Design by Local Artist Melissa Mitchell to Beautify Parking Lot Structure Until Rehabilitation Project this Spring MARTA’s public art program Artbound has debuted a temporary mural at Indian Creek Station on the easternmost point of the Blue Line. Local artist Melissa Mitchell designed the colorful artwork that will beautify the rail station’s old parking lot fare boxes until they are removed this spring. Mitchell was selected when Artbound extended its Black Artists Matter project to Indian Creek and Kensington Stations. Last July, in partnership with Decatur Arts Alliance and the City of Decatur, a call for Black artists was issued to commission works inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and the call for racial justice and equity, at East Lake, Decatur, and Avondale Stations. “The submissions we received during the July call for artists were so inspiring, MARTA decided to extend this opportunity,” said Artbound Director Katherine Dirga. “Melissa is such an energetic artist with incredible talent. After she completed the mural, we learned that this is something that had been on her vision board for years! We knew then it was meant to be. Mitchell completed the mural in late December and it will remain at Indian Creek until April when the parking lot fare boxes will be removed as part of MARTA’s ongoing Station Rehabilitation Program. Mitchell has created for major brands such as Essence, Nike, Vogue, and Spanx and has a highly engaged following on Instagram. Follow her here @abeillecreations. One percent of MARTA’s annual budget is allocated to enhance the ridership experience through visual and performance art. MARTA Artbound provides opportunities for artists year-round with a range of projects encompassing many modes of art. To learn more visit https://itsmarta.com/artbound.aspx.                                                                                This is sponsored content.

By Metro Atlanta Chamber The Atlanta Sports Council (ASC) announced today that the city has won the bid to host the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Regional, including the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, at State Farm Arena in 2025. The winning proposal was submitted in February and crafted by the ASC in partnership with the Atlanta Visitors Convention Bureau, Georgia Tech and State Farm Arena. Georgia Tech will serve as the host institution for the games. “We are thrilled to work with the NCAA and the city of Atlanta again to bring the Men’s Division I Regional Basketball games back in 2025,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council. “After the unfortunate cancellation of this year’s Final Four, we are thrilled to bring a key part of the NCAA Tournament back to metro Atlanta. We are thankful for our partners at the Atlanta Visitors Convention Bureau, Georgia Tech and State Farm Arena for assisting us in creating another successful bid to bring a premier sporting event here.” The ASC plans to oversee the execution of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Regional under the organization’s Championship Hosting Division which has been utilized for the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, Super Bowl LIII and the 2020 NCAA Men’s Final Four. The ASC has partnered with the NCAA on several events in recent years. In 2018, Atlanta hosted the Division I Regional, where basketball fans watched a Cinderella story unfold as No. 11 seed Loyola (Chicago) advanced to the Final Four®. The city was also set to host its fourth NCAA Men’s Final Four in 2020, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event would have been the first basketball game at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Atlanta Sports Council hopes to bring another NCAA Men’s Final Four event to the city in the near future and is turning its focus to baseball as the city hosts the 2021 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. Additional information about the Men’s Division I Basketball Regional and the MLB All-Star Game will be released as available. About the Atlanta Sports Council  The Atlanta Sports Council (ASC), a division of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, facilitates the growth and development of sports in metro Atlanta by serving as a recruiter for major regional, national and international sports events. The organization plays an important role in improving the quality of life for residents in the region through sports, working to drive economic growth and visibility and acting as an advocate for area teams and annual sports events. For more information, visit https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/councils/atlanta-sports-council.   This is sponsored content.

