QuoteBy KAREN BRUNE MATHIS
The Times-Union
Northeast Florida's young professionals are growing in power and reach.
Motivated 21- to 45-year-olds have created at least 22 cultural, community and trade groups.
Now, organizers of the new YP Alliance want to bring those groups, and their collective 3,000 members, together to collaborate on goals.
"Working together allows us to combine our efforts and speak with a unified voice," organizer Juan Diaz says.
Diaz, 30, is a CSX Corp. lawyer and a veteran in organizing young professionals. He co-chairs ImpactJax, a Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce group for 21- to 35-year-olds. It has grown to 430 members in two years.
The first alliance meeting was in August and the second is anticipated for November.
Together, the groups create a larger community presence, which Northeast Florida should welcome. Their members are the emerging leaders. They need to know the area's issues and concerns.
In seven-county Northeast Florida, 20- to 44-year-olds make up 34 percent of the population. They will assume the roles now held by the area's 45- to 64-year-olds, who make up 26 percent of the population.
More and more organizations realize that. For example, the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties chapter is launching Future Leaders for members 35 and younger. Organizing member Zach Scott, 26, says the first meeting is Thursday, Sept. 27. He is a commercial lender with The Park Avenue Bank.
An alliance might help keep more young professionals in the area.
"People have a tendency to stay in communities where they have a vested interest because people depend on you and you get an opportunity to use your talents," says Mickee Brown, 42, a writer and co-chairman of the JCCI Forward issues forum.
Plus, "it's a way of creating 'family' in a place where you may have very few reminders of home," she says.
Forward, part of Jacksonville Community Council Inc., comprises about 200 young professionals from 25 to 45.
Cities compete for young professionals.
"Today's young professionals are placing greater emphasis on the attractiveness and desirability of a community than ever before," Diaz says. "They're choosing where they want to live, then deciding where they want to work."
Once in a city, however, young professionals need jobs and options for growth. Jacksonville recognizes that challenge. In 2006, JCCI released its "Attracting and Retaining Talent" study that recommended the area focus on competitive, knowledge-based and research industries; strengthen marketing efforts; and work with neighborhoods to create entertainments and market districts.
The alliance can help. "Most young professionals are really looking for obstacle-free ways to connect with their peers for work and play," Brown says.
Harden & Associates executive James Clark is president of the Rotaract Club of Florida's First Coast, comprising 50 members from 22 to 32 years old.
"With the size of Jacksonville, young professionals feel disconnected and out of place," says Clark, 26. "This gives them the opportunity to align with a group that meets their personal needs and long-term objectives."
I hope that long-term objective includes ruling this particular part of the world.
If you have an idea how Northeast Florida could attract young professionals, e-mail me.
karen.mathis@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4305
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092007/bum_201191186.shtml.
One thing would be to stop chasing and offering incentives to companies employing $8-$10 an hour warehouse and call center jobs.
Stop offering incentives alltogether but if not that I aggree with quote
Quote from: copperfiend on September 20, 2007, 02:09:13 PM
One thing would be to stop chasing and offering incentives to companies employing $8-$10 an hour warehouse and call center jobs.