In the private sector, success is often defined by pure competition: beating your peers and gaining a greater market share. From a business perspective, this approach is logical and desirable. Your company and employees depend on your ability to sell something better than others in the marketplace: It’s as simple as that.
The day that the US Supreme Court announced their decision recognizing the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry—June 26, 2015—was a very good day, both personally and professionally.
"No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family… It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves…They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right." – US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
There is arguably no greater civil rights crisis facing America today than criminal justice. There are 2.2 million people incarcerated in America, mostly for non-violent crimes. Once released, many are ineligible to return to their homes and jobs, to obtain educational loans, and to vote. They are almost exclusively poor and disproportionately of color. As a society, we simply monitor, prosecute, and punish marginalized populations far more aggressively than their more privileged counterparts. The greatest threat to equal justice—and the greatest opportunity for helping even the playing field—is the justice system’s failure to ensure poor people have lawyers who can protect their rights.
While Georgia has constantly made national headlines as a hub for child sex trafficking—our coordinated community response to protect exploited youths is on the rise. Keeping our children safe from traffickers using a victim-centered approach is the focus of many groups on the front lines, including the Georgia legislature.
What does it take to pass legislation that ensures healthy futures for Georgia’s children? It’s comparable to jumping rope on the playground: there are multiple roles required in order to play.