By Eddie Meyers, CAP Board Chair and President, Georgia, PNC Financial Services Group I approach the end of two-year term as Chairman of the Central Atlanta Progress (CAP) Board reflecting on the immense challenges the organization, our members, and our community at large have weathered over the last year. As we enter 2021, CAP’s 80th year, I am reminded of the endurance of this organization. Founded in 1941, CAP has witnessed the peaks and valleys of the 20th century, the New Millennium, and all that lies ahead. In my two years of service, I’ve learned firsthand just how important a cog CAP is in the space between business and government in Atlanta. When COVID-19 and ensuing 2020 events forced us to reimagine how to continue our work, CAP did what it has done for decades: convene, and then act. And while we have not been able to gather in the traditional sense of the word, we have offered members and community partners virtual opportunities to hear regularly from thought leaders, access the most up to date information on the economy, dissect public health trends, and retain a “seat at the table” as we continue to envision and steward a vital Downtown. In 2020 alone, the CAP Membership team produced 20 of these Member Briefings, with an average attendance of 140 people. These virtual events will continue in 2021. And speaking of virtual events, I hope you’ll join us on Wednesday, January 27 for CAP’s Annual Meeting & Awards Tribute, reimagined as an hour-long news special hosted by the organization’s leaders and staff. The program will reflect on 2020, celebrate the people and institutions impacting our community, and explore trends to anticipate in the year ahead. CAP’s new chairperson will also be announced—I look forward to sharing the good news about my predecessor with you all. The Annual Meeting, themed Good Morning Downtown, is free and open to the public. We hope you’ll register and encourage those in your network to tune in for a special blend of entertainment and information that’s sure to get you buzzed about Downtown. Many have said, and I agree, that now is the time for courageous, innovative civic leadership. The CAP team will continue to provide that, as it has done for the previous eight decades, and your support means more and matters more than ever. Thank you for sticking with us as we forge ahead to tackle the hard work that remains.   This is sponsored content.

By: Daphne Bond-Godfrey, Director, ULI Atlanta If knowledge is power, or so the saying goes – then HouseATL’s charge to ‘demystify affordable housing’ has never been more important. In the midst of a global pandemic, there should be no doubt left that safe, stable, and affordable housing is bedrock to our communities. The power of an address is front and center. To meet the need for housing that is affordable to existing and future Atlantans, we need a robust sector of non-profit and for-profit developers as well as all of the key partners who make these communities possible.  Through the work of HouseATL, ULI Atlanta has helped develop case studies to make the affordable housing subject matter less complicated and to arm real estate practitioners, policymakers, and other professionals with the best-case examples of how affordable housing is developed and preserved so that it can be emulated and scaled across our region.  In November 2020, ULI Atlanta and HouseATL released two case studies that helped highlight the power of collaboration to execute this mission. The first, a case study on Atlanta Land Trust (ALT) and Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation (the Trust) demonstrated a unique partnership resulting from complementary yet aligned missions to preserve homes along a portion of Atlanta’s BeltLine. This partnership culminated in the West Atlanta Preservation Initiative, and subsequent preservation of 1575 Mozley Place & 1138 Harwell Street Atlanta, GA 30314.  The second case study on Mercy Park highlights another partnership between Mercy Care and Mercy Housing, two independent organizations that came together to advance their shared and complementary missions around affordability and healthcare. Mercy Park represents a creative approach to mission-based, not-for-profit development on a four-acre site with a 45,000 square foot Mercy Care health clinic, and a 79-unit senior housing development for seniors over the age of 62. The next two case studies focus on preservation and comprehensive community investment as key strategies to mitigate displacement and provide affordable and workforce housing in rapidly gentrifying parts of the City of Atlanta.  Quest Commons West is an excellent example of delivering impactful affordable housing to Atlanta’s Westside community. The Quest Communities team is committed to equitable housing and community development principles. Quest Commons West project embodies its mission while maintaining affordability for households at or below 60% area median income (AMI), a critical but often challenging threshold to meet. Additionally, the project will participate in Quest’s Healthy Housing Initiative, including onsite health screenings, case management, and a community gardening program. See the case study here.  Capitol View Apartments in Atlanta’s Adair Park neighborhood demonstrates the best of collaboration, preservation and coordination of public and private partners to advance affordable housing goals.  Columbia Residential, through long-standing relationships with Enterprise Community Partners, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Invest Atlanta, and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs was able to acquire the property in August 2018, and is redeveloping it with a targeted completion date of August 2021. Honoring a promise to not displace current residents, 64 of the 120 units remain occupied during construction. In total, the redevelopment will bring 120 affordable, fully renovated units to a historic SW Atlanta community, which includes 24 supportive housing units for very low-income residents. See the case study here. All case studies to date were developed through a unique partnership with ULI Atlanta – HouseATL and GA Tech’s Master’s in Real Estate Development (MRED) program. MRED graduate students acted as technical writers to research and develop these case studies and we are grateful for their time and commitment to executing this important task.  *** HouseATL is an open taskforce initiated through the convening power and resources of ULI Atlanta, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Central Atlanta Progress, Center for Civic Innovation, and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Since January 2018, these partners have engaged more than 200 civic leaders to develop and help advance 23 recommendations to invest $1B in affordable housing over 8 – 10 years, producing and preserving 20,000 affordable units. The City of Atlanta adopted the key pillars of HouseATL’s platform in June 2019, resulting in the One Atlanta Housing Affordability Action Plan. HouseATL’s work continues today recognizing that we will only be successful in addressing affordability if we work in more coordinated and collaborative ways – within sectors and across sectors.   This is sponsored content.

