Comprehensive Review of Alignment and Environmental Data, Addressing Connectivity Gaps Necessary Next Steps in Realizing Transit on the BeltLine The MARTA Board of Directors took a major step toward bringing transit to the Atlanta BeltLine with the authorization of a contract for a comprehensive engineering analysis for light rail around the BeltLine that connects into the current MARTA heavy rail stations. The six-month study is an important step forward towards requesting federal funding support. It will assess the existing Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) alignment data, validate the full program capability beyond the ABI alignment limits, and provide meaningful transit connections to the existing MARTA system. The Streetcar East current extension alignment runs from Jackson Avenue to the BeltLine at Irwin Street and up to Ponce City Market. As part of the planning phase for this project, MARTA reviewed ABI’s environmental study documents and discovered several design gaps that warranted further investigation. This study will help MARTA and ABI better understand transit gaps evident in existing alignment, environmental and connectivity concerns, and document recommendations to be used in future planning, public outreach, and design of light rail transit on the BeltLine. “MARTA appreciates that advocates for BeltLine rail are eager to see dirt turned, but upon analysis of initial environmental and engineering studies conducted by ABI, we identified significant gaps that must be addressed,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This is typical for a project of this size and this study will examine technical issues and risks involved in building light rail on the BeltLine and give us a better sense of overall project costs and feasibility. Right now, we have lines on a map with little to no connectivity. For this project to progress and ultimately succeed, it must connect to the existing MARTA system.” The draft environmental study documents released by ABI were primarily trail-based with some rail considerations which did not address several areas of rail transit concerns. The planning review of the documents revealed transit connectivity gaps to the north between Ansley Mall and Lindbergh Center rail station and to the south between the existing Streetcar and I-20. Additionally, alignment options to MARTA heavy rail stations and alongside existing private railroad tracks have not been adequately addressed and require more evaluation. “The board saw this study as an important next step in MARTA’s commitment to its customers who support transit expansion along the BeltLine, and throughout the system,” said MARTA Board Chair Rita Scott. “When people hear of another study, they may be tempted to criticize this as overanalysis, but this level of due diligence is paramount to providing safe, efficient, and connected transit, which is the goal of everyone involved in this massive project.” “Transit is a vital component of the BeltLine vision to ensure greater connectivity and accessibility around the corridor,” shared Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. CEO Clyde Higgs. “ABI looks forward to supporting MARTA’s work to bring transit to the BeltLine.” The study will be conducted by VHB/Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. at a cost of $500,000 and take six months to complete. Upon completion of the study, MARTA and ABI will review the findings and determine next steps.   This is sponsored content.

Last week, the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) announced ATL Action for Racial Equity, a multi-year, multi-step action plan designed to help address the ongoing effects of systemic racism impacting the Black community. In just a few days since launch, 30 additional metro Atlanta-based companies ranging in size and industry joined the initiative – to-date totaling more than 180 participating organizations. These companies and leaders will leverage the size, scale and expertise of the region’s business community to advance racial equity. Invitations to the initiative remain open, and MAC is inviting all businesses across metro Atlanta to sign on.  ATL Action for Racial Equity focuses on measurable actions across corporate policies, inclusive economic development, education and workforce development – critical areas in addressing the region’s immobility and inequity challenges. See quotes below from the region’s business leaders on why they chose to participate and why this initiative is important, now more than ever. Reach out to [email protected] to learn more. Ed Bastian, CEO Delta Air Lines and 2021 Board Chair, Metro Atlanta Chamber: “In metro Atlanta, our differences are our strength. We work together to make our community and the world better. We are not perfect, but we are committed to preserving and holding up this region’s legacy, especially now. As we tackle economic recovery, public health and the disproportionate impacts on our Black community, our business community must do its part. This is a moral and economic imperative as we work to grow our region’s competitiveness today and into the future.”   Jimmy Etheredge, CEO North America, Accenture: “Accenture is proud to collaborate with the Metro Atlanta Chamber and business leaders across Atlanta to take action on building a more equitable future for our community. Together, we are acting, we are leading, and we are driving change.”  Steve Koonin, CEO, Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena: “We proudly support ATL Action for Racial Equity and promise that our franchise will continue taking the steps and supporting the causes that lead to equity for all in our city.”  Rohit Malhotra, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Civic Innovation: “The Center for Civic Innovation mission and day to day operations are designed to fight for an equity-centered Atlanta. The business community in Atlanta has a long and complicated history with equity in our city— we’re glad to see the Metro Atlanta Chamber call on companies and institutions to take measurable actions that align with their publicly stated values and sentiments. It is in this city’s best interest for this effort to succeed.”  Jenna Kelly, President, Truist Northern Georgia Region, Truist Bank: “At Truist, we firmly believe in building more just, inclusive, and equitable communities by standing for social justice, denouncing racism in all forms, and partnering with people and organizations who are as committed to equity we are. As we continue to have intentional dialogue around the role we can play in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we’re excited to join the ATL Action for Racial Equity to do our part in making a positive difference throughout Atlanta.”  