Keeping Young Black Professionals in Grand Rapids: Whose Job Is It?

The Grand Rapids Times
7/30/2009
By: Yvonne Smith, Philana Greene & Chelcee Johns

The ability to retain its young black professionals is an issue that has been under emphasized in Grand Rapids for years. In the midst of the recession, this problem has become more obvious; yet, it has continued to worsen.
A few corporations, businesses — and even some young professionals — have taken steps to address the issue. More needs to be done.
The black community as a whole must see this as a serious issue, must take on more of the responsibility for addressing the problem, and must also contribute to the solution.
Perhaps our efforts should begin with attention to the lack of connectedness between generations.
A better understanding between younger and older generations of professionals in the community can help make the necessary change.
Young adults have to do their part to engage with the community and connect with experienced black professionals.
Many of the young professionals who say opportunity does not exist fail to look for it to begin with. For instance, we personally had not heard of organizations as GRYP and BLEND, but we did not bother to look for them either. Used to things always being readily available to us; especially as college students, young adults assume everything that is out there will be advertised. If an opportunity is right in front of many young adults faces on a silver platter, then they assume that opportunity must not exist.
As young professionals, we have to make the effort to exhaust all possibilities before saying there is nothing here. Before deciding Grand Rapids is not a suitable place for career and personal growth, first determine what change you can make.
It is not just up to young professionals. Experienced professionals, who are established in Grand Rapids, must take an interest in their younger counterparts and make aggressive efforts to attract and retain them.
Most young professionals want to stay in their comfort zone. The ideal situation would be to maintain a career and life in the city where their family and friends are; however, opportunity has got to be present. Young professionals did not go to school to be placed on a waiting list for success, and are anxious for opportunity.
While it is okay to encourage us to go to other places and gain experience, you have to be willing to welcome us back home. Grand Rapids does need new energy in order for the city to further develop, but what is being done to attract that energy?
Many young professionals are taking the initiative; however, no one person canbe successful without the help, or mentoring of someone before them. Businesses and organizations started by young adults have to be backed up and supported. Their efforts made towards improvements have to be accepted; opportunity for advancement has to be available to them; and their “young” voices need to be heard. Most importantly, the change they seem to naturally bring to situations has to be welcomed and encouraged.
Older members of the community must be more open to cultural change. Cultural diversity attracts larger businesses, with more job opportunities, which in turn attracts more young professionals.
You can’t hate on the fact that we’d rather live in cities like Atlanta and Chicago if you’re not willing to compete with those cities, which are the homes of major corporations, colleges/universities, hospitals, law firms, and entertainment industries.
Where do these efforts start? The community must strive to work together. By bridging the gap between the old and the new. Both sides have to come together and express their expectations of one another. If that bridge is built and maintained, even for years to come Grand Rapids will continue to grow.
Whose job do you think it is? Give us your opinion.