Regional Cooperation

Millennial Mayors Congress

What is it?

The Millennial Mayors Congress is an initiative to empower southeast Michigan's experienced and emerging civic leaders to restore regional prosperity. Participating cities will be represented by their mayor (or appointed executive) and a resident "Millennial," or young adult aged approximately 18-30. All representatives will work together to develop action-oriented protocols on economic, social and environmental issues of regional significance. After adopting a protocol by consensus decision, city representatives will take it back to their city council and administration for locally-customized implementation. Millennial representatives will work within the community to build awareness and energy for the new initiative.

Why the Millennial Mayors Congress?

To prosper in the new economy, metropolitan regions must be able to concentrate talent and resolve issues that impede investment. Southeast Michigan is struggling to do both. A lack of viable mass transit, excessive barriers to urban redevelopment and a lingering rust-belt image are just a handful of issues that discourage commitments from business, entrepreneurs and young talent that has its choice of many cities to call home.

By empowering Detroit's future leaders to set the agenda for growth in the region, the Millennial Mayors Congress will create the places and opportunities that drive "new economy" development. Additionally, it will provide a stimulus for innovation in local policies and among seasoned leaders whose experience will reciprocally benefit their younger counterparts. Equally important, the Congress will help the Detroit region overcome its long tradition of insularity and fragmentation by giving leaders a tool to address greater-than-local concerns.

The Elusive "Millennials"

Definitions vary greatly, but "Millennials" are generally acknowledged as people born between 1978 and 1993, or individuals who are currently 15 to 29 years old. More importantly, their values and preferences--for example, "green" lifestyles, walkable communities, unique local businesses, cultural diversity and social responsibility--tend to drive investment and urban vibrancy. For the purposes of the Millennial Mayors Congress, we will focus on recruiting individuals of voting age whose values embody environmental sustainability, social equity and economic prosperity.

The buzz on the Congress is getting around.

Sharon Carney and the Millennial Mayors Congress are spotlighted at Social Citizens, an online project that's "for anyone who’s energetic and passionate about social causes (and) who brims with new approaches and ideas for problem-solving."

In the profile, Sharon tells the story of her connection to the project:

I realized there are countless people like me here who want to do something meaningful, who love this place and want to see it become something greater, but don’t quite know how. The Millennial Mayors Congress creates an entry point to a system that doesn’t always appear opportunistic or accessible for young people, but offers powerful resources for positive change. By creating avenues for engagement, I believe the Millennial Mayors Congress will empower many young people to effect change. And perhaps more importantly, I think it will augment their confidence in themselves to do so.
 

Got questions about the Millennial Mayors Congress? Contact Special Project Director Sharon Carney at sharon@suburbsalliance.org