YPC - The Greater Des Moines Partnership's Young Professionals Connection - Impact Downtown

Impact Downtown Committee

 The YPC Impact Downtown Committee is dedicated to developing the Greater Des Moines area into a culturally thriving destination for young professionals to live, work, and play. We recognize that a strong urban core is essential to creating a strong metro region. Our goal is to promote economic development and educate young professionals about opportunities and all things happening downtown. The YPC Impact Downtown Committee will work with each of the other YPC Committees to assist in the coordination of identified downtown activities that support our goals. The Impact Downtown Committee will also work with the Greater Des Moines Partnership's other downtown entities to create a common goal to strengthen and promote downtown.

For more information about the Impact Downtown committee please contact the Impact Downtown Committee Chair, Shawn Harrington.

 Impact Challenges

The Impact Challenge is brought to us by YPC's Impact Downtown Committee, the Challenge promotes young professionals and business leaders working together in efforts that benefit our community.  Each Challenge has been presented to YPC by a member of the Downtown Community Alliance (http://www.downtowndesmoines.com/)
 
Challenge #1 was presented in January of 2008 by DCA member Joe Young.  The challenge was given for young professionals to mentor and get involved with troubled teens through Children & Families of Iowa (www.cfiowa.org).  YPC developed a relationship with the youths through CFI's Elevate program and by participating in the Apartment Make-over.  The Charitable committee has since continued YPC's involvement with this program through 2009.
 
Challenge #2 was presented in October 2008 by DCA member Rick Tollackson.  YPC hit the streets and utilized their membership database to gain valuable info into the factors that contribute to more people living downtown.  Feedback through surveys and video research helped analayze what Des Moines' needs may be to get more young professionals to invest in our city through the purchase of homes.  The collected information was presented publicly at the conclusion of the Challenge in May of 2009.
 
Challenge #3, currently the "Green Challenge", was rolled-out by DCA member Davis Sanders on January 13th of this year.  YPC will aim to demonstrate leadership to our community by making more environmentally conscious decisions in our personal and professional lives.  This Green Challenge has received assistance so far from RDG Planning & Design (www.RDGUSA.com), DART (www.Ridedart.com), and Center on Sustainable Communities (www.icosc.com).  Click here to read about the Green Challenge
 
For questions about how you can get more involved to help YPC achieve it's goal, please contact Impact Downtown Chair Shawn Harrington at Impactdowntown@ypcdsm.com