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Young Creatives Summit

Free Program Promotes Pedal Power Downtown

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Volunteers ride the Yellow Bikes downtown.

Volunteers give some of the first yellow bikes off the assembly line a spin downtown during the May 6 First Friday.

Cycling culture in downtown Dayton is about to burn rubber with the roll out of the Yellow Bike program.

This free bike sharing program is the brainchild of Jeff Sorrell, vice president and executive director of the Life Enrichment Center, a faith-based nonprofit organization serving Dayton. The center’s new Yellow Bike program will provide brightly painted yellow bikes available free of charge for anyone to ride between downtown destinations. People simply grab a yellow bike, ride it to their destination and park it in a bike rack for the next person to use.

“The Yellow Bike program provides a free means of transportation and gives anyone access to bicycles to use at any time,” Sorrell said. “This program also promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourges people to get outside and be active.”

The Yellow Bike program will be officially launched during the Friday, May 13, Urban Nights, held from 5 to 10 p.m. throughout downtown. Riders can pick up one of 50 yellow bikes at Courthouse Square or whereever they see one parked throughout downtown. The Life Enrichment Center is seeking donations of helmets in all sizes, which can be dropped off at Courthouse Square during Urban Nights or at the center, 425 N. Findlay St.

The Yellow Bike program is part of a larger effort to enhance cycling culture in the City of Dayton, the only Ohio city to be selected as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists in its spring 2010 rankings. Dayton was awarded a bronze-level status for its efforts to help make the city more bicycle and pedestrian friendly through such efforts as the addition of bike lanes to downtown streets and the opening of the bike hub at RiverScape MetroPark.

“Enhancing downtown Dayton as a bike-friendly city is about more than recreation ― it’s about regional economic development,” said Dr. Michael Ervin, co-chair of the Downtown Dayton Partnership and the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. “That’s because cities where it’s easy to have the kind of active lifestyle that’s integral to cycling culture are more attractive to residents, visitors and businesses. Strategies that make it even more convenient to have an active lifestyle downtown, such as the Yellow Bike program, increase urban vibrancy, improve quality of life and, in the long term, attract new jobs and investment.”

Andy Williamson of Five Rivers Outdoors shows off the first yellow bike at the April 15 Young Creatives Summit.

Andy Williamson of Five Rivers Outdoors shows off the first yellow bike at the April 15 Young Creatives Summit.

The Yellow Bike program also is supported by the City of Dayton’s Bike/Walk Committee, which is overseeing the work of the City of Dayton 2025 Bicycle Action Plan. The City is seeking public input on the plan through this summer.

“A simple, accessible, inexpensive and environmentally friendly form of transportation, the bicycle continues to be a pivotal part of the City of Dayton’s vision for an active citizenry, vibrant economy and engaging street life,” said Dayton City Commissioner Nan Whaley. “Individuals and businesses are choosing to locate in areas where alternative transportation options are both abundant and convenient. The Yellow Bike program does much to help achieve this.”

The Yellow Bike program is one of several at the Life Enrichment Center’s new Bike Shoppe, renovated by volunteers and made possible by a grant from the UPS Foundation and private donations. The yellow bikes are refurbished by Life Enrichment Center clients, teaching them new skills while providing a service to the community.

To help keep the bikes in the downtown area, the Life Enrichment Center has worked with the Dayton Police Department, scrap yards and pawn shops. Anyone who finds a yellow bike that needs repaired or is outside the downtown area is asked to call the Bike Shoppe at 937-252-7780 so it can be picked up, returned to the center, repaired if necessary and put back into circulation. All the yellow bikes also will have stickers with the center’s phone number. Riders are reminded to always wear a helmet and obey traffic laws.

Summit Follow-Up: Were you there?

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Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

Don’t miss the Action Plan Launch on May 3 at 6 PM at the Biltmore Towers (210 N. Main Street). There, we take these ideas to the next level!

The 2011 Young Creatives Summit hosted by updayton has come and gone with three packed hours of networking, professional development and (most importantly) providing young creatives the opportunity to shape the future of the region. Participants had their say in important topics including nightlife, jobs, neighborhoods and diversity and determined the direction that would make the region more exciting for them.

The Summit kicked-off with a Dayton Creative Syndicate sponsored photo booth that challenged participants to consider what would make them stay in the region by making the statement, “I Will Stay If…” Executive Director Yvette Kelly-Fields thanked our sponsors; Sean Creighton from the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education reflected on the kernel of an idea that grew into a region-shaping Summit; and Chair Scott Murphy challenged us to make a difference with the time we had there.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

New for 2011, updayton partnered with established organizations in the region for project plans. Through this partnership, participants learned more about how the issue affects the region and were empowered to put their ideas to use to address a topic other organizations are already working on. Ideas were generated in breakout sessions; at the town hall, participants got to “invest” in the ideas that they wanted to support by offering “updayton dollars.”

