News – Page 3 – Digital Storytelling

Athens Community Feeds the Hungry for Holidays

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Joy BratcherAthens, Christmas, Crisis, Food, Holidays, Homelessness, Hunger, Thanksgiving0 comment

Hunger Strikes During the Holiday Season During the holiday season, The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank (AAEFB) and The Northeast Emergency Food Bank begin to see an increase in numbers of families needing help to provide food for their table. On Thanksgiving morning, Kim Ramos and the workers at the AAEFB walked up to a line already formed outside of their facility with people waiting for a Thanksgiving meal to put on their table. “They are people just like us,” Ramos said. “They want to be able to have some normalcy in…

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Athens’ Homeless Rates Drop, But Root Causes Remain

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Katherine Clineathens area homeless shelter, athens ga, Athens-Clarke County, department of housing and urban development, grant funding, homeless, homeless rates, homeless services athens ga, homeless shelters, hud, katie smith, local government, monroe ga, national coalition for the homeless, northeast georgia homeless coalition, oconee county, panhandling, pit count, poverty, shea post, shelters, us government social services, watkinsville ga0 comment

The Reality of Homeless Rates Despite the collaborative shelter and service relief efforts, Athens, Georgia has just 17 fewer homeless in 2016 due to the difficulty in addressing homelessness’s root causes. According the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2016 Homelessness Point in Time Count (PIT) conducted for Athens-Clarke County, the total number of homeless individuals dropped from 247 persons in 2014 to 225 persons in January 2016. Clarke County sits among 11 other counties reporting the highest numbers of homelessness in the state. The Georgia Department of…

Education News

Athens Transit Eyes Youth Prosperity with Transit Alternatives

November 29, 2016December 7, 2016 Jaylon ThompsonAllison Wright, Athen's Great Promise, Athens Transit, Athens-Clarke County, Butch McDuffie, Cedar Shoals, Clarke Central, Georgia Square Mall, Johnelle Simpson, Kids Ride Free0 comment

Athens, Georgia- Athens Transit’s “Kids Ride Free” program has continued to thrive four months after its summer trial period—showing that economic benefits outweigh a loss in revenue. The program, created by the Athens Youth Development task force, started as opportunity for youth [ages 5-17] to travel around the city in the summer. On August 2, the initiative was extended throughout Athens-Clarke County’s academic school year. Athens Transit Director Butch McDuffie said youth ridership is up 570 percent from August 2015 to August 2016. “We went from an increase of 50 youth riders per day…

Education News Uncategorized

Destination Dawgs: Opening Doors for Intellectually Disabled Students

November 7, 2016December 7, 2016 Keion PittsDestination Dawgs, disabilities, Education, inclusive post secondary education, intellectual disabilites, learning, Special Education, UGA0 comment

The new inclusive post-secondary education program, Destination Dawgs, will give five students with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend the University of Georgia (UGA) in spring 2017. The non-degree program will allow students with intellectual disabilities to attend UGA courses with the support of peer mentors and a Destination Dawgs transition teacher. Students who complete the program will receive a certificate of completion. “This program is really geared towards employment outcomes and good adult lives just like most students who come to college. We are looking into classes that teach…

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Retail Owners and Experts Torn Over Urban Outfitters Arrival

November 7, 2016December 1, 2016 Sydney HaymondCheeky Peach, downtown Athens, retail, shopping, Urban Outfitters0 comment

Following a previously reported public opinion piece by Flagpole, owners and experts are conflicted about whether local boutique owners are negatively affected by the opening of Urban Outfitters downtown Athens in the early fall of 2015. Owners, such as University of Georgia graduate Katie Jacobs, believe their stores may actually be experiencing positive benefits from their new neighbor. Her boutique Cheeky Peach has found a way to expand her store in the past year, after the opening of Urban Outfitters. Jacobs said that customers who might not typically shop in the local boutiques may now be…

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Is Purple the New Peach?

October 26, 2016December 1, 2016 Lauren Sloandemographic shifts, Donald Trump, Election 2016, election polls, Georgia, Hillary Clinton, swing state0 comment

Athens, Georgia – Although election polls predicted a deadlock race in Georgia in 2016, Republican nominee, Donald Trump, won the state 51-45, but political experts still agree the peach state is on a path toward purple. Georgia has not “gone blue” since Southern Democrat, Bill Clinton, took office back in 1992, making 2016 polls rare and enticing. But Ryan Williamson, a PhD candidate studying elections, warns to take election polls with a grain of salt. “Polling is really finicky,” Williamson admitted. “Polling is exciting, but at the same time I think it…

Property Crime Rates Continue to Fall in Athens

October 4, 2016December 4, 2016 Abigail HarrisonAthens, Athens Residents, Athens-Clarke County, Break-in, burglary, Property Crime, UGA Students0 comment

Burglary in Athens Athens, Georgia – Athens Clarke-County saw a decrease in property crimes from 1,580 during the summer of 2015 to 1,402 in 2016, one of the lowest recordings over the past decade. A property crime is any crime involving the taking of property without the threat of force. The annual property crime rate in Athens is approximately 3,792 property crimes committed each year. According to Detective Jody Thompson, a member of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Athens-Clarke County police, there has been a downward trend in burglaries in Athens over the past 10…

Education News

UGA’s Price Tag Doesn’t Deter Students

October 4, 2016December 1, 2016 Josiane GalleyAccounting, College Degree Costs, costs, degree, Education, fees, Georgia Tech, Georgia Universities, Money, price, Terry College, tuition, UGA, University of Georgia Southern, University of North Georgia0 comment

Student’s Value of their Experience Athens, Georgia – University of Georgia (UGA) is one of the most expensive universities in the state, and students say they don’t mind paying the high price tag because they consider that benefits like education and opportunities outweigh costs. According to the UGA official admissions webpage, in the 2016-2017 school year, an in-state UGA student (or their parents/guardian) paid a grand total of $11,634 in tuition and fees to be able to attend the state of Georgia flagship university. UGA transfer student Krishna Khatri spent…