YPW: Finding more ways to Enhance Wichita

It is no secret that retaining and attracting the best of millennial workers (those born between 1980 and 2000) is critical to Wichita’s future success. We are fortunate to have strong and well-organized groups of young professionals in our community, including Young Professionals of Wichita (YPW). They are celebrating their tenth anniversary in 2015 and the organization has never been stronger, reporting both record membership and engagement levels. Last Saturday, YPW completed their annual Enhance project, during which 115 volunteers completed projects (everything from painting to deck construction) on several homes in District 6 near Evergreen Park. Not only did the group paint homes, they also completed an art mural on a wall near the pool at the park, all with the goal of improving the community we call home. A big thank you to the Wagonmasters for cooking up burgers for the volunteers to enjoy. You can watch the story that aired on KWCH here. YPW Executive Director Suzy Finn and volunteers Laura Bernstorf and Sam Foreman were also the featured guests on 99.7 Lite FM’s weekly Lite is Local program to talk about the organization’s 10^th anniversary. They answered questions like:

• How do you define a “young professional?”
• What is the best way for young professionals to get involved in YPW?
• How has the organization changed and evolved over the last decade?
• To what do you credit the organization’s record numbers of members and event attendance?

They were excited to share information about YPW’s inaugural YP Week to mark their decade milestone. The week of July 27-31 will be packed with events that celebrate the young professionals in our community. For example, YPs can have breakfast with the Mayor or attend a program fair highlighting the many ways to engage with YPW and other community YP groups. The week will conclude with the 10th Anniversary Founders’ Day Gala and YPW Awards on Friday, July 31 at Venue 332 at the Wichita Scottish Rite. Find these and all of the YP Week events on the YPW website. If you missed the original airing of the YPW Lite is Local program, you can hear it on the station’s website. YPW is the key ingredient in the Chamber’s strategic priority to “strengthen the region’s ability to attract, engage and retain young and diverse talent.” They are actively connecting YPs to the community, working to create a more inclusive definition of a YP, and providing opportunities for YPs to grow and lead. We encourage everyone to find a way to celebrate the young professionals in our community, and to help them find more reasons to love and to choose Wichita.