Mary Schmidt Campbell, President, Spelman College: “If metro Atlanta is to close the region’s stark wealth gap, we all have to commit to bold innovative solutions. Spelman College, committed to the educational excellence of the 2000 Black women who attend the College, is also committed to the educational excellence of students in our neighborhood schools. For the past three years, our students have enjoyed major success in improving the reading scores of students in our neighborhood Washington Cluster Schools. We intend to launch a program that will accomplish improvements in math proficiency. This commitment to the improvement of K-12 education is aligned with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce’s business and community imperative to advance racial inclusion. We are proud to partner with MAC in their strategic approach to advocating for equity.”  Kyle Porter, CEO, SalesLoft: “The social justice and equity issues facing our companies, city, and nation are complex and intense. At SalesLoft we are committed to the necessary introspection, self-reflection, and action to be a more inclusive company because we believe it’s the right thing to do for our team, customers, and marketplace. SalesLoft is joining the ATL Action for Racial Equity because our internal efforts will be magnified and our progress accelerated through collaborative community work. Our community will become our ally and accountability partner providing the space to heed best practices, share wisdom, and generate ideas that will positively impact us all.    Russ Torres, President, Kimberly-Clark Professional: “At Kimberly-Clark, we believe racial equity and justice are moral issues that must be addressed through comprehensive actions to enact meaningful and sustainable change. We are moving with urgency. Therefore, we are proud to partner with ATL Action for Racial Equity in this mission. Their disciplined, multi-year plan leverages the collective strength of metro Atlanta employers to support focused corporate policies that foster inclusive workforce and community development. With more than 1,500 Kimberly-Clark employees in the metro Atlanta area, this initiative is uniquely personal to us. We believe the success of our company depends on creating workplaces, communities, and experiences where inclusion and diversity are evident and thriving. Together with ATL Action for Racial Equity, we look forward to creating a vibrant and more inclusive region that offers opportunity, growth, and long-term value for all.”  Elie Maalouf, CEO, Americas, InterContinental Hotel Group: “We applaud the Metro Atlanta Chamber on this initiative and stand with our peers in the Atlanta business community to advance diversity and inclusion. This commitment and collaboration reflect IHG’s values and inclusive culture, and builds on our own efforts to bring lasting, sustainable progress for the region and our colleagues.”  Paul Bowers (Chairman and CEO) and Chris Womack (President), Georgia Power: “At Georgia Power, we deeply value the diversity of our team and the communities we serve. That’s why we are committed to creating an environment where employees and customers feel a sense of belonging and can be their true authentic selves.  We’re proud to be a part of the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s ATL Action for Racial Equity efforts to do the same here in Atlanta. We believe businesses working together to ensure equality is how we can make a collective impact, and we’re …

By Jim Durrett, President of Buckhead Coalition and Executive Director of Buckhead Community Improvement District By now you have heard about an effort among some in Buckhead to divorce from the City of Atlanta and incorporate as its own city within Fulton County. This is not the first time that the idea has been pursued, but previous efforts did not clear the major hurdle that the current effort did when the state legislature actually had a bill submitted by a Forsyth County legislator in the final hours of the very last day of the 2021 legislative session. Now, the complaints that are voiced by the group pursuing cityhood are shared by many, including me. The distress of violent crime in Buckhead and around the city is real and seems unending. The taxes that the residents of Buckhead pay to the City of Atlanta, as well as to Atlanta Public Schools, are significant, while the deterioration of city services, such as trash collection and road paving, as well as zoning ordinances that would appear to harm our neighborhoods, are unacceptable. The group pushing the cityhood effort believes that forming their own city is the best way to address these issues, and a campaign has begun to convince not only the Georgia legislature, but also the residents of Buckhead, that this is true.  So what is the process and where is this group in that process? Here are the steps for forming a new city in Georgia. A local group decides it wants to incorporate. (This has clearly happened.) A bill, sponsored by a member of the State Legislature, is introduced. (A placeholder bill was introduced in the final hours of the last day of the 2021 legislative session in the House by Representative Todd Jones of Cumming.) A feasibility study needs to be done to see whether the new city would be viable.  Two different bills will need to be reviewed and considered by the General Assembly. The first is a “local bill” requiring support from a majority of the House and Senate local delegations. The second is a city creation bill similar to that introduced by Jones. If the House and Senate pass the two bills, they bill go to the governor’s desk. (This would happen in the 2022 legislative session.) If the governor signs it, a referendum is then placed on the ballot, allowing only voters in the affected area of Buckhead to choose whether they would like their community to form a new city. It is approved with a simple majority. Residents in other parts of the City of Atlanta, who would no doubt be affected, would not get to participate in that vote. (This would take place in November of 2022.) There are a great number of important questions that need to be answered before anyone should draw conclusions about this attempt to create “Buckhead City.” Until now, what I have read and heard directly from the leaders of this secession effort is, aside from the very real concerns and complaints listed above, conjecture.  Here are some facts. Buckhead is an area within the City of Atlanta that comprises approximately 18% of the City of Atlanta’s land area and comprises 20% of the City’s population. Of the City of Atlanta’s households earning $100,000 or more, a disproportionate number (51%) reside in Buckhead. Buckhead contributed 38% of the City of Atlanta’s 2019 budgeted revenues from local sources and 55% of the Atlanta Public Schools’ 2019 budgeted revenues.  