By: John Hope Bryant Disasters are unpredictable. Even with prior warning, we are rarely, if ever, prepared for the mental and emotional tax excised on us individually and collectively as a community. Right now, we find ourselves in the middle of a global health crisis, an economic shift felt by millions, and in the throes of battling a series of back-to-back natural disasters. Amidst these trying times, we must remember – disasters do not stop, and we cannot sit by idly, becoming victims of circumstance. The best way to fight back against the unknown is by being prepared. Devastation strikes without discrimination and it is never clear when it will impact you and your community. It is often said that the best offense is a good defense, preparedness is just that. Financial preparation for emergencies can save you and your family tremendous heartache and stress after disaster strikes. The simple actions you take, or do not take, today can greatly affect your future and way of life. Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recorded that more than 25 million Americans were impacted by a natural disaster in 2017; and, in the past three years alone, natural disasters have accounted for nearly $500 billion in damage and losses. While it is not possible to control the disruptions that nature can sometimes bring into our lives, we can control our response to them through financial literacy. Financial literacy is the cornerstone of preparedness; the two go together. When you understand the mechanics of money and resources – and how it can be leveraged to bring you to your desired future – you attain a sense of control and empowerment you may not have had before. Many times, individuals can tend to focus on what they do not have as a reason for delaying emergency preparations. Rather than focusing on what you do not have, think about shifting your focus on what you do have and maximizing its output and potential. Remember, consistently taking small actions yields big results over time. Here are a few things that you can do to be prepared for any kind of financial emergency you may find yourself in: Make saving a priority. It is important to understand that federal disaster assistance will not make you whole after disaster strikes – you must make saving and proper insurance a priority. For your savings, consider creating an additional “cash-on-demand” savings account that you add to periodically that you can take with you in case you are required to evacuate in a hurry. Maintain insurance. After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the average flood insurance payout to homeowners who flooded was $120,000. Conversely, homeowners who took on water and applied for FEMA for federal financial assistance through FEMA received $4,000 to 7,000 on average. Therefore, it is important to understand your risks and ensure your assets have the proper level of coverage. Review your policy options, policies, and other relevant paperwork consistently to ensure that information is up to date. Have a written plan. A comprehensive financial plan serves as your road map reminding you of your desired destination and the actions required to get there. Make copies of all important financial and legal documents. Many times, when disasters strike, property is severely damaged or destroyed. Unfortunately, for many, they lose access to important documents like mortgage information and birth certificates which are helpful in applying for recovery assistance. Additionally, in today’s technological environment, make sure your important documents are available digitally by storing them in the cloud, email, or mobile device. If you need assistance in this process, Operation HOPE may be able to help. For nearly three decades, Operation HOPE has been empowering Americans through financial literacy with a standing commitment to prepare individuals and families for financial disasters, of any kind, and seeing them through to recovery. Through HOPE Coalition America (HCA), the organization provides preparation coaching, at no cost to clients, to help them get back on their feet should they be adversely affected by disaster – be it natural or manmade. Additionally, their financial wellbeing coaches are trained to walk alongside clients in their most vulnerable times to help them regain a sense of dignity and normalcy in their lives. They can help clients build emergency financial plans, negotiate their mortgage payments, apply for eligible post-disaster FEMA assistance, speak to lenders concerning the terms and condition of their loans, and more. Life is an adventure, plan for it and be ready for the unexpected. September is National Preparedness Month and it is the perfect time to make a commitment to ensure you and your family are financially prepared – by doing so, you are investing in your future. For more resources, visit the Ready Campaign and the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.