NIGHTLIFE: The Downtown Dayton Partnership had the goal to create a new element for First Friday that entices new audiences and encourages visitors to travel among numerous establishments. Updayton participants are launching a project where performers drive the visitors on rickshaws to the various establishments while offering them a song, sonnet or story.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

DIVERSITY: The Immigrant Friendly Task Force of the City of Dayton Human Relations Council had the goal of better connecting local residents to Dayton’s immigrant community for a sharing of culture. Summit attendees will launch a project where local families (both native and immigrant) are paired with one another. Native families will act as a tour guide for their immigrant friends – introducing them both to the region and our culture. In return, immigrant families will share stories, food and traditions that define their culture. It’s a “big brother” type program for culture-sharing. This group hopes to partner with Dayton Metro Library which already has an extensive collection of foreign language music, movies, books, and other resources.

JOBS: The Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) challenged attendees to determine what can be done to identify, engage and motivate local employers to offer/create internships for local college students. Summit participants proposed “Linked Internships” – a LinkedIn page to provide an open forum for students to post their interests, experience and references. Local businesses will be able to quickly sift through the page to find the right candidate, review the resume and check references.  It will be local to the Dayton region and act as an open forum that provides a “one-stop shop” for businesses to find interns.

NEIGHBORHOODS: CityWide Development participated in the Summit to solicit information on what would make neighborhoods

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

more attractive to young professionals. In addition to a lot of great conversation and input, the updayton attendees will launch a project to beautify local neighborhoods. They intend to host various community clean-up days to include the physical work of cleaning, gardening, and maintaining green space as well as incorporating a community aspect. They hope to solicit volunteers from the neighborhoods to get people plugged into the project and vested in the upkeep of their neighborhood.

PLUS: In addition to the breakout sessions for project development, the Summit offered professional development workshops led by experts on topics from the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan to project management to social media. The Summit ended with a town hall for local leaders to hear the outcome and see the energy of these young creatives. Then we all headed to an afterparty at the Excelsior Lofts.

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

NEXT STEPS: These four topics were selected due to research by updayton as top topics of importance for young professionals as they determine where they want to live. These ideas are just the foundation of the projects. Volunteers will re-convene on May 3 to determine potential partners, discuss details, and determine next steps.

Some of what we’ve heard:

“The Summit was one of the best events I’ve been to in the last year, without question. Even more than being a great learning tool and networking opportunity, it was awesome to see so many young people excited about improving downtown, and even better to see them signing up to actually follow through with getting hands-on and making it happen from the ground up. I’m someone who’s always been passionate about downtown, and it re-ignited my own enthusiasm. And I have a lot of respect for updayton (and their partners) for doing what the driving forces in so many cities don’t–going directly to the people, asking what they need and want, and challenging them to be that change.”

Amanda Barbosa-Photographer

-Duante Beddingfield

“The updatyon Summit was a great way to network with other young professionals living in the area who are passionate about improving the city. It was interesting to listen to everyone’s ideas and know that despite any perceived negativity—whether real or imagined—is overshadowed by people willing to make a difference. When you’ve got just one person with an idea, it might just remain at one idea, but when you add a collaborative community of open-minded, progressive individuals, that idea turns into action, hope becomes creation, and that vision of a better Dayton is realized. I can’t wait to dig into these projects.”
– Valerie Beerbower

“It’s easy to forget that there are people in Dayton that want to improve their community. The Summit was not only a reminder that these people exist, but that there are many of us.”
-Nick Hrkman

“I found the Summit to be energizing. It brought people together from different backgrounds and ideologies. It gave me the opportunity to interact with colleagues, make new friends, and reconnect with old ones – all under the organized goal of making the Dayton region a great place to live and work. The Summit is forward thinking, it does not focus energies around what is, but what could be if we all pitch in. My favorite part about the Summit is that anyone can attend, be heard, and walk away charged with tasks to make a difference.”
-Sherri Wierzba

Were you there? What did you think of the streamlined Summit? Anything surprise or excite you about the potential of the Dayton region?

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My Summit Story: Number Crunching for a Cause

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the final feature in a series of “My Summit Story” segments  highlighting the diverse, talented and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

In 2008, with 6 other catalysts from DaytonCREATE, Scott Murphy started updayton to better attract that elusive and desirable recent college graduate demographic to the region.  To meet this need, these volunteers focused on putting control of the situation in the hands of the people who are uniquely qualified to say what young creatives want. Who knows best what convinces a college graduate to relocate to the Miami Valley? Probably the recent college grads who decided to stick around. So updayton was created to give that control to young professionals (through the Summit and subsequent projects) and to be a communication pipeline between the young creatives and local leadership.

