How can Battle Creek become a magnet for young people?

Battle Creek is trying to learn what will make the city more attractive to young people.

Teens and young professionals gathered to discuss the matter recently in a forum put together by Project 2020, a coalition of community members dedicated to finding ways to encourage people to choose to live, work and invest in the Battle Creek area.

Before small discussion groups formed, Jeremy Andrews of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Area Moustache Society, Nicole Finkbeiner of the Battle Creek Area Young Professionals, and Gabriel (Gigi) Fitzpatrick of the Youth Alliance Committee talked about what could make Battle Creek a place where young people want to work and live.

Suggestions ranged from adopting ideas from other cool cities -- a graffitti wall, ethnic food sold on street carts and citywide wifi -- to better communication of what is happening for young people across the community.

Those over-40s in the audience were allowed to listen, but not participate in the discussion that drew a standing room only crowd at Burnham Brook Community Center. The discussion was captured on video to help spread the word.

Communication, job creation and the need for more outdoor activities were the top three concerns raised by the teens and young professionals at the event.

Now, the job is to get the ideas out to community leaders who weren't at the event, says Amanda Lankerd, of Project 2020. "We received great input. We don't want to let it go to waste."

Battle Creek's city manager and leadership from Battle Creek Unlimited, the economic development organization working with the city, were among those in attendance. "These are some of the movers and shakers of the community with wide circle of influence," whose support will be needed if some of the suggestions are to go forward, Lankerd says.

For a number of the ideas to come about it will take someone stepping forward to spearhead the effort and the formation of partnerships to see it carried through, Lankerd says.

"Anything is possible if there is a strong group behind it and someone leading the effort." Lankerd says. "There's no reason those ideas can't come to fruition."

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Amanda Lankerd,  Project 2020