Partnerships, planning for the Young Creative Summit, “Perspectives and Pints” and more!

Full release 

Although the New Year has just begun, 2009 is promising for updayton, Dayton’s newest young talent-focused community initiative.  Just some of the progress includes: partnerships with many regional businesses and organizations, continued planning for the Young Creatives Summit, and “Perspectives and Pints,” monthly meetings to better understand the needs of young talent in the region.  Also active is a new Web page (http://www.updayton.com).  Each of these impressive steps demonstrates that updayton will be successful in giving young talent a voice in the future of the Dayton region.

Partnerships

Nationally, economists have demonstrated that a region’s economic growth is directly related to keeping college grads in the area.  Here in the Miami Valley, many businesses, civic leaders, and social organizations have joined updayton in the fight to keep young talent in the region.  The Dayton Foundation, Dayton Development Coalition, Standard Register, Wright State Center for Urban and Public Affairs, United Way of the Greater Dayton Area, DaytonCREATE, and Qbase have all committed to work with updayton in producing the Young Creatives Summit.  These local organizations have demonstrated their faith in updayton by offering financial donations, donations-in-kind, and seasoned advice.

Planning the Young Creatives Summit

The Young Creatives Summit, scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2009, will focus on the needs of young talent in the region.  Small-group discussions, social opportunities, a large town-hall session, and a resource fair are all in the works.  Further demonstrating the importance of keeping young talent in the region, the Dayton Development Coalition is organizing a resource fair for the young creatives similar to the fair offered at the San Antonio BRAC trip.

Perspectives and Pints: Next meeting is January 27 at Blind Bob’s (430 E. Fifth Street) from 6-7:30 PM

In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit, updayton is hosting a series of casual focus groups entitled “Perspectives and Pints.”  Since August, updayton has received over 500 responses to their survey about issues that are important to residents 40 years of age and younger.  Taking three of the top priorities of young creatives as determined by the survey – community, entertainment, and diversity – updayton is hosting guided discussions to dig deeper into the needs of young creatives.  Regional leaders participate as special guests in each session to provide insight into current projects and to bring the ideas generated from the focus group back to their organizations.  See some of the ideas at http://updayton.com.