Buckhead contributes 47% of the City of Atlanta’s property tax digest. And here are just some questions that I have. You may have more. Were this effort to succeed, what would the impact be on the finances of the City of Atlanta and its ability to satisfy its debt obligations, including the impact on its bond ratings, as well as its ability to fund infrastructure improvements and pension obligations? What city, county and school system services would a new “Buckhead City” necessarily continue to receive and pay for from existing entities (think water and courts, for example)? Sandy Springs pays a much higher water bill to the City of Atlanta than residents did before that city was incorporated. Would “Buckhead City” residents’ water bills increase as well? What will the effect be on the City of Atlanta’s and the State’s reputation, not only of a successful effort to secede and incorporate, but the attempt to do so? Without Buckhead’s contribution, where would our capital city rank among other state capitals in terms of tax base and poverty?  What is the likelihood that legal challenges and other entanglements will drag on for years, and what will the costs be to resolve them? What additional social unrest would follow a referendum that would divide us even further than we find ourselves now? If, through the very political legislative process, this reaches the point where a referendum is to take place, who will get to vote to decide on the future of “Buckhead City” and, at the same time, the City of Atlanta? Is it all of the voters in Buckhead shown on the map above, or just those in a smaller area where polling has indicated support? And what about the other residents of the City of Atlanta who would be very negatively affected? Should they not also have a say? Will the feasibility study referenced above, that is paid for by those wishing to secede, answer the question of how viable a more impoverished City of Atlanta will be? If the rest of the City of Atlanta is worse off by Buckhead seceding, will Buckhead really be safer? I believe that if we truly understand the facts and get good answers to these and other questions, that this quixotic attempt to create a “Buckhead City” will fail due to vast legal, legislative and political entanglements. I also believe that the administration of the City of Atlanta needs to take Buckhead’s concerns very seriously and address them all, because today that is …

By Meghan Shannon-Vlkovic, VP & Market Leader, Enterprise Community Partners The average life expectancy for a person in the Margaret Mitchell area of Buckhead is 25 years longer than that of someone in Bankhead on Atlanta’s west side, less than 10 miles away. Many factors contribute to that statistic, but chief among them is the fact that the communities we live in play a major role in determining our outcomes in life.    The gaps in equity and opportunity in Atlanta are wide, and they didn’t develop overnight. A long history of racist housing policies, such as redlining and block busting, created stark racial and socioeconomic inequalities, driving abundant resources to help white neighborhoods flourish and directing investment and opportunity away from Black communities.  At Enterprise Community Partners, we believe that a person’s home and community should be places of pride, power and belonging, and essential platforms to protect and nurture one’s life and livelihood.  Enterprise is a national affordable housing nonprofit that addresses America’s affordable housing crisis from every angle. We develop and deploy programs and support community organizations on the ground; we advocate for policy on a nonpartisan basis at every level of government; we invest capital to build and preserve rental homes people can afford; and we own and operate 13,000 affordable homes and provide resident services for 22,000 people—all so that people not only make rent, they build futures. We have 40 years of experience and thousands of local partners. We have worked in Atlanta for more than 27 years and invested more than $1.9 billion across the Southeast. Enterprise is focused on dismantling the enduring legacy of systemic racism in housing – a legacy that has prevented generations of Atlanta’s Black and Brown families from accessing safe, affordable homes and the same kinds of opportunities to achieve upward mobility as white Atlantans in affluent neighborhoods.  It takes intentionality, persistence, and innovation to disrupt and reorient the systems that drive and govern how communities develop. Our approach considers the key drivers of housing in a community – capital, policy, and development.  Enterprise secures and deploys a variety of flexible investments to develop and preserve affordable homes in communities across the region. Our programs help housing developers, service providers, and residents withstand climate and economic challenges that threaten those homes. Through advocacy, we educate policymakers and shape measures that prioritize and direct government resources toward economic growth in historically disinvested communities and the people who have lived there for generations. And all of our work is made possible and strengthened through collaboration and listening directly to the needs of the communities in which we work. As a partner in HouseATL, Enterprise is leading the Funders Collective, which is one example of our efforts. This collaborative of pubic, private and philanthropic partners recognized that the mechanisms for connecting investment capital with affordable housing developments were siloed and not always reaching projects or communities with the greatest need. Aligning with the City’s One Atlanta: Housing Affordability Action Plan, HouseATL reimagined a way to bring together all the parties involved, developed shared priorities and created a process for coordinated project review and access to available investment streams. The result: capital reaches developments faster through coordination, projects are better prioritized among funders, and we are maximizing partnerships and investment in our communities.   Enterprise envisions a country where home and community are steppingstone to more – where opportunity is abundant for those who seek the promise of a better life now and for generations to come. Working with partners and communities in Atlanta and across the Southeast, we’ll strive to meet that vision.   To learn more about the work Enterprise is doing in Atlanta and the Southeast, please visit www.EnterpriseCommunity.org.   This is sponsored content.

