Cycle of Opportunity

The General Assembly opened its 69th session on Wednesday, a mostly ceremonial day that featured speeches from the majority and minority leaders outlining their broad goals and policy objectives for the 120-day session.

Testimony to the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee

My name is Rich Jones and I am director of policy and research for the Bell Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank and advocacy organization. I am speaking today in support of HB09-1064, to create the Economic Opportunity Poverty Reduction Task Force to study poverty issues and develop a comprehensive plan to expand economic opportunities in Colorado.

What does it mean that everyone should have the opportunity to succeed? What is opportunity? How is it generated and sustained in the 21st Century? In this 2005 opportunity report, we try to answer these questions. Based on what we found, we also recommend ways to expand opportunity for all in Colorado.

Director of Policy and Research Andy Hartman discusses the cycle of opportunity with Colorado Public Radio host Dan Dryer.

In a new report, the Bell Policy Center assembles the most recent data available to assess the chances for opportunity for a wide spectrum of Colorado residents. The 102-page report, Colorado: The State of Opportunity 2005, looks at 39 indicators and makes 55 recommendations for improving opportunity in the state.