By Hannah R. Buchdahl “This is my gap year,” says Anya Bazzell, MD, a recent graduate of the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. But it’s certainly not a year off, not with the COVID-19 pandemic exposing vulnerabilities in underserved communities, including the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. In August, Dr. Bazzell signed on with the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Corps and relocated to Martha’s Vineyard to serve as the case investigator/contact tracer team lead for the tribe. It’s a role that provides her an opportunity to leverage her medical degree, as well as her master’s degrees in public health and biomedical sciences.  “Not only am I getting back to my public health roots—my true passion in medicine—but I am also afforded the opportunity to learn about a different culture,” she said. “[Tribal members] have shared with me pieces of their self-governance framework. They have showed me their land and vast cranberry sites. They have told me about their traditions. Even more, we have worked together to create procedure, protocol and frameworks that are truly meaningful and culturally relevant” during the pandemic, which has had a disproportionate impact on American Indian and Alaska Native communities.  As part of its overall COVID-19 response effort, the CDC Foundation hired 57 field staff to work with regional tribal organizations (Area Indian Health Boards) and their member tribes, including Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). “Surge staff like Dr. Bazzell are helping tribes and tribal organizations meet their needs during a very difficult time,” said Angelica Al Janabi, MPH, the COVID-19 regional tribal coordinator who helped place Dr. Bazzell. “Tribes already face challenges ranging from health disparities to limited resources, which a pandemic can only exacerbate.” She says the CDC Foundation staffing initiative respects tribal sovereignty by allowing each jurisdiction to choose their own staff positions based on their greatest needs. In November, Dr. Bazzell collaborated with the tribe’s Emergency Response Team and clinical staff to coordinate a drive-up event at three locations to prepare tribal members for the holiday season. Members were able to get tested for COVID-19; have their blood pressure, temperature and oxygen saturation levels checked; and receive care packages with PPE, hand sanitizer, dental kits and health education handouts–all while staying in the safety of their own vehicles. Sixty tribal members were tested and nearly 300 kits were distributed during the event.  Dr. Bazzell is planning a virtual event next, to take the health education component a step further. “It is important for tribal members to know their numbers. We did check blood pressure at the drive-up sites, and I want to make sure people understand what those numbers mean and how they could potentially impact their immunity should COVID arise at their households,” many of which are multi-generational. “And, we want to make sure they have all the information they need to consider getting the vaccine when it is available.” Dr. Bazzell stresses the importance of building trust within the tribal community.  “I am here to help and to contribute, not to control. I think that’s very important messaging to send to members of American Indian tribes who do have a troubled past in this country at the hands of outsiders,” she said. “Building that trust increases my ability to establish capacity building so even after this job is over, they’re able to implement the [health and safety protocols] I’ve established.” When her time with the tribe is over—and the pandemic under control—Dr. Bazzell plans to start her residency and fulfill her ultimate goal: to increase health equity, especially among women in communities of color, by providing health education and treatment.   This is sponsored content.

Dentons’ US Public Policy practice is pleased to release its annual Policy Scan, an in-depth look at policy at the Federal level and in each of the 50 states. In this document we provide a first look at the key policy questions for the next year in the states, the House of Representatives, the Senate and the new Administration. Additionally, we examine the people who will be driving change. US Policy Scan 2021 takes deep dives into the turbulent political and policy waters swirling around agriculture, cannabis, education, energy and the environment, financial services, foreign policy, health care, housing and community investment, immigration, infrastructure, smart cities and communities, national security, Native American communities, tax, technology, trade, and voting rights and government reform. All with an eye toward providing you with a clear, comprehensive and reader-friendly description of what US public policy will look like in 2021. Download US Policy Scan 2021 Other features include: 2021 Congressional and State House Session Calendars First 100 days of the Biden Administration Biden cabinet nominees and senior White House staff appointees New Committee Chairs and Rankers Analysis of 2022 US Senate races Key decided and pending cases before the Supreme Court of the United States. And as in years past, we have also included a review of state legislative activity in 2020, an overview of legislation passed by the House Democrats in the 116th Congress that didn’t see movement in the Republican controlled Senate, and the policy drivers that will shape state legislative and executive branch activity in 2021. We hope you find this report helpful and informative.

