By Amir Vera / The Virginian-Pilot/ TNS
MILLENNIALS in Hampton Roads want to keep investing in the arts. They want more support for local businesses. They want collaboration between communities and local universities and colleges.
These are just some of the things found in a newly released report by Global Shapers Norfolk, a local hub of a worldwide organization looking to give young, local leaders a voice. The insights are from the shapers’ local social media campaign, #WeAre757Millennials. The campaign ran from June 23 to July 26 and saw more than 53,000 impressions on social media about what that group of young adults wants in southeastern Virginia. Millennials are typically defined as anyone born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s.
“The insights shared in our report provide a starting point for understanding the nuanced mindset of millennials in Hampton Roads,” said Aazia Mickens-Dessaso, Global Shapers Norfolk Hub Infrastructure lead. “We encourage policymakers to harness these insights to build real, lasting engagement with the young adult community.”
Some of the major findings in the final report show that millennials want to advance economic development, specifically on economic policy that promotes retention of adults between the age of 18 and 29. Highlighting a shared regional personality in Hampton Roads was also very important to this group.
The report also detailed what millennials loved about Hampton Roads, one of which being the local businesses, craft breweries and restaurants. They also valued neighborhoods like West Ghent and Chelsea where young professionals and their families can live and walk to local restaurants, shops and areas like downtown Norfolk or Virginia Beach Town Center. The cost of living in Hampton Roads also attracted millennials.
Young people also valued the diverse people in Hampton Roads and promoting that using digital storytelling, according to the report.
Although the report has been released, Global Shapers officials said it will continue the #WeAre757Millennials campaign to promote positive change can be brought to Hampton Roads.