An important part of the updayton mission has always been the data. As an engineer at Wright-Patterson AFB, Scott tracks, records and reads the numbers that demonstrate project success or failure. You can see his attention to detail and his focus on results in every annual report that updayton publishes. You may walk away from the Summit having had a great experience after sharing some ideas and meeting some new people, but the work is just beginning for Scott. In addition to providing that qualitative experience to Summit participants who want to network with each other and learn something about the region, Scott wants to show how updayton is moving the needle for young professional engagement in the region.

The ideas expressed at past updayton events are gathered and shared. Rolls and rolls of white paper with concerns, ideas, projects and solutions have been poured over and translated to usable data to share with people who care about the needs of the young creatives. Government leaders, businesses and nonprofits are among the types of local organizations that have reached out to updayton to ask about your needs. The Suumit isn’t just about your experience that day and if you sign up for a project – the Summit is about adding YOUR VOICE and YOUR IDEAS to the conversation. Scott’s an engineer – he’ll do the work pulling it all together, but he needs your input.

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My Summit Story: A Leadership Journey

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In preparation for the Young Creatives Summit on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM, this is the fourth in a series of “My Summit Story” segments (see part one or part two or part three) highlighting the diverse, talented, and creative people that choose to be a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit. Visit the Web page to register or learn more.

Adam Coatney was born and raised in Dayton. He went away for school, and came back as Dr. Adam to help run his family’s vet clinic. He keeps busy with his job, real estate (married to a realtor, they manage three homes), gardening, as a first tenor in the Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, and since 2009  – as the co-chair of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee.  In 2010, Adam volunteered to serve on the updayton Steering Committee (in addition to his continuing work with Wayne Avenue), and beginning in 2011, he will be replacing Scott Murphy as the updayton chairperson.

Dayton isn’t new for Adam – it’s always been his home.  So, what inspired this guy, who typically isn’t a “joiner,” to be a part of the Summit? And what does he think the Summit offers other young professionals?  Here is Adam’s Summit story.

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My Summit Story: Enthusiasm meets experience

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The Young Creatives Summit is on Friday, April 15 from 3-6 PM at the Dayton Convention Center. This is the third in a series of “My Summit Story” segments to highlight the diverse, talented, and creative people who are a part of updayton and the Young Creatives Summit.  More information and registration details are available here.

Very few people embody the excitement and growth potential of Dayton region more than Theresa Gasper. She grew up in Dayton, currently lives in Beavercreek, works to rebuild homes in South Park as the Founder and President of Full Circle Development, and is a proud Daytonian (check out this link to see when she was featured as a “Dayton Original”). You’ve probably seen Theresa around – at local ball games, attending arts galas, chatting with friends at great restaurants, hosting open houses and neighborhood parties, being recognized as one of the Top Ten Women of the Year, and working on many volunteer initiatives. Whether she’s adding her own time and talent to projects or supporting them through communication and marketing – Theresa is plugged into the changes happening in the region.

As one of the original catalysts of DaytonCREATE (working on the “This is Dayton” initiative), Theresa has been aware of updayton from the beginning. And even though she was busy leading a separate initiative, Theresa has always added her support to updayton. Again this year, Theresa is volunteering as a breakout facilitator at the Summit. We wanted to take some time to better understand why someone with so much going on is offering her time to engage young creatives in the region.  Here is her story.

How did you get involved with updayton?

I was one of the original DaytonCREATE Catalysts on the “This is Dayton” initiative, and have strived to support the activities of all five initiatives.  Chronologically I may be 50 this year, but in my mind, I still think I’m 24 and have convinced myself I’m actually part of the target audience!  😉

So even if you’re *slightly* outside the target demographic, you still feel you can get involved?

Absolutely!   This year will be my second as a facilitator for one of the break out sessions.   I’ve also tried to get involved during the beginning stages of some of the group projects.   Fresh eyes and new blood always account for a lot of enthusiasm and creativity, but there is something to be said too for “institutional memory.”   I never want to get too involved or stymie anyone’s ideas, but try to point out similar initiatives in the past and help connect the dots.  What those of us “outside the demographic” bring to the table is a strong network in the community, so we can steer the (updayton volunteers) in the right direction and provide introductions to the people who can help them get things done.

What have you gotten out of the Young Creatives Summit?

A renewed sense of optimism by seeing so many young creatives invest their time and energy into making Dayton a better place to live, work and play.   Face it, our community is at a crossroads, and dying off is not an option.   But how many places and points in time converge to allow you to actively create the city of your dreams?    I know many college grads want to head to the big cities – NYC, Chicago, etc – and make their mark.  But it’s a game of numbers – do you want to be one of 140,000 in Dayton or one of 9,000,000 in New York?   There is NOTHING wrong with being a big fish in a small pond.   I think what Dayton has to offer is immense opportunity and updayton and the Young Creatives Summit, is the jumping off point.

