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Founded in 2018, Georgia City Solutions, a nonprofit arm of the Georgia Municipal Association, has worked tirelessly with Georgia cities and towns statewide to help address some of the major challenges they have been reckoning with for years – many of which can be tied directly to the looming specter of intergenerational poverty.
The nonprofit has engaged in several innovative projects over its early years, putting an emphasis on municipal workforce development, youth leadership and engagement and childhood literacy, among others, partnering not only with GMA’s member cities but also establishing outside partnerships to bring tangible answers to problems that state and local officials have been scratching their heads over for decades.
Kay Love, managing director at GCS, tells InsiderAdvantage more about her organization’s mission statement, “GCS takes and innovative approach to scaling, replicating, and customizing programs to meet the unique needs of each city and their partner organizations. The role of GCS is to bridge gaps, not duplicate, by launching and supporting programs through strategic partnerships and by leveraging and coordinating the work of multiple organizations to have a greater impact in our areas of focus.”
That work will be recognized at GCS’ inaugural Community Impact Awards, to be held May 18th at the Porsche Experience Center from 6-9pm. Chaired by legendary former Congressman and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, the reception will shine a light on the work GCS has done over the past five years as well as honor a handful of award recipients who have done their part in making an impact in their communities, wherever in Georgia those may be.
The honorees include an individual, a business and three cities, each of which exemplify the same values that GCS strives to promote.
- Dr. Annise Mabry has made it her life’s work to enhance economic development opportunities in rural Georgia. Through her foundation she has helped more than 500 rural Georgians receive their high school diplomas after having dropped out of school, secured funding for a substance abuse treatment program in Washington County, and much more.
- Creature Comforts Brewing, out of Athens has always made it a point to be more than a friendly local watering hole. The brewery’s ‘Get Comfortable’ campaign states as its core mission to increase the percentage of Clarke County 3rd graders reading on grade level from 20%—where it sits today—to 60%.
- The city of Dublin in Laurens County is being recognized for its long-standing commitment to elevating youth leadership and engagement through programs including the Dublin Youth Council, the Dublin-Laurens County Teen Court, and the Summer Youth Works programs.
- Lawrenceville, in Gwinnett County, will receive its honor for its wide array of community partnerships that have helped advance its mission in strengthening community relations and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
- South Georgia’s Valdosta is also being recognized for its work in the Great Promise Partnership program, which provides local students with up to two years of job training, mentoring, and employment opportunities as incentives to finish high school.
The evening isn’t all business, though. It will feature a reception followed by a silent auction and a chance to participate in the Porsche ride-along experience, then a dinner program emceed by Donna Lowry of Georgia Public Broadcasting and opening remarks provided by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. Proceeds from the event will go directly towards supporting GCS programs expand to even more cities throughout the state.
Love says she is excited to show off what GCS has accomplished and how it can benefit Georgia cities big and small for generations to come, “We want to shine a spotlight on the power of partnerships by recognizing honorees that are making an incredible impact in their communities through innovative initiatives that are providing hope and opportunity for those who call them home. We are pleased with the early results of GCS’ programs, but we know much more can, and must, be done to make a significant and sustained impact.”
To learn more about the Community Impact Awards and how to purchase tickets or sponsorships, click HERE
