We connect talent to opportunity.

Opportunity ATL provides programing and resources to:

  • Connect jobseekers to jobs, training, support services, soft skill development programs, and a career coach.

  • Connect employers to jobseekers, enhance their future talent pipeline, and remove barriers to unemployment.

  • Connect providers with jobseekers in need of services.

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Past Events

About Us

In May 2018, Atlanta became the eighth city to hold a youth job and resource fair. It took place on behalf of the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative and facilitated over 2,600 youth hires. These roles noticeably enabled both economic and social mobility. Because of the excitement, heavy engagement, and overall effort of the Atlanta coalition, the city was named a “demonstration city” by the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative to carry out long-term efforts serving Opportunity Youth in the Atlanta area, thus launching Opportunity ATL, an initiative of the Metro Atlanta Chamber.

Since 1859, the Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) has worked to successfully drive positive, fundamental change in metro Atlanta and across Georgia. Founded by a group of 12 Atlanta businessmen frustrated by railroad freight discrimination, the group organized the area's first chamber of commerce and rallied to protest indiscriminate rate increases. 

MAC helped put Atlanta on the international stage by providing seed money for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games bid. The development of Centennial Olympic Park and the expansion of the Chamber building played an important role in the preparation for the Games. In 2003, the Metro Atlanta Chamber was instrumental in changing Georgia’s state flag and saving Grady Memorial Hospital.  In recent years, MAC has provided leadership for transportation funding, led the Clean Water Initiative, and the fight to defeat religious exemption legislation to defend Georgia’s reputation as the #1 state in the U.S. for business.

Today, under the leadership of Katie Kirkpatrick, President & CEO, MAC serves as a catalyst for a more vibrant and prosperous region focused on positioning Atlanta as a top tier global region through job growth, advocacy for a business-friendly environment, and attraction and retention of a dynamic workforce.

With 80,400 young adults in the metro Atlanta region neither in school nor working, while employers struggle to fill crucial jobs, MAC’s Opportunity ATL initiative is focused on addressing these workforce challenges.  Through the 100,000 Opportunities Initiative grant through the Shultz Family Foundation, the MAC serves as the central entity leading and coordinating the national coalition’s efforts in Atlanta. MAC works closely with key partners – Metro Atlanta eXchange for Workforce Solutions, United Way of Greater Atlanta, and WorkSource Metro Atlanta- to ensure the best outcomes for jobseekers and employers.

Over the past few years, Opportunity ATL has developed Atlanta’s capacity as an employment hub to ensure that local opportunity youth are prepared for work, connected with employers, and retaining their jobs. We tie together employers, community-based organizations, the public sector, and Opportunity Youth, and we are so glad to continue this work.  

Sponsors

Founding Sponsor

Founding Sponsor

Host Organization

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