Do you recommend that young professionals attend the Summit?

I’ve been spreading the word very chance I get, so hell yes, young professionals & creatives need to attend.  What a great networking opportunity to meet the young movers & shakers in town.  What a great venue to share ideas, speak up, get involved and connect with others who have similar passions and goals.   Often I hear people complaining about Dayton and I tell them to stop whining and get involved.  When they ask how, I’m able to steer them toward updayton and the YCS.

What is your vision for the Dayton region?

I see the convergence of many factors bringing people back to the urban core – high gas prices, walkable communities, great local restaurants, bars, bands, but mostly its an authentic urban experience.  And I think that young professionals are a driving force behind the trend.  So my vision is a vibrant, active, beautiful downtown with lots of feet on the street – or as I like to say like Urban Night EVERY night.   I’m a strong believer that cities are the hearts of regions – and like with the human body, if the heart is weak, the extremities will shut down.  I see our historic districts and inner city neighborhoods becoming the ideal places to live as people turn from the cookie cutter and car centric nature of the ‘burbs.  Add to that our rivers, bikeways, mountain biking course and hopefully the white water course in downtown, I see Dayton’s star shining bright and attracting people from around the world.

My Summit Story: The Projects and the People

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Shawn Neff is a busy guy. Living downtown and working in Springfield, when he’s not on the road, he’s out socializing or involved in projects that are impacting his community. As his adoptive home, and he’s doing a lot to make Dayton a place he’s proud of.  Here’s his Summit story.

After the 2009 Summit, Shawn volunteered as a member of the Wayne Avenue Corridor Committee – a group committed to cleaning up and highlighting the area connecting the Oregon District with the Cannery Arts District. Then, at the 2010 Summit, Shawn took a leadership role with Downtown Street Buzz, a group that worked to highlight downtown Dayton’s nightlife by getting more feet-on-the-street and creating a fun social atmosphere at selected events for young creatives.

Q: Through updayton, you worked on two community projects – Wayne Avenue Corridor and Street Buzz. What were your experiences?

I feel that both projects were valuable to me personally and definitely worth my time. I was able to make connections with people, learn new skills, and hopefully make an impact on someone else.

For the Wayne Ave Project, I take great pride in knowing that I am a part of the team that was responsible for the murals and benches, for continuing to clean up the trash and pull weeds. Hopefully for the community, they will take from it that it only takes a small group of people to make a difference and take a run down, rather scary looking area and liven it up.

While the “Buzz” group didn’t maybe didn’t go as planned, that’s to be expected of any group project. Everyone at the start is gung ho and ready to move. After a few months, people begin to loose interest and drop away from participating. You can’t let that frustrate you. “Without failure there is no success.”

Q: Beyond the projects, did updayton provide you with any valuable experiences or connections?

Absolutely, I have made numerous connections to people in the Dayton area, several which have become close friends.  It’s quite an experience just to see the hundreds of people at the summit, who like me, want to make a difference in this community.

Q: What have you been doing since your Summit project involvement?

I have been actively working with Generation Dayton as a member of both the Community Involvement & Social Committees. I am also a dedicated member of jumpstART. I have been involved with several communities to help rebuild old playgrounds.

Q: Would you recommend that local YPs attend the Summit?

I think it should be almost mandatory that not just ‘YP’ers, but anyone who wants to make a difference, attend the summit. It’s a chance to meet and network with people. A chance to give your input, and listen to other’s thoughts on what we want to make of this city. A chance to get involved and put all those thoughts into motion.

Q: What is your vision for the Dayton region?

I want to see a thriving downtown. I want to see people moving back into the urban core.  I want to hear more positives and less negatives about downtown Dayton.  I moved to downtown 2 years ago from out of town, and I have completely adopted this city and want to see it thrive.

This is the second in a series highlighting people who have been involved with the updayton Young Creatives Summit. For part one, see My Summit Story: Who Knows You?

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My Summit Story: Who Knows You?

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A lot of people have different reasons for attending the Summit and being a part of updatyon. Some people want to network with community leaders. Others want to voice their concerns on important issues. Many people are looking for professional development opportunities. Some attendees come to find new ways to give back to the community. Heck – a few people just want to take off a couple hours of work, see what it’s all about, and enjoy the after-party. Whatever reason YOU have – register now to attend the 2011 Young Creatives Summit.

Over the next week, we’ll highlight some of the people who have been a part of updayton. Maybe they’re still active, maybe they enjoyed their experience and moved one. But we’ll reflect back on some of the great people who have been involved. Where do you fit in?

You want opportunities? A past professor used to say: “It’s not what your know; it’s not even WHO you know; it’s who knows YOU.”

