I recently learned that Connecticut has been suffering from a “brain drain,” with more young people fleeing the state than Alaska. Wow.
This begs the question: How do we attract and keep young people in our state, let alone our city? One group is trying to not only help answer that question, but also actively find ways to make it happen.
Young Energetic Solutions (YES) is a group of like-minded young people from communities throughout the state that see a need and an opportunity for their involvement in shaping the future of their communities. Local YES hubs have been popping up around the state and there is one right here in Danbury.
It’s no surprise that people, young people especially, are moving back to the cities and leaving their cars behind in favor of vibrant walkable communities where they can live, work, and play in a center of culture. YES members are committed to bringing that vibrancy and culture to their local communities, turning them into the places that millennials want to be, instead of the places they want to move away from.
YES is all about involvement. YES wants young people to become part of the boards and groups that shape communities. “We want the members of YES to join downtown boards, chambers of commerce, boards of non-profits…we want young people to run for city council, to join the zoning commission, to run for state office. We want the millennial generation to quite literally take charge of their future,” shared Perry Salvagne, YES Danbury hub leader.
While still very much in it’s infancy, YES Danbury has participated in the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut Accessible Arts in the Windows project, helped revive Park(ing) Day, and assisted with “Just Play” a program that is part of the Citycenter Summer Concert Series. Always thinking ahead, YES Danbury has a lot of ideas for the future including street art murals, community Wi-Fi, and starting a jazz night somewhere in the downtown.
Danbury feels perfectly poised to become one of the ideal walkable, vibrant communities attracting the millennial generation. Fingers crossed. I don’t think I count anymore as a “young” professional, but I think YES is on to something and I cannot wait to see what they have in store for the Hat City.
For more information about YES Danbury visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YESDanbury?ref=br_tfLabels: danbury, downtown
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