By Elyse Hammett, VP marketing and communications, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta Harry Norman, REALTORS® launched a Philanthropy Fund in the fall of 2019 at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to support nonprofit organizations throughout the region. The Philanthropy Fund showcases the realtors’ commitment to Atlanta’s people and neighborhoods throughout the metro region. After closing a strong year in 2020, Harry Norman, REALTORS® shares that the brokerage has exceeded its original goal of raising $90K from agent contributions to celebrate its 90th year. Combined with company contributions, the organization donated over $135,000 to support important nonprofit work including animal rights, the arts, fighting homelessness and more. Each office selected charities to receive their contribution including Our House, Beat the Streets, Rescuing Hope, Elm Street Cultural Arts Center, United Way and more. This inspiring philanthropic achievement adds to what was a remarkable 90th year for Harry Norman, REALTORS® as it ended with its best Q4 numbers yet. In addition to outperforming the year prior, the combination of favorable closed sales units and increasing sales prices saw an all-time Q4 record closed sales volume. Of course, this all contributed to the team’s commitment to achieving such an exciting donation goal for 2020. “Harry Norman has always been committed to Atlanta from a philanthropic standpoint,” Harry Norman, REALTORS® President and CEO, Jenni Bonura said. “This unique partnership with the Community Foundation allows us to focus our efforts on the communities that we proudly serve. Giving back is at the heart of who we are as an organization and reflects our deeply rooted connection and devotion to Atlanta.” Since it launched, sales associates have contributed a share from each closing to the Harry Norman, REALTORS® Philanthropy Fund, along with many taking an extra step to contribute personally. The luxury real estate firm matched the funds to further enhance the community impact. All Harry Norman, REALTORS® offices participated in the process and each identified grant recipients in their own community. “Thanks to all of the Harry Norman family for their partnership to serve our community,” said President of the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Frank Fernandez. “In two years, the Harry Norman family has doubled its grants to the region, and engaged in our COVID-19 Fund, raising more than $11K through its June 6 #Move4ATL initiative. The Harry Norman team demonstrates its commitment to the region — walking their talk. We thank them, as they serve as a model for what corporations and families can do together to serve the community.” (Pictured left to right) Harry Norman, REALTORS® President and CEO Jenni Bonura, Harry Norman agent and Community Foundation Board member, Studie Young and Community Foundation President, Frank Fernandez   This is sponsored content.

Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease every year, and more than 10 million people worldwide are living with the disease, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have received a landmark commitment to accelerate the scope and impact of Parkinson’s disease studies and to position Georgia as a hub for collaborative research on this and other neurological diseases. The multiyear commitment from the McCamish Foundation will drive transformational research that harnesses science, engineering, and technology at Georgia Tech and Emory to better analyze the complexities of the brain and transform the treatment of Parkinson’s and other disorders of the nervous system. The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), an academic collaboration between Georgia Tech and Emory, is uniquely positioned to lead this new kind of translational neuroscience discovery driven by engineering innovation. “This generous commitment will enable Emory and Georgia Tech to build on our powerful biomedical partnership as we work to combat Parkinson’s and other devastating neurological diseases,” Emory President Gregory L. Fenves says. “New treatments and cures require a deep commitment — I am grateful for our friends at the McCamish Foundation who will help us make the progress and find the answers that patients and families so urgently need.” Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera adds, “For 22 years, Georgia Tech and Emory University have collaborated to improve the lives of individuals diagnosed with many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through the sustained support of transformational philanthropy, the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering has become a national model for academic partnerships. This visionary and generous commitment from the McCamish Foundation will allow us to expand and accelerate collaboration and discovery to the point that an exciting new treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders could be within our reach.” Gordon Beckham Jr. has felt the impact of Parkinson’s personally, with the loss of his father, Hank McCamish, to the disease. Beckham now sits on the board of directors of the Parkinson’s Foundation and works to raise awareness to beat the disease. He says his goal is to build a strong research community in Georgia that will create new frontiers in the treatment of the degenerative disease. “The McCamish Foundation has been in discussions on and off with Georgia Tech, since my dad’s passing, about innovative approaches to dealing with Parkinson’s,” says Beckham, CEO of the Atlanta-based McCamish Group LLC and president of the McCamish Foundation. “We have always been impressed by the amazing depth of talent at Tech.” The McCamish name is well-known at Georgia Tech. Alumnus Hank McCamish, class of 1950, is the namesake of Tech’s basketball arena, McCamish Pavilion. Over the years, the family has supported numerous causes at Georgia Tech. This commitment is one of the largest in the Institute’s history and is the first of its kind for the Institute.  “More recently, we met Susan Margulies and learned of the formal biomedical engineering collaboration between Tech and Emory, two of the top institutions in the country in their respective fields,” Beckham says. “At the same time, the University of Georgia (UGA) is making major investments in Parkinson’s research. Given all this momentum within the state of Georgia, with BME as a nexus, the McCamish Foundation felt the timing was right to try something new at Tech and Emory while also leveraging the existing powerful collaboration between Tech, Emory, and UGA.” “We already participate in robust research collaborations with Georgia Tech and Emory,” says UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “We look forward to expanding our partnerships in order to leverage the complementary strengths of our three institutions to bring new hope to those who suffer from this terrible disease.” Beckham says The McCamish Foundation dreams of a day when all Parkinson’s related conversations begin with, “Remember when.” The McCamish commitment will support faculty research on neurological diseases, including establishing a seed fund to support high-risk, high-reward research ventures. It will also provide fellowships for graduate students and create regular interactions among researchers at Tech, Emory, and UGA, including an annual national conference focused on Parkinson’s disease. The idea is to give researchers space to collaborate and brainstorm unconventional ideas that hold the greatest promise for significant discoveries. “Our vision is to create the next frontier in neuroscience and neurotechnology by confronting the enormous complexities of the dynamic brain and nervous system,” says Susan Margulies, the Wallace H. Coulter Professor and Chair in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. “Our brains engage with, adapt to, and are influenced by the world around us. Studying the changing chemical and electrical brain dynamics is a direct path to detecting and treating Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.” About the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering is a partnership between Georgia Tech and Emory University. Combining the best of research and education, the department is dedicated to improving health and well-being by creating medical breakthroughs driven by engineering innovation and translational research.    This is sponsored content.

Blythe Keeler Robinson, President and CEO, Sheltering Arms The year 2020 caused many disruptions in different areas of our lives, including education. The way we teach, the way children learn, the way we go about our everyday lives has forever changed. Now, we’re in the new year, and as an early childhood education provider, Sheltering Arms continues to see a couple of key trends in the industry that we believe will take us well into 2021. We are also keeping our eyes on a couple of emerging trends, as we continue to create and implement technologies and techniques that will help our young learners absorb lessons as best as possible . Online Learning Born out of necessity in 2020, widespread online learning took the stage as the pandemic forced schools to quickly adopt online learning platforms and techniques. It also urged many early learning centers to start experimenting as well. As our society embraces remote and hybrid ways of working, living and learning, it is critical for providers to consider and offer alternative learning opportunities to meet the needs of our children and families.  Online learning can break down barriers to provide access to a quality early childhood education program for many families; however, it also queues up the next conversation about access to families that do not have internet or the necessary devices for children to learn in a remote environment.  At Sheltering Arms, we believe that nothing can replace the in-person interaction and experience in the classroom, especially for infants and toddlers. We reopened our centers last June and look forward to welcoming students every day, while offering virtual learning opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Last year, through our annual signature event, “Embrace Early: Create the Future,” Sheltering Arms presented the idea of 360-degree virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology as a new way of learning in the classroom. Experiences using VR/AR platforms initially created for gaming now allow children to virtually explore and learn outside of the four walls of a classroom. A great learning and retention tool, the use of this technology can offer, for example, virtual field trips where students can tour zoos and museums in other countries, or explore underwater sea animals through deep-sea diving expeditions. With the use of inexpensive Google Cardboard glasses, classrooms can transform a smartphone into a dynamic teaching tool that brings the world to a young child’s mind. In the months ahead, we look forward to the conversations and innovations that will help provide solutions needed in the educational environment to continue preparing our community’s littlest minds for future success.   This is sponsored content.