turning a city into a home
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The place to be - in 2016
By Matt Joyce
*Reprinted from the Philadelphia Inquirer, January 27th, 2006
Ten years from today, Philadelphia will be the single most appealing city in the United
States for young, motivated professionals launching their careers.
This isn't optimism; it is what's inevitable. Philadelphia is on the verge of becoming the
new frontier for ambitious young Americans.
A few years ago, this proposition would have seemed ludicrous. During the second half of
the 20th century, Philly unceremoniously joined industrial cities all along the East Coast
as a place young people aimed to escape. Philadelphia had the same wealth of history,
top universities, and attractive location throughout this period of decline, but it had an
increasing "grass is always greener" mentality among its newly mobile younger
generation. To this group, the city, and its shrinking job base, looked like a sun-scorched
savannah.
The most talented young men and women left Philadelphia like pioneers from the century
before - except it was not gold or fertile land they sought, but high-tech jobs, low-cost living,
and an opportunity to change our country's future.
But five years ago, a harsh reality set in. The dot.com frontier of the west had become
oversaturated. Housing prices in the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest had eclipsed many of
their East Coast counterparts. To stake a claim as a young innovator or entrepreneur, it
was time to begin looking elsewhere.
Today, the compass of motivated young men and women points directly to Philadelphia.
We have what few other locales can boast: a true opportunity to play a role in a city that is
reclaiming its place among the country's elite.
Philadelphia already has the resources and magnetism to excite young people once
they're here. That's why 86 percent of native graduates stay in the region after college,
compared to 29 percent of nonnatives, according to the Knowledge Industry Partnership, a
collaborative, city-sponsored effort to attract and retain more students.
From my interactions with students and younger people, more and more I see young
leaders from across the country excited about the city and engaged in the community. It's
not just our revitalized Center City or our Richard Florida-inspired bike paths that attract
them, but our abandoned warehouses - where they imagine luxury apartments - and our
struggling neighborhoods - where they envision a brighter future for all.
For this growing group of forward-thinking young people, Philadelphia has the greatest
advantage of all: We're not perfect - yet.
Over the last six months, my job has enabled me to speak with more than 200 seniors
from top colleges and universities in the region who are considering careers centered on
urban improvement. They hail from California, New York, and everywhere in between, but
most have Philly at the top of their list for next year. Almost all have volunteered, interned,
or even just explored in the city, developing a comfort level with Philadelphia, and
identifying key issues here they think need attention. What's more, these students are
extremely diverse, in ethnicity, background, and interests. They represent a wide range of
majors, including premed, liberal arts, and even business.
Kathryn Maza, a senior political science major at Bryn Mawr College, who is from the
Scranton area, plans to stay in the region next year to join Teach for America, a program
connecting young teachers with underserved schools. "Lots of students, especially the
more ambitious ones, will develop roots in Philadelphia while in college," she told me. "I
think students here are looking more to become social entrepreneurs than economic
entrepreneurs... and a lot of us are hoping to stay right in Philly next year."
By the time the summer Olympic Games come to town in 2016 - this is optimism -
Philadelphia will be the ultimate destination for young workers, entrepreneurs, and,
ultimately, corporations. To echo the argument for the Olympic bid, the city has the
resources, the infrastructure, and the desire and dedication to grow and build our capacity.
And I believe we will open our doors to the world.
Over the next 10 years, the city will experience an influx of young, driven individuals unlike
any in recent memory.
Company's on the way, so let's look our best.
info@phillyfellows.org
(215) 609-4909
1515 Market Street
Suite 830
Philadelphia, PA 19102