Operation HOPE today announced that Craig Boundy, Chief Executive Officer of Experian North America, has joined the HOPE Global Board of Advisors. Boundy leads Experian’s North American business lines, and plays a key role in driving the company’s commitment to helping marginalized communities get fair and affordable access to lending. In October 2019, Boundy led Experian to join Operation HOPE as a partner to enhance financial inclusion across the United States. This partnership combined Operation HOPE’s education and counseling programs with Experian’s credit education knowledge, capability and services like Experian Boost. Joining the HOPE Global Advisory Board is another step for Boundy to carry out his vision for Experian’s corporate responsibility and commitment to increasing financial literacy and using data and analytics to help people manage their financial lives. Boundy joins a distinguished Board that consists of some of the country’s top executives in business, banking, nonprofits and NGOs. HOPE Global Advisory Board members provide guidance and support for Operation HOPE in its commitment to provide financial literacy education and economic empowerment for individuals and small business owners living in under-served communities. “Having a strong board culture is vital to Operation HOPE’s long-term success. This requires the addition of leaders, like Craig, who’s values align with our overall vision,” said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE founder and CEO. “As we continue to grow and serve communities in need, his unparalleled expertise will also accelerate our ability to disrupt the status quo and affect meaningful change.” “I am proud to join Operation HOPE’s board to help further its mission of empowering the financial health of diverse communities,” Boundy said. “Together, we can help improve access to financial education, tools and services that ultimately benefit society as a whole.” An accomplished global business leader, Craig joined Experian in 2011 as Managing Director of Experian UK and Ireland before becoming CEO of North America in 2014. Prior to Experian, Craig was CEO of Logica in the United Kingdom, having joined the organization in 2008 as CEO of Global Operations. Before that, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Cable & Wireless’ business in Europe, the United States and Asia. Previously, Craig served as Sales Director and then COO at Energis. His early career was with British Telecommunications. Experian North America prides itself on its workplace culture of inclusion and recently received its recertification as a Great Place to Work for the third year in a row. The company ranks in the top 40 Fortune Best Large Workplaces in Financial Services and Insurance, and the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For 2021. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation granted the company a perfect score in its Corporate Equality Index, and Experian has been named by Forbes as one of the top 100 Most Innovative Companies in the world. About Operation HOPE, Inc. Since 1992, Operation HOPE has been moving America from civil rights to “silver rights” with the mission of making free enterprise and capitalism work for the underserved—disrupting poverty for millions of low and moderate-income youth and adults across the nation. Through our community uplift model, HOPE Inside, which received the 2016 Innovator of the Year recognition by American Banker magazine, Operation HOPE has served more than 4 million individuals and directed more than $3.2 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised communities—turning check-cashing customers into banking customers, renters and homeowners, small business dreamers into small business owners, minimum wage workers into living wage consumers, and uncertain disaster victims into financially empowered disaster survivors. Project 5117 is our multi-year four-pronged approach to combating economic inequality that aims to improve financial literacy, increase business role models and business internships for youth in underserved communities, and stabilize the American dream by boosting FICO scores. Operation HOPE recently received its seventh consecutive 4-star charity rating for fiscal management and commitment to transparency and accountability by the prestigious non-profit evaluator, Charity Navigator. For more information: www.OperationHOPE.org. Follow the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Media Contact Lalohni Campbell Per Se Media Group [email protected] This is sponsored content.

