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Featured Coming Attraction
Globalization, the rise of the Internet, the expansion of the service economy and rise of the "creative class" and the perceived increasing rate of dramatic change in nearly all areas of endeavor have prompted many researchers and practitioners to re-evaluate the role creative activity plays in successful economies.
Join us for the release of new research on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region’s Creative Vitality Index and our place in this growing conversation about the value and size of the creative economy. This conversation has the potential to reshape thinking about the role of the creative sector in economic development here and across the U.S.
The FREE presentation will be followed by an after hours networking event. Further details below.
Driving Creative Economics: Announcing the Creativity Vitality Index Results
in partnership with the Arts & Science Council
Wednesday, June 17, 5 - 6 p.m., the Fillmore at N.C. Music Factory
FREE but registration is required >>register here
Creative Charlotte After Hours
Wednesday, June 17, 6 - 8 p.m., G&G Club at N.C. Music Factory
$25 >>register here
Upcoming Charlotte Chamber Events
- SouthWest Chapter After Hours, Tuesday, June 2, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., USO
- Ballantyne Business Bash, Thursday, June 4, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., The Boyle Building
- "Save Money in Your Business," SouthPark Chapter Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark
- "Get Prepared for Stimulus Money," East Chapter Breakfast, 7:30 - 9 a.m., SMS Catering Services
- Creative Charlotte After Hours, Wednesday, June 17, 6 - 8 p.m., G&G Club
- Metro Chapter After Hours, Tuesday, June 23, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., aloft Charlotte Uptown
Visit www.charlottechamber.com/events for more information on these and other Charlotte Chamber events.
News
Nearly 87 percent of all Millennials (Americans born between 1980 and 2000) possess a high school diploma, and nearly 30 percent hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Yet the overall market value of this education has been on the decline since 2000, whereas tuition rates and debt are on the rise, now exceeding an average of $27,000 for undergraduate debt. Those who incur the highest debt are also the least likely to complete their degrees. The promise of a college education is compromised, and debt levels cripple our generation's financial health. Yet the faces of the unemployed are seldom portrayed as young.
We see images of laid-off, middle-aged workers, but we seldom hear our politicians or press refer to young people. In a 20-minute address at the Democratic House Caucus Retreat on Thursday, February 5, President Obama did not mention young people once. He routinely mentioned the middle-class families in need of protection and assistance, and rightly so; but he never discussed the young members of the workforce who are also at great risk. There may be many reasons for this, but a lack of young advocates on Capitol Hill is a particularly salient one. Without strong advocates, this generation will continue to be underserved by policy solutions. This cannot remain the status quo. To combat this growing problem, the Student Association for Voter Empowerment (SAVE), Mobilize.org, and the Roosevelt Institution are convening a coalition and summit entitled 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs, named for the 80 million members of our Millennial generation. Learn more at 80millionstrong.org.
Did You Know?
Engage Charlotte and the Charlotte Chamber now have groups on Facebook. If you’re already a member of Facebook, then join the Engage Charlotte and Charlotte Chamber groups using the links below. If you’re not a Facebook member, you can still visit the Chamber's Facebook fan page to see what’s going on.
Featured Interviews
Going forward, the Engage Charlotte newsletter will feature two interviews, one with a young professional and one with someone in the over 40 set, whom we'll refer to as the "other" professional. This month, we asked our interviewees the value of YP involvement in community organizations.
The Young Professional: Marc Gustfason, assistant general counsel, LendingTree LLC
"I think our generation has really struggled with identifying and connection with mentors. Due to increased demands of work and community involvement, it has become increasingly difficult to connect with mentors. Fortunately, I think our generation has done an incredible job of working together to support one another. Engage Charlotte is a great example. It has become an incubator for not only community service projects, but also political action and real discussion about the issues facing our community."
The Other Professional: Vincent Berkeley, chief diversity officer, Compass Group North America
"During these challenging times, passion, dedication and service are needed now more than ever. Getting involved in the local community is the best way to ensure Charlotte’s future is sustainable. By investing your time and talents, you will not only help businesses and organizations flourish, but also attract new businesses and organizations to the area and develop and reinforce leadership skills necessary for being the Future Leaders of tomorrow."
Event Recap
On April 8, Engage Charlotte partnered with the Young Affiliates of the Mint, the Risk Management Association and several recruiting and staffing firms, including Accrue Partners, Aerotek, NouvEON and Sherpa, to host the Stoplight Happy Hour at the Duke Mansion. Thanks in large measure to the outstanding work of the Young Affiliates of the Mint, who served as the primary host, the sold-out networking event was a resounding success.
The “Stoplight” event gave the guests an opportunity to customize their networking experience by color-coding their nametags. A green dot on your nametag meant you were actively looking for a new position, a yellow dot on your nametag showed that you were happy in your current job but on the lookout for other opportunities, and a red dot on your nametag meant that you were attending simply to mix and mingle with other area young professionals. The Duke Mansion provided a wonderful backdrop for the fun, relaxed happy hour, which featured drinks, heavy hors d’ oeuvres and terrific music. Everyone left the event with new leads and pockets full of business cards, and several guests walked out with amazing door prizes.
The Stoplight Happy Hour was a wonderful opportunity for Engage Charlotte to promote what we’re trying to do for young professionals – we met dozens of folks who were eager to connect with our group as they work to become meaningfully engaged in all that Charlotte has to offer. We invite you to do the same!
Kyle Woodruff, who is an Engage Charlotte board member and an active member of the Risk Management Association, was excited about the collaboration. “The Stoplight Happy Hour was a wonderful opportunity for Engage to strengthen its ties with other young professional groups and help support networking and career changing opportunities for Charlotte’s young professionals. I think everyone who was involved benefited from the experience.”
Thanks again to the Young Affiliates of the Mint and the Risk Management Association for allowing us to be involved in such a great event.
Engage Charlotte Annual Sponsors
Learn more about our sponsors by clicking on their logo:
Automatically register to receive Engage Charlotte newsletters and invitations HERE.
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