Building on a variety of research projects, a Community Foundation Task Force worked for a year to develop a series of recommendations that would help transform the climate for young adults in the Twin Ports.

The recommendations are short-term, long-term, and ongoing and will engage individual and/or organizational partners to make them a reality.

“The time for action and solutions is here,” said Holly C. Sampson, President of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation. “We have a series of concrete steps that our region can and will take to reverse the decline in the number of young adults in this region.”

“A community that embraces the energy and vitality of its young adults makes a connection that will resonate with a person through their life,” said Lisa Heyesen, Director of Business Retention at the Area Partnership for Economic Expansion and a member of the Task Force.

The Community Foundation convened a 12-member task force representative of people working on the young adult issue from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives.

The Task Force was created after the Community Foundation conducted extensive research of its own as well as reviewing research of others related to Young Adults in the Duluth Superior region. The Community Foundation’s study found that while jobs, or the perception of a lack of jobs, were the reason that many thought young adults had trouble staying in the region, a variety of other issues, ranging from a sense of a lack of connection to the community, to feelings that social and cultural offerings were limited were also substantial. For more information on the Community Foundation’s Key Informant survey, go to: http://www.dsacommunityfoundation.com/initiatives/docs/ARYPI_survey.pdf.

The interest in Young Adults grew out of the larger goal of the Community Foundation to make investments in areas that will address critical needs of the region. Earlier research had shown that a social capital gap existed between young adults in the region and the rest of the population. And, that the 25-34-year-old age group is well below where it should be based on historical trends for the region and when compared to other communities of similar size.

A recent report from the Community Foundation found that young adults in the Duluth/Superior Area are heavily involved in community work – they vote and volunteer at high levels – yet they still feel disconnected from the rest of the community. For additional information on social capital and young adults, go to: http://www.dsacommunityfoundation.com/initiatives/social_capital_survey.html

The Community Initiatives work of the Community Foundation involves a variety of projects, of which the Young Adult Initiative is just one. Other initiatives include studying and developing practical solutions to the region’s social capital strengths and challenges; developing ways to make economic development less contentious; continuing to build on the nationally recognized Speak Your Peace: The Civility Project; and, serving as the Host Organization for the year-long Knight Creative Communities Initiative that will focus around what Richard Florida calls the four T’s of a healthy and vibrant community: Technology, Tolerance, Territory, and Talent.

Below you will find details on Thursday’s event:

The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation Proudly Presents…

“SOLUTIONS”

Starring
The Attracting & Retaining Young People Initiative
Task Force

John Bennett
Jen Bertsch
Jenny Carey
Craig Chilcote
Drew Digby
Lisa Heyesen
Jen Medak
Don Ness
Fariba Pendleton
Jill Rogers
Jennifer Smith
Laura Whittaker

What: The Task Force Reveals Their Recommendations in Skit & Word
Date: Thursday, March 29, 2007
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Renegade Comedy Theatre - 222 E. Superior St. in Duluth