By Laurie Burstein Launched in October: St. Louis Young Professionals Collaborative Connects 37 Orgainzations More than 500 young professionals attended the October 3 kick-off event for “Connect With…,” a new collaborative effort that brings together 37 participating organizations as a way to get young professionals in their 20s and 30s more involved throughout the region. To raise awareness about these opportunities, the 37 young professional organizations coordinated their efforts with a special push in October to reach out to those members of the community who might not know how to get involved. The month-long program, dubbed “Connect With…” connected people with arts and culture, community service, diversity initiatives, professional development, and networking. It stems from a young professionals collaborative, facilitated by FOCUS St. Louis, which has been working together for a year and a half. Co-chair Scott Lapp says Connect With… is a collaboration of 37 organizations working together to try and make a greater impact. “We are 37 independent groups working together to attract and retain young talent to St. Louis. We want to reach out to a younger audience in their 20s and 30s with a coordinated effort among all these groups.” Events included wine tastings, networking events, leadership discussions, exhibit openings, happy hours, volunteer opportunities, and more. The group’s new website features information about each group as well as a central calendar posting all of the events and programs. Plans call for the collaborative effort to continue with updates posted on the website throughout the year. Jennifer Estes, past president of Metropolis and chair of the kick-off event for Connect With… says the event symbolized the active and involved voice of young adults in the St. Louis region. “We are combining efforts to have a louder voice,” says Estes. Our goal is to get more people involved and create awareness. It’s hard to ignore the energy that has enveloped St. Louis as our city experiences an incredible renaissance. A vital part of this transformation has been the strength of young professionals that both live and work in the region. While some people continue to talk about “brain drain” in the Midwest, the St. Louis region actually has plenty to engage young professionals, connecting them with the community, and prompting them to want to stay. “ “If young people are engaged in the community and are connected and involved, then they will be encouraged to stay in St. Louis. That is our underlying mission for Connect With…,” Lapp says. More information about the young professionals collaborative and “Connect With…” can be found at the new website, www.ConnectWithSTL.com. PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS ArtLink The Arts and Education Council Art St. Louis Friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters COCA Contemporary Art Museum Corporate Outreach Committee Foodies Forum FUEL GenNext Habitat Friends Hostelling International Gateway Council The International Institute Young Friends Network JCI Metro Jaycees Keystone of St. Louis Metropolis St. Louis Missouri Historical Society Young Voices National Black MBA Association Opera Theater of Saint Louis Professional Organization of Women (POW) River City Professionals St. Louis Area Young Republicans Stress Free Fridays Symphony Seven 18 Club The Network of South Asian Professionals (NetSap) The Rep Set The Young Zoo Friends ULI St. Louis Young Leaders Group Urban League Young Professionals Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis Venus Envy Wyman YaYa Society YMCA Emerging Leaders Young Friends of Ronald Young Friends of the Saint Louis Art Museum Young Friends of St. Louis Children Hospital Young Friends of the Saint Louis Science Center YPIC SPONSORS Alive Magazine Anheuser-Busch Enterprise Rent-A-Car FOCUS St. Louis mixaroo MPP&W St. Louis Magazine St. Louis Commerce Magazine ULI St. Louis SPECIAL THANK YOU Erin E. Shaw Photography Mano Interactive Moulin Meetings & Events Meoli Studios Natalie Hinds Photography rBar St. Louis RCGA Sarah Hedrick Design Vanita Applebum Entertainment Services

December 2006 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Hugh Grant/Greg Boyce William Simon Peter Max: 2006 Olympic Poster St. John’s Heart Hospital - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.stlrcga.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - www.technologygateway.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ballpark Village Phase I Magondie (Gonzo) Staples Gerardo (Rocky) Owens James Murphy Jr. Vin de Set