By Maria Thacker Goethe, MPH, CEO, Center for Global Health Innovation On April 25, the world recognizes World Malaria Day because it remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death around the world. Despite being eliminated from the U.S. decades ago, malaria  continues to affect American lives.  Malaria in the U.S. – 2017 with Most cases in 45 years The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a long history of fighting malaria. In fact, in 1942, CDC, known then as the agency for Malaria Control in War Areas, was designed to keep the southeast U.S. malaria-free during World War II. By the early 1950s, the U.S. succeeded in eliminating malaria within its borders.  Since the 1970’s, the number of malaria cases diagnosed in the U.S. has been increasing due to the increase in international travel. In 2017—the most recent year with finalized data—domestic malaria cases rose to 2,151, the highest number in 45 years. For a preventable and treatable disease, this is simply unacceptable. Georgia, which tends to be in the top quarter of all US states for malaria cases each year, reported 82 cases of malaria in 2017.  Until recently, artesunate—the first line drug and global standard for treatment of severe malaria—lacked FDA approval. For the past two years, in the absence of a commercially available product, CDC prepositioned artesunate at 20 select sites across the U.S., including its quarantine stations, to deliver the life-saving drug within 24 hours of receiving an urgent request. In Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the CDC quarantine station functions as one of these critical sites and has sent lifesaving doses of Artesunate when called.  Following FDA approval for Artesunate for Injection™ in May 2020, commercial availability launched in March 2021. As U.S. hospitals and pharmacies gain greater access to Artesunate for Injection™, CDC will continue to play its important distribution role until sufficient stockpile exists across the U.S.  In addition to treatment, CDC is also focused on preventing travelers from catching malaria in the first place.  Reducing the burden of malaria around the world Malaria still kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world every year, mostly young children. However, with proven tools and methods such as insecticide-treated bed nets, better case management, expanded use of preventative medicines,  and insecticide resistance monitoring, these numbers should come way down.  Progress to date by CDC and the global community has been tremendous. In fifteen years, malaria deaths have been reduced by more than half a million annually, which has resulted in 7.5 million lives saved since 2000. For years, CDC has worked with partner countries to build capacity and systems to combat malaria. This also equips them to better respond to other public health threats like COVID-19. These efforts keep America and the world safer.  In 2020, to counterbalance the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the fight against malaria, CDC advised on the development of the World Health Organization’s Tailoring malaria interventions in the COVID-19 response, which provides specific technical guidance for maintaining essential services for malaria in low-resource countries.  CDC, alongside its partners from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), is also rolling out new projects to improve our understanding of how to safely deliver malaria control interventions in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  In order to succeed in the fight against malaria at home, the fight must continue abroad.  To read more about how CDC’s Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria fights malaria and other parasitic diseases around the world and in the U.S., see the Division’s new Strategic Priorities 2021-2025.  For more information about CDC’s malaria work, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/malaria/   This is sponsored content.

Loneliness and social isolation were already widespread in older adults before COVID-19. We look at the reasons—and what we can do about it. By Kate Sweeney Retirement! Time to reconnect with family and friends, travel to destinations we’ve long dreamed of, and do that volunteer work we’ve been meaning to do, all while maybe sleeping in a little; it’s exciting to imagine. What we do not envision is social isolation and loneliness. Unfortunately, according to a recent study, nearly one in four adults aged 65 and older is considered to be socially isolated. During the past year, as many people and especially older adults avoided social interactions to keep themselves safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, they are now especially at risk. We sat down with Katie Perumbeti, Lifelong Communities Coordinator with the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Aging & Independence Services group, to find out what’s causing this epidemic of loneliness among older adults — and what we can do to fight it. What exactly is “social isolation,” and how is it different from loneliness? KP: While social isolation means actually being alone or having few social contacts, loneliness is a subjective feeling—it’s often defined as the discrepancy between one’s actual and desired level of connection. Someone may enjoy being physically alone to a degree, but when they are alone more than they want to be or feel like they don’t have enough quality relationships, loneliness can creep in. Many of us think of retirement as a time of adventure and fun. What causes social isolation and loneliness to creep in? KP: For a lot of people, retirement is a really enriching time — and it should be. But as we navigate the life changes that often come with aging, like losing the ability to drive, devoting time to care for an ill spouse, or moving into a new community where we don’t know anyone, social isolation can quickly become a real problem. Societal barriers such as ageism and lack of opportunities for older adults to interact with others and contribute to their communities can exacerbate social isolation and feelings of loneliness. Beyond being really unpleasant on a personal level, social isolation and loneliness can lead to health issues for people, too, right? KP: That’s right. Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and dementia. One stat we often talk about is the fact that loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And these health issues due to loneliness — that are totally preventable — lead to more hospitalizations and medical visits, which put a strain on our medical system’s resources. ARC just released a policy brief about all this, and one thing that we learned in doing the research is that each month, Medicare spends approximately $134 more for each socially isolated older adult than it would were the person socially connected. So, it’s a health issue. But it’s more than that, too, right? And it’s not just healthcare-oriented solutions we should consider. KP: Oh, yeah. It’s a matter of looking at how to connect people on many levels. From a planning perspective, do we have safe and connected neighborhoods, with sidewalks and pedestrian access to places where people gather socially? Do we have accessible and affordable transportation options? And as COVID-19 has highlighted, do we have ways for people to connect virtually, whether that’s over the phone or the internet? Are there safe outdoor spaces to visit with others? All neighborhood features that people like at any age, by the way. KP: Absolutely. This isn’t just for older people. It’s for all of us — and we all hope to live long lives, right? So, this is essentially planning for our own future. People can also help by reaching out to individuals that may be socially isolated or feeling lonely through things like ARC’s volunteer phone outreach program One2One, where people call older adults and people living with disabilities a couple times a week and develop these great relationships. But programs like that, or encouraging isolated individuals to participate in group classes or volunteer programs like AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP, can all make a difference. What can be done at the policy level? Lawmakers should consider policies that enable people to participate fully in their communities, maintain existing relationships, and create new relationships – both in-person and virtually. That could be policies that increase high-speed internet access, like reduced broadband rates and free public Wi-Fi in places people gather. Also just supporting community planning — whether it’s through zoning, use of public land, or funding projects that help residents of all ages to engage with others. I’m talking about things like creating parks or other gathering places and ensuring there are sidewalks, lighting, benches, and safe crossings that connect homes and services. Learn More and Make a Difference Learn more about social isolation and loneliness in this new policy brief from ARC. Consider providing companionship over the phone as a One2One volunteer. Give back to your community as a volunteer with AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP. This is sponsored content.