Katy Crosby, one of the original updayton volunteers, shares her recommendations for Summit participation and covers all bases – learn more about the region, network with community and business leaders, and share your ideas to make an impact on the region.

Q: What was your involvement with updayton?

I was one of the original members of updayton.  I was recruited as one of 32 catalysts for the DaytonCreate project.  The catalysts were divided into 5 or 6 groups.  Our group wanted to address the needs of young professionals by creating a venue for us to provide input on issues affecting the Greater Dayton community.  I served as the co-chair of updayton for approximately one year with Scott Murphy taking the lead role in making connections to help us build the organization and identify community partners that would assist in helping us develop the summit and execute various ideas that grew from the summit.

Q: What have you been doing since then?

I am currently the Assistant Director of the Dayton Human Relations Council.  I was in this position when I was selected as a catalyst, but my responsibilities have increased significantly. Secondly, I’ve been investing more time and energy with family. My daughter is a competitive dancer with Chenaulte’ Dancers in Trotwood, so I am now a dance mom.  I am enjoying being part of something she is so passionate about.  It allows us to spend more time together and it shows her that I support something that is very important to her.  It’s been a very rewarding experience to increase the amount of time with her and to see her development as a dancer.

Q: Do you believe updayton provided you with any valuable experiences or connections?

Yes.  Through updayton, I have been asked to serve on The Dayton Foundation’s Marketing Committee.  The Dayton Foundation is a great organization that impacts so many individuals in the City through their various community funds.  I have met a lot of great people that I have reached out to when assistance was needed or work related and personal projects.

Q: Would you recommend that local YPs attend the Summit?

I would definitely recommend the Summit to local YPs.  The Summit is a great opportunity to not only learn about what’s happening in the City, but to provide input on projects that can address major issues in the Greater Dayton area.  Often times, young professionals need a one stop shop to find ways to use their talents for good.  The Summit is a great start.  It’s also a great networking opportunity because many of the leaders in the region support updayton and will attend the Summit.

Q: What is your vision for a Dayton region that successfully attracts and retains young talent?

Venues that foster informal social networking, Thriving night life with options, Great job opportunities, Diverse neighborhoods…

Thanks to Katy Crosby for telling her Summit Story!  Want to move ahead? Remember: “It’s who knows YOU.” Register for the Summit to let a few more people in this community know about your ideas. Register now!

No Foolin’ – Great YP Events in April

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FEATURED EVENT

Friday, April 15th:
updayton’s Young Creatives Summit

Dayton Convention Center
Friday, April 15; 3-6 PM
$15 ($5 for Students)
Info Packet (agenda, breakout descriptions, etc) HERE

The Summit has been slightly revamped to meet the needs of the busy young creative while maintaining the mission of giving YOU a say in the direction of the Dayton region.  This year’s features include: a shortened Summit (3-6 PM), a great “speed networking” professional development opportunity, and established regional organizations such as the Downtown Dayton Partnership, CityWide Development, the Human Relations Council, and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) adding their strength to make YOUR projects even more impactful and sustainable.

Don’t miss the 2011 Young Creatives Summit. REGISTER NOW!

A few April YP Highlights:

April 1, 5-10 PM – Sure, it’s the day for practical jokes, but no kidding – don’t miss First Friday! This month, enjoy roving musicians, jugglers and breakdancers, new art installations at the Southern Belle and two locations off Courthouse Square, a preview of the DVAC Art Auction, the monthly Courteous Mass bike ride and more. First Friday is presented by the Downtown Dayton Partnership. For more information, including specific event details, visit the First Friday Web page or Facebook page.

April 7, 5:30-7:30 PM – Come join the Young AFCEAns at the Fox and Hound near the Fairfield Commons Mall for a Networking / Social Event. Bring a friend that may be interested in learning more about AFCEA.  Appetizers, beer and soda will be provided by Young AFCEAns.  Please contact Casey Weinstein at [email protected] if you have questions.

April 8, 6PM – The Great Escape is back! The Red Cross Associate Board hosts this fantastic party in the Schuster Center Wintergarden featuring live music, dancing, an exciting silent auction, and great food resulting in a memorable and fun-filled evening. Everyone who attends will have a chance to win a fabulous door prize of a weekend trip for two valued at $1,000 to anywhere in the US -generously donated by AAA Miami Valley. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door.

April 13, 7-9 PM – Kick off the soccer season by joining the Dayton Dutch Lions FC at the PreSeason VIP Party! $11 gets you a Dayton Dutch Lions FC calendar, finger foods, and a cash bar in the Patterson Room of the Dayton Racquet Club. Come enjoy a great networking opportunity AND your chance to bid to win a day with the DDL players and owners (dates include a massage & pedi from Square One and dinner at McCormick and Schmicks!)

