Hitting stride with "are you depressed yet" and concluding with something like "thirty years from now, today's 20-&-30-somethings will look back on their generation as the one that saved the American Dream or lived through its demise", Director of Economic Opportunity Program at Demos and author of "Strapped, Why America's 20- and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead" Tamara Draut gave an audience of 20- and 30-Somethings and others lots to think and talk about at a very interesting and refreshing forum at Cleveland State [1].
A straight thinking and inspiring 20-something, Ms. Draut talked attendees through the obstacle course faced by today's young people - high higher-education costs and debt, high housing and other living costs, high exposure to credit card interest debt, lack of good employment and income opportunity, a really screwed-up government and a world of leaders who are not responsive to or even aware of the needs and interests of 20-&-30-somethings, largely because 20-&-30-somethings do not participate in the civic and political process.
After outlining such ugly realities, which are the subject of her book, Ms. Draut pointed out the only solutions to what are in fact the world's problems will be found through her generation, the 20-&-30-somethings, becoming move involved in the political process - not just voting but organizing and running for office. Otherwise, the implications are dire.
Following this presentation, a panel discussion featured Ms. Draut and two North East Ohio 20-&-30-something leaders, Daniel Gray-Kontar, of Catalyst Cleveland, and Hannah M. Fritzman, of The Cleveland Executive Fellowship & Civic Innovation Lab, who responded to topics raised from very personal, local perspectives.
Mr. Gray-Kontar spoke of the difficulties faced by youth well before they reach their 20s - before college is even a dream - and that for most inner-city children college is not a dream. We must focus on the public primary and secondary schools and urban problems.
While Ms. Draut pointed out her research is focused on the issues facing high school graduates, the issues raised by Gray-Kontar seems of interest to the audience, which was largely CSU students and other 20-&-30-somethings. These are core issues of concern in our community.
Ms. Fritzman brought other perspectives, being a young professional who came to the Cleveland area from mid-Ohio and has been very successful and felt gratified by her experience with peers here. Her observation was that she is fortunate to be in NEO, where a 20-something can own a condo in the heart of downtown and be part of the civic process in a very intimate way.
It was very cool to hear Ms. Draut share specific concerns of her generation - her presentation on the topic was entirely authentic and personal, as was the response of the panel. It was interesting to view here world from a national perspective, and then through the panel discussion consider that getting "Strapped" may be less of a problem in NEO, where at least housing costs are lower. As youth become more strapped around the country (world), Cleveland will benefit as a safer, lower cost harbor.
But we can do better than that - let's make NEO a world-class place to avoid becoming strapped
What do you think? If you missed Ms. Draught, you can catch the continuation of this discussion today (Friday, 02/10/06) AT 7 pm at Mac's Backs on Coventry - see MORE INFO here [2]