Date and time: Start: April 30, 2021, 3:00 PM EST End: April 30, 2021, 4:00 PM EST Location: Via Zoom Dentons’ Public Policy practice is excited to invite you and your colleagues to our upcoming segment of Dentons Dialogue. As we reach the 100th day of the Biden administration, our experienced bipartisan political leaders will mark this milestone by providing insight and sharing their views on the state of politics in the country during this interactive discussion. Join Dentons as our team contributes perspectives informed by their experience with national campaigns and policymaking at all levels of government. Accompanying this webinar will be the release of our “100 Days Report.” Our Public Policy team has been following every twist and turn of President Biden’s first 100 days in office, captured in this comprehensive report examining the landscape in Washington, DC, currently and with an eye towards the rest of 2021. Sign up here to receive our report. Register Speakers Howard B. Dean, Former Governor of Vermont and Chair of the Democratic National Committee Ron Kaufman, Former White House Political Director and Treasurer of the Republican National Committee Michael Nutter, Former Mayor of Philadelphia Polly Lawrence, Former Republican leader in the Colorado General Assembly Ashley D. Bell, Former White House Policy Advisor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Gordon D. Giffin, Former US Ambassador to Canada Moderator Eric J. Tanenblatt, Global Chair, Public Policy and Regulation About Dentons Dialogue Covering the issues, institutions and individuals shaping public policy Launched by Dentons’ Public Policy practice, Dentons Dialogue is a series of dynamic discussions, in which we examine front-burner policy issues. Each webinar focuses on a different policy area and features key political, legal and industry leaders who dissect the cultural, political and socioeconomic drivers and practical implications of the issues at hand. The diversity of viewpoints and interplay of fact-based conversation will leave you supercharged with new ideas and insights. To receive updates directly to your inbox and to submit topics of interest for future Dentons Dialogue sessions, please click here. Questions Please contact Maddie Holihan at [email protected]   This is sponsored content.

By Felix Rodriguez, program associate, strong families, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta 2020 was an incredibly hard year for a number of very obvious and very difficult reasons, and there were times when it seemed hard to find a glimmer of hope. Through these difficult times though, people have stepped up to support one another, to show what it means to be a community; whether it is packing and delivering meals, packing school bag kits, staffing support and crisis phone lines, the list goes on and the support can be unique and specific to the organization.  It is important, as this week is National Volunteer Week that we recognize the value that volunteers are for their communities and that was only reiterated in 2020. This past year also confirmed however that we most certainly live in a virtual world where entire projects, launches and campaigns can be, and were, accomplished between people across time zones and borders. If people can work from home, people can also volunteer from home and provide services and skillsets that go beyond the typical volunteer involvement but are just as rewarding. In 2018, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta launched a partnership with Catchafire, an online platform that connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers on everything from retreat planning, membership strategy, graphic design projects to data collection planning, CRM training and proposal letter creation. Projects and services that otherwise nonprofits may not be able to afford. Projects range from one-hour phone calls to projects can that take several weeks to complete (see a full list of options here). The platform gives nonprofit organizations the ability to interview potential volunteers and choose the one who is the best fit for the organizations’ needs. Recently completed projects include: the design of an annual report for a family and children’s services organization that creatively showcases impact while also maintaining the confidentiality of families served; the creation of a mobile-friendly tool to aid a local organization’s immigrant client base communicate their needs and request services.  The Foundation is coming to the close of the third year of its partnership with Catchafire. Currently there are 277 local Atlanta-based nonprofit organizations registered on the platform sponsored by the Foundation. Collectively more than $1 million in project costs have been saved by these organization since July 2020 and an estimated over $3.5 million has been saved by local organizations since the start of the partnership. To learn more about the Foundation’s partnership with Catchafire please visit our website. Interested volunteers who would like to learn or would like to sign up to become part of the local volunteer base to support their local community can do so here. Nonprofit organizations that would like to indicate their interest in utilizing the platform should complete the online interest form.   This is sponsored content.

