Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students
GEEARS is a nonprofit organization operating to inspire and provide leadership for a statewide movement on quality early learning and healthy development for all children ages birth through five.
GEEARS was established in 2010 to help business, civic and government leaders maximize the economic return on the state’s investments in early care and learning.
Check out GEEARS’ One Pager to learn more about how we advocate for Georgia’s youngest children.
Our Mission
To ensure that all Georgia’s children, birth to age five, thrive by championing research-backed policies and investments, fostering collaboration, and leading a statewide movement to advance public will.
Our Vision
Every child has a strong early foundation to reach their full potential.
Our Values
- Child-Centered: We strive to put the needs of all young children and their families first in our policy work and business practices. By prioritizing policies that are most likely to impact children who are furthest from opportunities, we seek to close gaps, promote better outcomes for all children, and ensure a stronger future.
- Collaborative & Responsive: We cannot do this work alone. We are nimble and authentic, and share power with our partners, communities, and families. We value everybody’s contributions, honor people’s lived experiences, and bring cultural humility and flexibility to all that we do.
- Curious, Trustworthy & Accountable: We challenge assumptions, embrace questions, and are relentless in our efforts to provide accurate data and evidence-based research, be transparent in our communication, and follow through on our commitments.
- Visionary & Bold: We dream of what’s possible and put in the work to advance the systems and policies that realize these dreams to improve the lives of families and young children.
Our History
GEEARS is an independent successor group to the United Way’s Early Education Commission chaired by Dennis Lockhart, the Head of the Federal Reserve of Atlanta and Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, the President Emerita of Spelman College.