How do you engage the wandering 20-something set?

Published December 01, 2008 @ 07:57AM PT

I especially enjoyed meeting with Seattle Works while I was in Washington. The organization, "the premier community organization for local young professionals," is headed by Alison Carl White and with her and board member (and fellow Mainer) Sarah Haeger, I had a fantastic conversation about generational differences with regard to approaches to activism. Seattle Works, explains White, was started by and has by default concentrated on engaging Generation X. The organization, not unlike many other groups that have been in touch in the recent past, are curious regarding how to appeal to younger volunteers.

Haeger and I had a conversation the following day regarding the average age of inactivity with regard to volunteer programs. Regardless of the generational moniker, 21-28 is a real dry spell for Seattle Works and we discussed the reasons for this - a substantial number of Millennials are in their awkward 20's. We're getting settled into post-college, pre-family lives, and that transition is something of a cluster - we're trying to feel like we're adults while we're not yet entirely on our feet. We often lack stability of home, relationship, routines, or whatever else keeps us on a schedule.

Is this something that your organization/campaign has experienced issues with?

How do you retain the 20-something crowd, especially when we've got so much going on?

Are you a 20-something that has found a way to strike some sort of comfortable balance between your hectic life and volunteering/activism?

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X, Y and Seattle Works.

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Author

Alex is a freelance journalist, activist, and online community management consultant based in Boston and Portland, Maine. He currently serves as executive editor of MakeSomethingHappen.net, where he writes about online organizing and the power of collective action.