Millennials are a transformational generation. I’m sure you’ve heard it all before: they demand work that has meaning, are wildly influential on social media, and shift jobs on a regular basis. But what often goes unrecognized about the millennial generation is their strong hand in restoring some of the America’s most blighted cities.
10 years after Katrina, New Orleans is one of the fastest growing cities in the US, and a key driver of this growth has been an influx of millennials. The city has seen a 5 percent rise in its millennial population since 2010, a number that beats out most any other city in America including the typical young professional hubs like New York, San Francisco and Boston. The best part is, millennials bring many assets with them that help in areas where these cities need it most.
Here are a few other reasons millennials have become key players in the revitalization of New Orleans:
-
Millennials want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Many millennials who moved to New Orleans expressed they had the option of moving to big cities on the East and West Coast, but they chose New Orleans because it represented adventure. In fact, New Orleans has recently appointed a Chief Resilience Officer to focus the new energy in the city. Oftentimes, when an innovative leader like this is appointed to solve a problem, they nearly always create an array of opportunities, committees, and organizations to engage community members. These groups present unique opportunities for millennials to become leaders early in their careers.
-
Millennials don’t want conformity. San Francisco and New York have historically been the places where ‘everyone goes’ thanks to their cred as countercultural hotspots. However, these two cities have become so notorious for being ‘the place to be’ that it appears millennials are searching for more adventurous locales. New York and San Francisco have experienced a low millennial population growth rate relative to cities like Baltimore, Detroit, and New Orleans. Judging by those statistics, it seems millennials want to live in places where they can play a major role in shaping the city and making an impact in their new community. All of that is possible in New Orleans.
-
Millennials are cause-driven. Millennials desire to know they’re contributing to social good through their work and lifestyle choices. What better way to do that than by becoming a central part of community development? New Orleans is on the right track by providing talented millennials with the opportunity to serve under a Chief Restoration Officer as community leaders. However, businesses can take it a lot further by empowering their millennial employees to use paid work time to offer their professional skills for free in areas where the community needs it most.
If you are a company leader in a ‘non-hip’ city, it might be tempting to think that your location will hinder your millennial recruiting. Look no further than New Orleans to see the opportunity you truly have.
Josh Schukman is the wonderful writing whiz for WonderWe - a crowdfunding social network that provides free viral tools for non-profits to fundraise, recruit, and measure impact like a pro. When not crafting beautiful musings for WonderWe, Josh can be found cooking up the latest Paleo dish (his fiance’s fault…), cycling all over God’s creation, and/or endeavoring to understand the mysterious ways of the universe.
