civic engagement | Dayton937

In a recent article on CNBC.com (March 23), Bert Sperling, known for his expertise on best places to live, eat and retire (just to name a few), shared some wonderful insight on where he sees Dayton in the near future. He comments that, “Dayton’s industrial heritage is transitioning to today’s new technologies;” he believes the City has all the right assets for an economic comeback.

Photo courtesy of Joel Spitsnaugle and Val Smith

With our award winning, nationally recognized universities and colleges, a thriving healthcare industry and expanding military base, Sperling believes Dayton is poised to bounce back. So what will it take to keep Dayton moving in the right direction? What will get people, particularly those elusive and desirable college graduates and young professionals, to come and stay in Dayton?

According to a survey conducted by updayton, a local initiative launched in 2008 to attract and retain young talent in the area, hundreds of young professionals pointed to four specific areas that needed improvement – they will stay if they have access to more jobs, better neighborhoods, increased diversity and more nightlife and entertainment options. Young creatives have spoken, and updayton is dedicated to making their voices heard.

Each year updayton hosts the Young Creatives Summit to engage and empower young people to implement their own solutions to meet these needs. This year’s Summit, to be held on Friday, April 15 at the Dayton Convention Center, will bring together nearly 200 young professionals and creatives to craft and implement four unique projects to address these pressing issues. To strengthen these efforts, updayton has partnered with organizations focused on solutions for each of the key concerns to work closely with these highly energized volunteers.

Summit attendees interested in creating more livable neighborhoods will partner with CityWide Development to provide vital input on current neighborhoods in and around downtown and on the development of a new neighborhood near Brown Street.

Photo by William Murdock Photography

Other projects include working with the Human Relations Council to make Dayton an immigrant friendly city, creating a new entertainment option for First Friday in cooperation with the Downtown Dayton Partnership and partnering with the Southwestern Ohio Council on Higher Education (SOCHE) to connect more college students and recent college graduates to local internships.

Linking the talent of the young professionals with the resources of these organizations greatly increases the potential for success and sustainability. Volunteers from the Summit may decide to focus on small manageable projects in order to serve the mission of the larger organization, but often times it is the small steps that lead to big results. Collaboration is key in moving Dayton forward; updayton is grateful for the support of these four partner organizations.

To register or get more information about the 2011 Young Creatives Summit, click here.

Updayton has opened registration for this year’s Young Creatives Summit. Since 2009, this annual event has brought hundreds of young people together to discuss and craft initiatives in response to the economic and societal issues facing Dayton. This year brings a strengthening of the core mission to give young people a say in the future of the region and changes that guarantee to keep the event fresh and exciting.

Graphic Design by CreativeFuse

Attendees from the Summit emerge energized and equipped to take a project from concept to completion. Past projects include the street level beautification of the Wayne Avenue corridor, the establishment of DaytonMostMetro.com as the region’s online magazine and a number of other projects focused on entrepreneurism, volunteerism, active nightlife and positive Dayton stories.

The focus of the Summit is on project ideas and implementation, but even the best ideas can’t succeed without the right resources. To ensure greater success, the Summit offers professional development opportunities for attendees to discover resources, strengthen their skills, and network with key community and business leaders.

Every year, the Summit provides top notch speakers to share information on topics of interest to up-and-coming young professionals. From social media to project management to getting noticed, attendees walk away with information they can use and a new contact that may lead to their next big opportunity.

New this year, the professional development sessions have been revamped to increase attendees’ interaction with the speaker, provide opportunities to hear more than one topic and ensure all attendees, regardless of skill level, walk away with some new tips or resources. Bring plenty of business cards to share as you participate in these “best practices” conversations with experts and peers.

Here is a sneak peak of the topics and the speakers for this year’s Summit:

Telling Your Story – Learn how to increase visibility for your business, organization or cause from communication experts Sharon Howard, Director of Marketing and Communications of the Dayton Development Coalition and Amelia Robinson, seasoned reporter for Dayton Daily News. They’ll show you how to tell your story to the community, media and partners.

Social Media – Shana Douglas and Leah Moon of CultureMASH, a social media organization that assists non-profits in building awareness in the region, share the best ways to use social media tools to educate and build awareness for your cause. Sure you know Facebook and Twitter – but do you know what they can do for you?

Demystifying Local Government – Dayton City Commissioner Nan Whaley and Director of Planning and Community Development Aaron Sorrell breakdown the steps needed to get through the “red tape” that may stall your projects. They’ll provide hints on how to work with the City for greater success and fewer headaches.

Project Management and Leadership – Paul Piechota, Executive Director for the Center for Competitive Change at the University of Dayton, and Kelly Geers, Director of Government Programs for the Dayton Development Coalition, provide tips on the best way to approach a project, how to manage each step along the way, and how a little early planning can save a lot of trouble-shooting later.

Dayton Gems – Think there’s nothing to do in Dayton – think again! Bill Pote, founder and publisher of DaytonMostMetro and Lisa Grisby, co-publisher and writer for DaytonMostMetro and founder of Dayton Dining, provide the insiders’ view of how to discover hidden gems in the region and what resources can plug you into the scene. From entrepreneurism to entertainment – Dayton has something for everyone.

The Greater Downtown Dayton Plan – Here Dayton Grows Again! Sandy Gudorf, Executive Director for the Downtown Dayton Partnership and Shelley Dickstein, Assistant City Manager for the City of Dayton, provide updates on the three year community initiative that is “the Plan” for the city. Learn more about what’s happening in your city and how young creative can make an impact.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to grow professionally and personally. More details can be found by clicking here. If one moment can change everything, one will one afternoon do? Find out on April 15!

I Will Stay In Dayton If….

Summit offers opportunity to grow professionally and personally