letting go the words

Saturday, July 10th, 2010

Sage mom proffers her
advice, all the while knowing
stubborn son won’t heed.

• • •

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Have Birmingham’s young professionals failed their city?

Friday, July 9th, 2010

Young professionals were once an afterthought in Birmingham. Residents age 20 to 40 weren’t even a group — they were merely the bar hoppers and the laborers that made life easier on established generations.

Within the last decade, they have become an established brand. YPs have formed civic groups, held social events and candidate forums. But beyond that, this is a group that is worshiped.

In the past 8 months, two awards ceremonies focused on top young professionals. Blueprint Birmingham, the Birmingham Business Alliance’s still-forming economic development plan, singled out YPs for one of its focus groups. Not surprisingly, the alliance’s early report includes attracting and retaining young professionals as one of the area’s top challenges.

In the 2009-10 special mayoral election, several candidates went out of their way to court YPs and include their issues in their platforms, even as YP issues overlap other voters’ concerns.

And yet, we must ask why.

Why are YPs coveted? What have they done for the city in recent years that earns them this adulation?

Comparing 2000 to 2010,
the city is in more dire shape
economically and politically.

To be sure, a few individuals have stood out in service, in leadership and in accomplishment, not unlike the same distinguished handful in every generation. But as a demographic, as a group, as a movement, have YPs lived up to their promise in Birmingham?

Comparing the Birmingham of 2000 and the Birmingham of 2010, the city is in more dire shape economically and politically. The school system continues its long downward slide. City government seems determined to continue its tried-and-true mismanagement and shoulder shrugging.

YPs do not deserve the blame for these persistent issues any more than the yuppies, the natives or the CHUDs.

And amidst the air of doom hanging over the city’s future, a few bright spots still manage to emerge: the grand opening of Railroad Park, the recent push for more thoughtful zoning and development (especially with respect to neighborhoods), the slow growth of downtown life.

Again, YPs do not deserve the credit any more than any other group.

For all the special attention paid to young professionals in Birmingham, it seems rather misplaced. The city still has enormous challenges to overcome, a leadership vacuum and a damaged psyche to boot. The better course would be to develop and follow leaders of any age and background committed to leaving the city better than they found it.

Could YPs yet rise to the occasion and provide some initiative to fix these problems? Of course.

Have they done so? Not at all.

• • •

What’s your take? Have Birmingham’s young professionals lived up to their promise?