Young adults on the Coast are connecting and starting a non-profit group to address the needs of the younger generation and create positive change.
The group is called VOICE on the Coast, and it was set up as a sub-committee of the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation Task Force, after the foundation's 2009 Vital Signs report demonstrated the need for more support for young people.
That task force came up with a draft plan to attract, retain and engage young adults on the Coast, which was presented to the public at a workshop in late January.
"That was the introduction of the plan to the community and to the governments and what it was all about," said VOICE member JM Boyd at a follow up meeting Feb. 24. "This is the start of action. We've got a lot of things that have been developed in the plan that we need to start taking some steps forward on, and we have to start developing a group to make that happen."
About 30 interested people between the ages of 25 and 40-something came out to the VOICE meeting at Wheatberries in Gibsons last Thursday night. The mood was casual as people got to know each other and find out what the next steps are.
VOICE plans to work on setting up non-profit status while working to address the three key strategic directions outlined in the task force plan: developing a Coast-wide branding strategy, empowering the younger generation and diversifying employment opportunities.
At the Thursday night event, organizers decided to focus on the most immediate steps to start addressing those directions. One was the need to work on website development. Currently the VOICE group communicates via Facebook with a page people can "like" to keep up to date on upcoming meetings, events and current news relating to the needs of young adults.
VOICE plans to hold regular monthly meetings that travel throughout the Sunshine Coast to encourage Coast-wide support and engagement in the group's activities.
They also plan to hold events specifically geared toward young adults on the Coast at least once a month and to keep a list of upcoming events on their website so everyone can know what's going on by looking in one place.Publicity for the group is also something VOICE members want to work on in the coming months.
Member Silas White said he wants to encourage people to join the group, regardless of age, if they have the desire to help make the Coast more appealing to young adults.
"We've defined it as an advocacy group for the younger generation and there has been some debate about whether it should be age focused, but really I think that we've all come to the consensus that it should be mandate driven instead of age exclusive," said White. "Anybody who's interested in making the Sunshine Coast a better place for the younger generation is welcome."
To get involved with VOICE, find them on Facebook under VOICE on the Coast.
