Retaining and attracting talented young workers is one of the challenges West Michigan faces as we struggle to reverse our economic decline. This issue is top of mind with community and business leaders – and with a few people behind the scenes, too. Like Caryl Sue Abendroth. A former educator whose experience ranges from teaching in Watts in Los Angeles to working with gifted and talented students here, Abendroth has an idea that just might help.
It’s a website called Success Links. And it was created specifically as a way for the 17 to 24-year olds to connect with businesses and organizations that can help them get involved in the community – and possibly create a pathway to success for themselves.
As Abendroth explains, “I just felt we needed a way to get all young people more connected to the community. They have so much creativity to offer.”
She did her homework on the subject and found support among many business and community leaders, including the mayor. She rallied some volunteers to help her create a viable framework, including a designer for the highly interactive, sophisticated website.
The determined community-lover found early support from the Authentic Learning Alliance, a local nonprofit. The Dyer-Ives Foundation provided a research grant. And then Abendroth set out on her mission “to make Success Links a regional website that all people, businesses, organizations turn to as the place to go for opportunities to raise up the next generation.”
How does it work?
Basically, businesses use the Success Links site to offer opportunities to young people, and young people go there to find those opportunities.
What kinds of opportunities? Well, for example, the West Michigan advertising community has its annual awards ceremony, The ADDYs each year, usually with a nationally prominent person in the industry giving a presentation. What if the local Ad Club invited a young person who’s interested in an advertising career to come see what it’s all about?
Or let’s say your own organization was hosting a seminar on sustainability; why not open it up to some college students who want to learn more about it?
“Even if you had a couple of extra tickets to a business luncheon with a guest speaker, these are the kinds of things companies can do to get young people involved,” says Abendroth, who envisions the future full of challenges, collaborations, and teamwork between the generations. “It’s a way for business leaders nurture the next generation and teach them the skills they need to compete in the world,” she said.
These links, she believes, can help young people develop pride in our community and make them aware of opportunities available to them so they’ll want to stay here.
“However,” Abendroth says, “this is not a job finding or career type website. It’s really just a way to create connections between businesses and young people for the betterment of both.”
Of course, Success Links would certainly offer indirect career benefits. Think how beneficial it would be to a young person dreaming of becoming a music producer to spend a day at one of the recording studios in town.
Creating a creative city
Many of Abendroth’s ideas are inspired by the book Rise of the Creative Class. Author Richard Florida makes a strong case for the notion that creativity is a driving force of economic growth in today’s globalized world. According to Florida, new work environments, lifestyles, and neighborhoods all give rise to creativity. And creative environments are what young workers want.
When you think of a creative city, places like Seattle and San Francisco come to mind. But what is it that makes them “creative?” Educated people and a young, diverse population seem to be common denominators.
Abendroth’s belief is that the earlier kids start feeling attached to our city, the more likely they are to stick around. “Connecting to community leaders is a way to make them feel needed and valued,” she says. “I want people to know we’re a city that cares about our young people.”
She envisions Success Links becoming a site where round table discussions could take place on any number of issues that are important to young people: How would they like to see the downtown river area developed, for example. Or maybe they start their own dialog and business leaders jump in. Who knows? There’s potential for all kinds of connectedness.
As proud as New Yorkers
“Young people should know what our economic development groups are striving for so they get the long range view and can start making plans for themselves,” Abendroth says.
“We don’t want kids to get their education and leave town. We want them to develop a love for this city, to be proud of it – like New Yorkers are. Think about how they love their city; they know their neighborhoods; they can name every building. Well, that involvement starts at a very young age.”
Many people Abendroth has talked with, from the mayor of Grand Rapids to college professors, agree that this is a great idea. But Success Links is hampered by the fact it doesn’t have the funding – or staff – needed to promote itself; it’s still a very grass-roots operation.
But Abendroth and her team strive to get more people involved. Right now, for example, the website solicits opinions and input on several topics, such as “Ideas for the new U.I.C.A,” or, “Your 3 Wishes for Grand Rapids.” You can contribute your thoughts by clicking on the Current Opportunities button.
Or maybe you have an opportunity of your own you’d like to offer a young person – a tour of your business perhaps? Click on the “Submitting Opportunities” link. It’s easy. And it could be the start of something big – for you, your company, a young person, and maybe even the whole city.
Keasha Palmer is a freelance writer who lives near Rockford. She recently wrote for Rapid Growth about Newberry Place, one of Grand Rapids' more innovative residential projects currently nearing completion on Belknap Hill.
Photos:
Caryl Sue Abendroth in her Ada home
Photographs by Brian Kelly - All Rights Reserved