legislature Must Invest in Child Care Infrastructure by Championing SB 554
While GEEARS has often emphasized the importance of highly engaged and well-trained teachers in an early childhood classroom, we also know that learning environments impact the quality of early childhood education. Children thrive when learning takes place in high-quality facilities with literacy-rich classrooms, safe playgrounds, kitchens that can churn out multiple meals each day, and […]