April 13, 5:30-9 PM – Get ready for a happy hour extravaganza! It’s all sorts of creative when Dayton Creative Syndicate (DCS)  welcomes AAF-Dayton and AIGA Cincinnati colleagues  to the Gem City for a networking and socializing super event at Harrigan’s South. Come out and rub elbows with some of the most creative folks in southwest Ohio! (Or at least stop by for the $2 special on domestics and well drinks.) They’ll be at Harrigan’s South location, 671 Lyons Road, Centerville.

April 15, 6:30 PM – Post-Summit, Pre-Party with JumpstART as they check out the Stivers Photography Auction. Free to attend, cheap to bid, pay what you want. Professional photographers from across the nation donate works to be auctioned off to benefit the arts program at Stivers. Hang out with other arts-minded YPs, support a great cause and get some art on your walls.

April 20, 5:30 – 8 PM – Back by popular demand is Generation Dayton’s Speed Networking. It’s your chance to effectively network one-on-one with other young professionals. There will be a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. Free for members, $15 for nonmembers.  Bring plenty of business cards and be ready to connect!  Registration required; contact [email protected] to reserve your spot, seating is limited!

April 23, 8AM – Noon – HYPE (Northern Miami Valley) is getting it’s volunteerism on as they donate a Saturday morning to a Habitat for Humanity Service Project.  Don’t miss this opportunity to make a major difference in the community while meeting some great local YPs. More info on the Web page.

That’s just a small selection of the great events available in April – check out the Web pages of each group to see all they have to offer – including socials, networking, professional development and more!

updayton releases Year Two Report

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updayton asked young creatives why they are sticking around (Photo by Joel Spitsnaugle and Val Smith)

Cities across the nation (or at least the people who acknowledge the theory of the Creative Class) are battling to attract creative, professional talent.  Local volunteer organization and DaytonMostMetro.com partner updayton has zeroed in on the next generation of these creative professionals and focuses on retaining and attracting those they term the “young creatives.”

On Tuesday, updayton released their Year Two Report to highlight the latest data on the region’s “brain drain,” actions taken by updayton volunteers and others in the community to plug it, and the latest things they’ve heard from young people at the 2010 Young Creatives Summit.

The statistics they present tell two stories.  One is of a brain drain gap that is growing.  The Dayton region has a larger number of students attending college here – we’ve added 22,000 college students from 2005-2008.  However, the number of adults with a college degree in the region has only grown by less than 8,000.   This discrepancy demonstrates that students are still leaving the region after graduation.  However, the data isn’t all gloom and doom.   American Community Survey published that in 2008 the region gained 4,000 individuals aged 18-34.  For the first time in years, the Dayton region has a positive net increase in attracting these young creatives. The gap is closing.

The American Community Survey published that the Dayton region is finally showing a net increase in young people aged 18-34,

Also included in the report, updayton takes a look back at progress made over the past few years.  They update the community on the success of action plans from 2009 (including the Wayne Avenue Corridor and DaytonMostMetro.com), but they also recognize the important work done by numerous organizations throughout the region.  In the 2009 report, updayton listed recommendations to address issues of utmost importance to young creative.  Although they recognize that much of this work was in motion before updayton even existed, they take time in the 2010 report to acknowledge the important projects that are making Dayton more welcoming and accessible to young creatives.  But although the region has advanced significantly in urban vibrancy and connectivity, there are still important steps that must be taken in cultivating greater diversity and better connecting college students to the job market.

Summit attendees discuss important issues (Photo by William Murdock)

The Year Two Report also focuses on the 2010 Young Creatives Summit.  They provide the community with the complaints and concerns of the young professionals who attended the Summit, and they highlight the possible solutions brainstormed by those same YPs.  For each topic: Entrepreneurship, The Dayton Scene, Neighborhoods / Community, and Diversity – updayton presents the common themes that recurred in each breakout session and recommendations for future progress.  Although some of these recommendations require implementation at a higher organizational or government level, there are many steps that businesses, nonprofits, and individuals can take to make a difference.

Finally, updayton utilizes the Report to spotlight the Action Plan projects that volunteers are undertaking to make a difference in the community.  Updayton prides itself on connecting young creatives back into the system to be a part of the solution.

Read the full report here or at http://updayton.com.

Young Creatives Summit – Opinion

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summit-3719Okay – so one more Summit behind us…  Almost 150 participants pre-registered, about 25 people came as walk-ups, and there were 100+ volunteers involved in different aspects of the event.  So – we’re talking about 275 at the Dayton Convention Center working on getting young, creative professionals and students engaged in the region.  Not bad for a few hours on a Friday.  Now for my opinions on it: There were obvious improvements from last year (added professional development and networking opportunities and really, really streamlined the final voting process) and a couple aspects that people didn’t love as much (the move from Saturday to Friday).  Let’s talk about the good and the not-so-good from the Young Creatives Summit.

