Cultural Arts Deliver Significant Economic Impact to Atlanta and the Region
An economic impact study released by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) reveals that Atlanta’s non-profit arts and culture industry generates approximately $275 million in local economic activity annually.
The study is “Arts & Economic Prosperity III: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in the City of Atlanta, GA.” It was executed in collaboration with Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.
Arts and Economic Prosperity III provides evidence that the economic activity generated for Atlanta by the arts and culture industry is quite significant. A breakdown of the figures show that $113.94 million in non-profit arts organization spending and an additional $160.87 in audience event-related spending – totaling $274.8 million – supports 8,211 full-time jobs, generates $167.17 million in household income and delivers $27.07 million in local and state revenues.
In terms of U.S. cities with the most arts jobs, Atlanta ranked third among peer-sized cities, behind Minneapolis/St. Paul and Miami. Said Camille Love, OCA director, “This economic impact study sends a strong message that when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the City of Atlanta’s economic well-being.”
Click here to view the Arts and Economic Prosperity III Study.
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Police, Crime Stoppers Partner to Capture Criminals
Thanks to a recent tip to the Atlanta Police Foundation (APF) Crime Stoppers Tip Line, the Atlanta Police Department (APD) located and apprehended one of the metro area’s top ten criminals.
Last Tuesday, the APD Fugitive Unit and Clayton County Fugitive Unit caught criminal Brian Lee Rochester. Rochester was wanted on a Fulton County warrant for aggravated assault and was considered armed and dangerous.
Rochester’s whereabouts were identified when a community member saw his profile on a Crime Stoppers public service feature. The community member provided the tip to Crime Stoppers that led to his arrest. Crime Stoppers allows citizens to provide information to the police anonymously. The program launched in January 2007, and is funded by the APF, a non-profit organization that focuses on crime prevention and emergency preparedness programs for the City of Atlanta.
Some Crime Stoppers Facts:
- To date the program has received over 200 tips about crime in metro Atlanta.
- There have been a total of 6 indictments based on a Crime Stoppers tip.
- Two rewards have been paid out totaling $3,300 - both of these cases involved serial commercial bank robbers.
- There have been 18 arrests associated with Crime Stoppers and 32 cases cleared. APD has recovered $7772 in property as a result of arrests associated with Crime Stoppers
The Atlanta Crime Stoppers Tip Line is open 24/7. Rewards for successful tips range from $200 - $2,000. Rewards can exceed $2,000 based on the nature of crime. To make a tip, call 404-577-TIPS (8477) or log on to www.crimestoppersatlanta.org. To donate to the Crime Stoppers Reward Fund call the Atlanta Police Foundation at 404.586.0180 or visit www.atlantapolicefoundation.org.
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City Swim Team Helps Youth Develop Skills, Earn Scholarships
At last week’s 16th Annual CS Grand Finale Swim Meet, eight youth on the City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team took home top spots in their category, helping the City place first in the overall competition.
The CS Meet – formerly known as the Chris Silva Swim Meet – is held every June and attracts swim teams from across the United States. The Dolphins Swim Team, a program of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (DPRCA), is governed by the U.S. Competitive Swimming Association. Participation is open to metro Atlanta youth ages 6-16 who have completed the City’s Learn-to-Swim program.
Swimmers train year-round, six days per week under nationally-certified, professional coaches. They regularly compete - and win – in national competitions. Recently two swimmers participated in the Olympics trials.
Since 1984, more than $2 million in college scholarships have been awarded to Dolphins swimmers. Scholarships were awarded from North Carolina A&T, Howard University, Stanford University, Florida A&M, Emory University and Georgia Tech.
Head Coach Tommy Jackson has been with the program since 1986. Jackson often recommends his senior swimmers to college recruiters and says the program’s success is due to the hard work they exert both in the pool and in the classroom. “We tell our parents that if your child is doing well academically and decides to join this program, they will receive financial assistance for college. Kids from our program go on and do well in college - not just in competitive swimming but academically and professionally as well.”
For more information about the City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team, please visit here or call 404.817.6778.
The City of Atlanta Dolphins Swim Team includes youth ages 6-16. At last week’s 16th Annual CS Swim Meet, the Dolphins placed first in overall competition. |
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Atlanta Agency Provides New Career ‘Beginnings’ to Homeless
Laura Cooper wasn’t convinced that the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA) New Beginnings career resuscitation program for chronic homeless residents could help her find a job.