The discovery of lead contamination in Atlanta’s mostly poor, largely Black, Westside neighborhood began innocuously. Two years ago, Emory environmental science professor Eri Saikawa, wanting to help her then-graduate student find a thesis topic, suggested looking at soil samples in a community where urban agriculture was proliferating. What Saikawa and her student found in the Westside was “shocking and heartbreaking.” The lead levels in the soil were unacceptable enough for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to classify more than 1,000 properties in the community as a Superfund site, which means the EPA will take responsibility for cleaning it up, an undertaking that can run into millions of dollars. Without Saikawa and her research team, the community may never have known that their playgrounds, backyards, and gardens contained hazardous waste from bygone smelters, and may never have been able to build a case for the Superfund designation. Without the Westside project, Saikawa says she may never have made the leap from environmental researcher to community scientist. When she began the project, Saikawa’s expertise was in greenhouse gas emissions and air-quality modeling. Now she has built this enduring partnership with residents of the Historic Westside Gardens community organization, and the work here has gained so much attention that other states are reaching out to Saikawa for assistance on metal contamination in soil.  Born in Japan, Saikawa spent her childhood crisscrossing the globe with her airline employee father and flight attendant mom. Living in different countries made her appreciate how the same problem could be viewed differently depending on where you lived. A self-described nerd who read incessantly and loved solving puzzles, she remembers the books that spurred her interest in environmental science. But it was the paternalistic attitude of teachers at her all-girls high school in Japan that strengthened her resolve to pursue science. “I was told that, as a female, I shouldn’t be studying science, and that really motivated me—the rebel side of me. And then that became my passion: to solve a problem that is really huge, to be able to do something for everybody.” Saikawa’s foray into field research began in a small village in Tibet where she and her team were researching household air pollution. Under pristine blue skies, she found women burning yak dung inside their tents. On days when it snowed or rained, the women would close up the tent and the smoke from the stove would shroud them. “Very hazardous air is about 500 mcg per cubic meter. When we measured the particulate concentration matter inside the tent, it was 150,000 mcg per cubic meter. I couldn’t even see the person standing in front of me — the smoke was that dense.” She thought the women would be outraged and want to fix the problem once they realized how dangerous it was to their health. Instead, they told her that exposure to the toxic air bothered them less than the melting glaciers in their community. “They said that if the glaciers melted, that was the end of the world. They believed that the yak dung smoke, while contributing to the problem, was not a major factor. They said smoke from yak dung is sacred to them as yaks are sacred.” The encounter made Saikawa rethink conventional ways of solving climate change. “We cannot really talk about climate change in a constructive way because it becomes somehow normative — we should do this, we should do that. We need to understand what we value and why we value it. That may be one way to find a better solution.” Like many researchers around the world, Saikawa had to adapt to the new normal of the pandemic to continue her research in the Westside. For instance, her partnership with the community had to change from going door to door to collect soil samples to creating a soil drop box for residents. She and her team posted a video online that showed people how to collect the soil samples with options to drop-off or ship it to her lab. She let residents know that there was no charge for soil-samples testing.  “We were able to collect about 300 soil samples, and that was the biggest number ever collected. It opened up a new way to engage the residents too. I hope that this can be a national movement where residents would be very interested in their soil quality.” That model has gained so much credibility and acceptance that Louisiana state public health officials wrote to Saikawa that they want to replicate it in New Orleans.  As a long-time scientist, Saikawa says she is well aware of how a well-intentioned idea can sometimes have the opposite effect (watch the video clip to see what she means). Gratified that the authorities are acting decisively to clean up the toxic sites, Saikawa says her work in the community will continue as long as they require her services, especially because there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. “I want to make sure that this is not going to happen again because this is so preventable. We can screen the soil so that people know if they are providing safe places for their children.” Saikawa has also been working with research collaborators and students in more rural parts of the state, studying the impact of agricultural practices on greenhouse gas emissions from the soil. She and colleagues at Emory have recently begun theResilience and Sustainability Collaboratory, which taps the collective wisdom of individuals from various walks of life to address complex socioenvironmental challenges. While it’s hard to get Saikawa to talk about herself, her reticence disappears when the topic shifts to her students. She took one group to witness the historic climate talks that led to the Paris Agreement. Her research team comprises undergraduate and graduate students from multiple fields including the humanities. “Emory offers opportunities for interdisciplinary research to students of all ages and academic backgrounds. That is something I never thought about before I came here and now I treasure it.” …