First – some FYIs:
1)  Keep in mind that the mission of updayton is about young talent retention and attraction.  So – building toward that – the Summit is about getting the largest number of young people excited about these projects.  We’re going for the people who still wonder, “What’s in Dayton?” and “Should I move away?”  And about the projects – would an individual or government taking action implement it quicker, better, and bigger?  Maybe – but remember that we’re about the engagement process, and for that you need lots of people and group buy-in.  Hence the all-powerful dot voting (at least no clickers!).
2)  There’s been a lot of behind the scenes work happening in prep for the Summit, and for every survey, focus group, and session – we listen and actually keep the info people tell us (I hate going to sessions where you share your ideas and then all the work ends up in the trash).  So – if something was “magically unveiled” during your breakout session or if questions were pre-plugged into your workshop session, it’s because over the course of the last two years our participants have stated those concerns and asked for solutions.  Want to know more? Read some of our research here.

Now that you know the “why,” here are some general thoughts.  YEA!  Overall, we are really excited about the success of the Summit and happy with the outcome.  We just came out of a great town-hall where people were engaged and active, and community leaders were seeing young professionals stating their concerns about the region.  We aren’t asking for the government to solve our problems, but we’re letting them know our top concerns – and if they’re smart, they’ll remember what we need/want!  It was good.  And it went smoothly.  And it was fun.  And it’s only 5:20 PM. And as soon as I’m done with this, I’m going to the afterparty.  =)

So – going through the Summit session by session:

Registration went smoothly and participants had the opportunity to have some lunch and learn about some organizations (employers, resources, and YP groups) they might not have known about.  After a welcome from Scott Murphy, the project lead, participants headed off to break-out sessions to get the juices flowing and talk about their ideas for Dayton.  We tried to keep the sessions smaller this year to let the conversation flow and get some really good dialogue.  Still had about 15 people per room, but some great stuff came out of it.

After the break-outs we moved on to the skills workshops.  This was a new part of the Summit, and we’re pretty excited about it.  A lot of people from our 2009 action plans struggled with the actual implementation of their projects.  Kinda like when you’re an entrepreneur – you might be really good at your specialization, but you might not know how to run a business.  We wanted to provide some of the basics of community projects before we sent our participants out the door.  It was also a great way to highlight twelve of the local young professional organizations in the region.  Overall, it went smoothly – people provided the questions they wanted asked during online registration, so we didn’t have to waste time with people raising hands.   Some were exciting and fun – some were a little more “dry.”  The other challenge (con) is that so many people with different backgrounds are in the same session – we had development professionals and people who had never written a grant in their life sitting in the fundraising sessions.  So – there’s no way to meet all needs, but the workshops did what they were intended to do: give a crash course in the skills that people need to advance their projects.  And we are so grateful for our panelists – there are people in the top of their field who took the time to come and share their knowledge with the next generation of community and business leaders.

Then we get to the Town Hall.  Everyone coming back together with only about 25 minutes remaining.  Time to kick-it into high-speed.  Thanks to Andre Wilson (updayton vice-chair who’s responsible for everything starting in 2011), we got back, settled, and ready to go.  The new format seemed to work a lot better.  For those who don’t know (technical difficulties aside), last year EVERYONE got to vote on every project that came back to the town hall.  When devising this year’s Summit, it didn’t seem fair that a some projects didn’t get any love because people weren’t interested in that particular topic.  So, this year people split up in the Town Hall and picked one topic to discuss and make the final decision on.  Although it would have been cool to be in the discussions and hear what everyone else was up to, we wanted participants to know that one project out of their topic will be selected by the end of the day.  There are pros and cons, but overall, I think it led to better focus as well as making it go quicker.  Still ran a bit over, but 5:10 isn’t a problem, especially when the afterparty starts at 5:30.

To end the day, Adam Coatney, chair of one of the 2009 projects got up to talk a bit about how the process works.  Maybe we don’t offer a lot of money and maybe we’re not making a huge impact in highly-visual ways, but when 2009 participants of the Summit drive down Wayne Avenue, they know that it’s because of them that there are murals on those walls, the street is cleaner, and lights are going up to make it more walkable.  And people know that because they demanded an “online resource hub” that Billy and DMM worked with volunteers (and the cash we could provide) to make-over this site.  But it’s not just about the projects, it about the fact that 250 people came together to have their say in making the region more user-friendly – it’s about the involvement.  But project are GREAT.  Feasible projects do come out of the Summit and we’re excited for the ones we’ll be starting soon:

Entrepreneurship – “Make me over, Dayton”  This group is going to connect entrepreneurs to opportunities in building deconstruction.  Groups hope to deconstruct old houses and businesses – get sellable materials out, clean it up, and re-purpose it for another viable project (be it a home office for an entrepreneur or not).  The goal is to clean up the neighborhoods as well as provide a business experience.  The group is aware of Deconstruction Depot and they hope to team with them as they move forward.
Diversity – “Greater Dayton Stories”  This group wants to overcome the negative press by creating weekly videos, radio stories, or press releases that highlight the good news in Dayton.  They want to promote the positive stories from all areas of the region and demonstrate the people who are making Dayton great.
Entertainment – “Street Buzz”  This group will be throwing weekly parties to create some buzz around town.  Young creatives will know that there will always be something happening with the Street Buzz.  They will create hot spots around town by moving to different neighborhoods for the weekly party, and they will advocate to close 5th Ave to street traffic.

