Many say they join the Y because of a shared passion for strengthening the community. With our vision of building communities where everyone belongs, it's vital that the people in our communities feel understood and heard. Recognizing we can't do this work alone, two organizations join (Y) Connect today to talk about how they're capturing the voices of Metro Atlanta to better understand our communities' priorities, opinions, and values.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[3:26] Saba Long shares the background of Atlanta Civic Circle and explains how they report news
[5:26] Tommy Pearce explains what Neighborhood Nexus does, and he describes how Atlanta POV came together
[7:29] Saba gives the specifics of how Atlanta Civic Circle and Neighborhood Nexus work together for the community
[10:06] Tommy gives an example of how citizen input can impact initiatives and outcomes and what insights and trends they have discovered since Atlanta POV was initiated
[17:11] Saba explains how data collected brings the stories to life
[22:16] Discussion surrounding how the work of the Atlanta POV aligns with the Y's emphasis on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility
[24:12] Saba gives an example of focus group concerns
[27:44] Discussion regarding issues of different demographics, racial divide and how those play into data obtained, future planning for Atlanta POV, and incentives for respondents completing surveys
[34:11] The guests explain their Pathway to the Y
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The Atlanta Civic Circle takes a different approach to news. They dive into the issues, explain them, and give the reader tools to engage with them if they desire
Studies show that the burden of summer childcare impacts the family income because parents have to work fewer hours to care for their children, or work more hours to afford the extra childcare. Many families need help using or finding appropriate and affordable child care
Neighborhood Nexus collects data from thousands of people immediately. That is why they conduct surveys about summer programming or childcare at the beginning of summer; the issue is relevant, and leaders can use the data to solve immediate problems
RESOURCE LINKS:
Atlanta Civic Circle - Website
BIOGRAPHY:
Saba Long is the Executive Director of Atlanta Civic Circle, a nonprofit news outlet dedicated to informing the public on the most critical issues facing metro Atlanta by providing in-depth reporting and presenting possible solutions with opportunities for civic engagement online and in the community. She has served on numerous local nonprofit boards and provided communications expertise to Georgia-based political campaigns and ballot initiatives.
Tommy Pearce
Mission-driven organizations should have access to actionable insights to inform their decisions—our communities depend on it. As Executive Director of Neighborhood Nexus, Tommy Pearce is working to do just that. With a background in research, strategic planning, and nonprofit management, he has worked with hundreds of Georgia organizations to maximize their impact with data. Tommy has an MSW from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in History from Georgia Southern. He's a lifelong Gwinnettian, and he currently resides with his wife, two daughters, and a growing stack of books he will never finish. Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tommypearce.
