If I had a nickel for every time a Young Professionals group asked me how to affect change with their PAC of Old Balding White Men, I’d be retired and laying on a beach in Belize. No wait, southern Italy. Whatever. The point I’m making is that there’s a sense among YP’s that they have to wait for the establishment to die before they’ll have a real hand in improving their cities.
Alas, some of the answer may be in the offing. Last night I broke bread with Michael, Jeff, and Amy, core members of Charlotte’s “City Committee.” The City Committee is a newish collection of YP’s intent on improving Charlotte for their peers. If we can pull this off, the City Committee will be the first group of Young Professionals to LEAD an effort to get a Next Cities handprint completed.
I’m thrilled, both because I’d love to work with these folks, and because it will give other YP groups a ray of hope that they, too, can get significant and meaningful work done in their communities.