Communities – “Howdy Neighbor”  This group will partner with neighborhood associations and priority boards to recognize the good work that is being done by individuals in the neighborhoods.  They intend to highlight the people who are creating vibrant spaces and work to create a sense of community.  Using South Park (and other revitalized neighborhoods) s a model, they can create a weekly newsletter and format other ways to let neighbors know about the good work that’s being done.

At this point, the projects are a little nebulous, but that’s the way these things start.  (Also, I could have missed the point a little bit – there was a LOT going on.)  It’s at the action plan launch that the details will start to come together.  If you want to be a part of it – the launch is on Monday, May 3 at c{space starting at 6 PM.  Although our mission is to engage young creatives in the region, anyone who wants to be a part of the change is welcome to join us.

I know it wasn’t a perfect event – and we’ll make more improvements next year.  So, add your comments below or link to your blog where you can tell us your thoughts.  We can all stand to do a little better, but remember: updayton is a group of volunteers working to plug the brain drain, giving young people a say in the future of the region, and inviting young creatives to dig in and be part of the change that makes the region more vibrant and accessible to them.

And overall – thanks for coming!

(sorry I rambled – long day and off to that after-party now)

Top Ten Reasons to Attend the Young Creatives Summit

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Make a difference, make connections and build you skills on April 16

Make a difference, make connections and build you skills on April 16

You’ve heard a lot about the updayton Young Creatives Summit.   If you’re a young, creative student or professional in the region – make sure you’re there.  If you’re the boss, friend, or family member of a 20- or 30-something – encourage them to take advantage of this great opportunities.  And now – with just a few days of pre-registration remaining – the top 10 reasons to attend the Summit:

  1. It’s an opportunity to put your stamp on Dayton – real things happened because of last year’s Summit.
  2. Build skills to help your career – learn from local experts on topics like fundraising, entrepreneurship, leadership and more.
  3. It’s got to beat a Friday afternoon in the office.
  4. Meet others who share a passion for starting a business, creating a vibrant nightlife, cultivating diversity or strengthening neighborhoods.
  5. We assume you’ll eat lunch on April 16th – why not do it with us?
  6. Connect with volunteer organizations, employers, arts groups, YP groups, and more at the Summit Resource Fair.
  7. Discounts – you’ll get you reduced prices at many local businesses.
  8. The Summit After-Party – free for all Summit attendees.
  9. At the end of day we’ll have four new projects to change Dayton. Do you have the next big idea? You won’t find out by just sitting there.
  10. This infomercial about an amazing product for the Dayton area has piqued your interest so much – you just have to be there.  http://updayton.com/on-the-wall/updayton-infomercial/

NOTE:Walk-up registration will be available on Friday, but those that pre-register online will be more likely to get their first choice for the breakout and workshop topics. Also, we will only be able to take cash or checks at the door – no credit cards.

The Summit: Worth a Lot for (a little) Money

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Make a difference, make connections and build you skills on April 16

Make a difference, make connections and build you skills on April 16

You already know about great skills workshops and networking  opportunities for professional development, the chance to make a major difference in our region, and a fantastic after-party (food, drinks, music by BJSR and fun!).  But there’s more!  The Young Creatives Summit provides an easy way to learn about great opportunities in the region and convenient deals and discounts at venues in Dayton.  You get so much for the low price of $15 (only $5 for students).

Discovering Dayton Resource Fair:
Connect with young creatives & local organizations including:
Employers • Arts resources • Civic groups • Social clubs • Professional organizations • Recreation agencies • Volunteer projects …and more!  Lunch included.  Sponsored by the Dayton Development Coalition.

Are you involved in an organization that young creatives need to know about?  Are you interested in a table? There’s only a little space left. Click here to secure your spot.

Discounts: The value doesn’t end with the Summit. Each attendee will also receive discounts at local businesses such as: • The Dublin Pub • Jay’s Seafood • The Neon Movies • Coldstone Creamery • The Pub at the Greene…and more. Your Summit registration will pay for itself!

Have you secured your spot yet for the Young Creatives Summit? You’re just playing hard to get, aren’t you? Maybe our latest commercial will seal the deal.