But Cooper, a former homeless resident, was wrong. Not only did she secure a job at Arby’s less than a month after entering the program, but she also received government benefits she was unaware she qualified for.
Said Cooper: “I couldn't have made it this far without this program. At first I thought it wasn't going to have any effect on me, but I was willing to try. As time went by, I realized I was getting a lot of things done. I had a resume, learned how to use a computer, met with an EarnBenefits representative for financial assistance and also met with the Georgia Department of Labor.”
Through New Beginnings, AWDA is providing valuable job search support and career direction to residents who have been homeless for more than a year. New Beginnings is a pilot program funded by the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and is a component of the Regional Commission on Homelessness’ “Blueprint to End Chronic Homelessness in Atlanta in Ten Years.” The Blueprint uses a tri-jurisdictional continuum-of-care approach to meet the needs of the region’s long-term homeless residents.
Since launching in February 2007, over 60 individuals have entered the program. To date, 20 have already secured employment. To be eligible for employment, individuals should ideally have secured housing in advance. Individuals work closely with a career advisor to develop an individualized employment plan (IEP). The plan includes basic skills and career interest assessments, ongoing counseling and coaching, previous work experience, occupational training and job placement assistance.
Laura Cooper is a shining example of the program’s ability to help those in need. She was recently offered a second job at Comfort Inn, which she obtained by volunteering to clean a room to demonstrate her skills. Cooper’s participation in New Beginnings helped her take that extra step to get her life back on track. “New Beginnings has changed my life tremendously” said Cooper.
For more information, visit www.atlantaworkforce.org.
New Beginnings participant Laura Cooper (center) with AWDA staff members Jennifer Moore (left) and Timi Ogunmekan. |
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The public service announcements for the "Dear John" child sexual exploitation campaign featuring Mayor Shirley Franklin won a 2007 Emmy Award. The campaign, which targets the sexual exploitation of children, was honored at the Southeastern regional Emmy Awards show in Atlanta last weekend. Click here to go to Video On Demand (VOD) webpage where you can watch the PSA.
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Rave Reviews!
- Last week, Mayor Shirley Franklin joined the Atlanta Workforce Development Agency (AWDA), the City Solicitor’s Office and the ATL Regulators motorcycle group to host a Charity Bike Ride to benefit the Mayor’s Youth Program. All proceeds from the Charity Bike Ride benefited participants in the YES (Youth Empowerment Services) program. YES assists wayward youth who have been juveniles in the City courts system. The program helps them with scholastic and career improvement, community service, mentorship and scholarships. The Ride raised over $700.
A Charity Bike Ride benefiting the Mayor’s Youth Program raised funds for the YES (Youth Empowerment Services) program. Pictured from left to right (standing) Charlie Flemming (president, Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, AFL-CIO); Raines Carter, City Solicitor; Quentin Williams, president, Regulators of Atlanta; Terry Martin, Y.E.S. program director; Dr. Sherman Bonds, educator and author; Huxie Wilkins, AWDA senior project manager; Mayor Shirley Franklin; Clarence Griffin, City Solicitor’s Office), APD Chief Richard Pennington, members of the ATL Regulators. |
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
- June is National Homeownership Month. Join the City of Atlanta Bureau of Housing and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a FREE Homeownership Protection Summit, Friday June 29 – Saturday June 30 at the Atlanta Life Insurance Auditorium, 100 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, 30303. City leaders will discuss the HOME Atlanta and Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) homeownership programs. For a schedule of events, or to register, visit here.
- In Atlanta, Every Day is An Opening Day … True Colors Theatre Company presents “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men,” July 11-28 at the Balzer Theatre at Herren’s, Luckie Street, Atlanta, 30303. True Colors Theatre Company is offering a special offer – call the box office with the code “PC5” to receive $5 OFF certain performances while tickets last. For more information, visit here or call 678.528.1500.
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Job Announcements
With the City of Atlanta’s online application system, you are able to create an account and select a Username and Password and then log in to your account.
After your account has been established, you can create an application by clicking on the “Build Job Application” link. Once your application is completed, it will be stored in the system and can be used to apply for future job openings. To get started by viewing current open positions, click here.
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Weekly Features
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