Last Thursday, June 15, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont hosted a Millennial Roundtable at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus.
The goal of the event was to provide a lens for young professionals to become more aware of the barriers preventing Charlotteans from moving out of poverty, and how they can become part of the solutions for helping elevate individuals who are struggling to improve their economic status.
The event was designed for young professionals and was moderated by Katie Levans Loveluck, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Charlotte Agenda, with the following panelists:
- Dimple Ajmera, Charlotte City Council Member, District 5
- Carrie Cook, Vice President of Talent Development & Economic Growth, Charlotte Chamber
- Rob Kelly, Executive Director, For Charlotte Mission Network
- Kwain Bryant, Youth Services Manager, CLAY Youth Program, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
Throughout the evening, attendees explored how millennials have the influence and ability to engage in the social and economic issues that impact our community. Below are some quotes from the panelists that highlighted the conversation around millennials and the issue of economic mobility.
- “We have to spread jobs and opportunities where people live.” – Dimple Ajmera
- “Do we have the courage to do the hard work? Do we have the courage to address the structural, systemic racial, systemic segregation?” – Carrie Cook
- “It takes multiple sources to tackle this issue of economic mobility. Housing is one of them, in addition to well-paying jobs and youth development.” – Dimple Ajmera
- “You have the voice, the influence, and the ability to play the long game.” – Rob Kelly
- “We have the platform, we have the technology, we have the resources, we have the collaborative spirit.” – Carrie Cook
- “Let’s see what we [Generation X and Millennials] can build together.” – Kwain Bryant
The discussion was a great opportunity to explore how young professionals can influence change. This year, Goodwill is working to deepen community connections through a variety of activities, including community roundtable discussions and a speakers’ series. The Millennial Roundtable aimed to inform, inspire and engage the millennial generation in new ways, as Goodwill seeks opportunities to introduce fresh approaches to solving issues of poverty, economic stagnation and hopelessness that affect our clients.
We hope you will join us at our next event to learn how you can create positive change. Follow us @GoodwillSP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with what’s happening!
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