Since 1984, YWCA of Greater Atlanta has recognized the amazing accomplishments of women in Atlanta at our annual Salute To Women of Achievement event. Over the course of the past 37 years, we paid homage to women who broke glass ceilings, who support this community in countless ways and who align with our mission to “eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” More than 300 women proudly call themselves members of our Academy of Women Achievers.   Each year we also recognize one woman as our overall Woman of Achievement and we are ecstatic to recognize and honor Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). She will be honored at the virtual event, Wednesday, May 19 at 12 noon.  As a member of the medical community, leading the training of doctors, Dr. Montgomery Rice leads from the frontlines, especially in a year of a pandemic. She is at the forefront of fighting health disparities, and has been so, even before becoming president and dean of MSM in 2014. Dr. Montgomery Rice is dedicated to the creation and advancement of health equity while lending her vast experience and talents to programs that enhance pipeline opportunities for academically diverse learners. She is on a mission to diversify the physician and scientific workforce which will foster equity in health care access and health outcomes. These attributes make her the right and clear choice as YWCA of Greater Atlanta’s 2021 Woman of Achievement.  While typically we induct ten women into the Academy, along with the Woman of Achievement, we are taking a different route this year. And why not? It is a different world we are living in right now, and we are learning new ways to conduct our lives. This year of “reimagining” has led us to realize the strength and value of community. We reached our community of Academy members and invited them to share their experiences to attendees in smaller group Salons.  Fifteen amazing women readily accepted the call and will make this year’s virtual event a one-of-a-kind you won’t want to miss.  The Salon leaders are: Leona Barr-Davenport, Becky Blalock, Mary Schmidt Campbell, Ann Cramer, Ann Curry, Stephanie Davis, Judge Glenda Hatchett, Virginia Hepner, Donna Hyland, Helen Smith Price, Erica Qualls Battey, Ann Stallard, Wendy Stewart, Bentina Chisolm Terry and Sandy Welfare.  After hearing from Dr. Montgomery Rice, who will be interviewed by Condace Pressley, director of Community and Public Affairs, Cox Media Group and YWCA Academy inductee 2020, attendees will join a Salon of their choice on topics that align to the work of YWCA of Greater Atlanta that include: Empower Women, Racial Justice, Women’s Philanthropy, Women and Technology, Advocacy, and Women’s Health.  Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at   https://salutetowomenofachievement.swell.gives/ Sharmen May Gowens CEO/YWCA of Greater Atlanta [email protected]  www.ywcaatlanta.org   This is sponsored content.

By Wendy Stewart, Atlanta Market President for Bank of America  Women’s History Month is a celebration of the contributions and progress being made by women across the globe, and this is especially true given the past year with coronavirus-related disruptions.  Balancing work and life can be challenging for mothers even in the best of times, but it became even more so in the past year. Women experienced higher coronavirus-related job losses in 2020, while also bearing more childcare and home management responsibilities than men. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 2.4 million women exited the workforce during the past year, compared to less than 1.8 million men. In Atlanta, women make up 51.5% of the population, yet they earn nearly 20% less than their male counterparts. It is crucial that women are not forced to choose between their financial wellbeing and caring for the ones they love in an uncertain economy. That difficult choice can be addressed with progressive workplace policies, such as the childcare reimbursements or adult care services programs for aging parents that Bank of America provides its employees.  Investing in women is not just the right thing to do; it also makes for good business because diverse and inclusive workplaces are essential in meeting the needs of today’s clients, communities and key stakeholders. Bank of America recognizes the significant role women play in advancing thriving economies. It’s why we continue to invest every day in helping them make meaningful contributions within our company and in their communities at large. For example, the bank partners with more than 350 colleges and universities around the world to recruit diverse talent, and our most recent summer intern class was 47% female. Locally, we partner with Georgia State University, Georgia Tech and Spelman College to attract the best female talent, which is critical to sustaining our company, making Bank of America a great place to work and driving responsible growth. We have programs designed specifically to support the retention and career development of female employees, such as our women’s employee network, which is more than 36,000 members strong, as well as other professional development opportunities to help engage, develop, retain and support our female talent across the company.  Outside of the workplace, we must give women the tools they need to achieve their own economic success as well. Financial security means more than money for women; It represents financial independence, freedom and empowerment in a world that often does not prioritize their prosperity. Financial institutions can be a major catalyst on this front, such as Bank of America’s initiatives focused on gender lens investing strategies or the Tory Burch Foundation Capital Program, which pledged $100 million in affordable loans to female entrepreneurs.   In Atlanta, we are continuing to invest and partner with Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, YWCA of Atlanta, as well as women-led organizations like Atlanta Technical College, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta Land Trust and Grove Park Foundation. By supporting these organizations and the women they support, we all achieve our collective goal to advance women’s roles in business and in the community. In addition to supporting these groups, we can personally advance this cause by engaging women in important financial discussions, promoting strong financial habits and encouraging women leaders to become mentors for others down the line. It is also crucial that we urge women to begin planning early for unexpected future challenges, such as career interruptions and higher healthcare costs. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let us make a difference in Atlanta by putting women’s lifelong financial wellness front and center. Financial health will not only be vital to achieving equality; it will prove essential to preserving balance and advancing economic opportunity for generations to come.   This is sponsored content.