Local leaders looking for ways to keep young SouthCoast adults from moving away

SouthCoast Today.com
By PEGGY AULISIO
Contributing writer
March 24, 2009 6:00 AM

Direct link to article online through SouthCoastToday.com

NEW BEDFORD — Why do so many younger people who grew up in SouthCoast move away after graduating from college, and what can be done to entice them to return?

That so-called brain drain has spurred an effort called BE LOCAL by four members of Leadership SouthCoast's class of 2009.

On Thursday, they will be holding a BE LOCAL event starting at 5 p.m. at the new Rose Alley Ale House, 94 Front St., which will feature complimentary appetizers, a door prize and a cash bar. Admission is free.

The idea is to gather local young professionals and encourage them to stay invested in the region. Organizers hope to gather information from those attending as to what they value most about the area.

One of the organizers, Athena Mota, director of advocacy and communications for the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts, said it's fairly clear the limited employment opportunities in the region are a major factor in the brain drain.

Mota graduated from New Bedford High School in 1998. She said she knows only four people from her class who didn't move away.

"It's difficult to say to young people to move back to your home town if there are no jobs for them," she said.

Nevertheless, she said, BE LOCAL would like to encourage young people to keep their strong connection to SouthCoast and return to shop, eat at local restaurants and perhaps even volunteer.

She said it's obvious that some move away after college because the job prospects here are slim, but BE LOCAL wants to find out other reasons people don't stay, so they will be handing out a survey at the gathering.

The talk will be brief. Mota said the main focus is on hosting a "fun, social networking" type of gathering at a new local establishment. Although the emphasis is on young people, ages 20 to 34, all ages are welcome, she said.

"It's open to everyone. We want to build bridges. It's an evening out, not a program. We may speak a little on the issue."

According to data gathered from the most recent census, SouthCoast ranks above the state average in the population 65 years and older, and below the state average in the 25-to-34 age group. According to the census, there was a 20 percent net decrease in the number of people age 20 to 34 living in SouthCoast from 1990 and 2000.

Co-organizer Caroline Cuccia, director of marketing and public relations for the United Way of Greater New Bedford, said the BE LOCAL gathering is a way to start addressing the local exodus of young people.

"We want to raise awareness about the brain drain issue while giving people a chance to network and foster new relationships that will encourage them to stay connected," Cuccia said.

Along with Mota and Cuccia, the organizers include John Long of Bristol Community College and Charlene Rocha of New Bedford Child & Family Services. All of the organizers are members of the Leadership SouthCoast Class of 2009.

Leadership SouthCoast is a 10-month community leadership program designed to educate participants about local issues and motivate them into taking action to benefit their community.

For more information on the event or to reserve a spot, contact Mota at (508) 999-3255 or Cuccia at (508) 994-9625 or visit www.ywcasema.org.