Tri-Cities, WA Looks to its Next Generation of Leaders

The leaders of the Tri-cities are beginning to take serious action in giving a voice to their City’s younger residents.  Thursday night’s meeting involved mainly the more active members of four groups: The Young Professionals of the Tri-Cities, Rotaract, Young Leaders Society, and Bechtel’s NextGen.  Many attendees even play a role in multiple groups.  The Young Professionals is an organization that meets monthly for networking purposes and also promotes activity in the community such as attending council meetings.  Rotaract is a service club for young adults, and a recognized club with Rotary International, an organization that gives hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide.  The Young Leaders Society operates with the United Way and last year raised over $100,000.  NextGen is a group started by Bechtel Corporation to develop new employees and has since grown to community service aspects.  Together these groups form a considerable voice of people who care and are actively involved within their communities.

Recently the cities have taken more than an interest in its younger citizens.  Thursday night was a chance for a number of individuals from each group to gather at the Chamber / TRIDEC / Convention Bureau office and share their ideas on the future of the Tri-Cities from a development standpoint.  A number of city people were there, as well as some people from the Port.  Together we all had a lot of fun brainstorming a long range development plan that would attract persons in the 20-30 or so demographic.

The meeting was a huge step forward in giving this age group a voice, but it cannot be dropped.  The Cities were shown that this demographic wants to be a contributing part of the process, and likewise that the City leaders want their involvement.  The next step will be more important yet.  If this excitement is not fostered into the development of committees and other ways for young persons to get involved, then the the city leaders will be taking two steps back.  I am not worried about the young persons excitement waning.

All of the young groups have seen growth since they started, and along with that a call for more ways to get involved.  The younger demographic in our area will not lie down even if the city were to get sidetracked.  Look to see the young people of the Tri-Cities, Washington to take control of thier future and make it a better place for people of all ages.