Local nonprofit hosts professional development workshop, ‘Evening Buzz’ event
Why Don’t You Stay Awhile, a Wheeling nonprofit encouraging young people to stay in the Ohio Valley, hosted a professional workshop and ‘Evening Buzz’ Wednesday, April 16.
WHEELING – Local nonprofit Why Don’t You Stay Awhile may be new to the Wheeling scene, but their reach continues to grow. That proved true Wednesday, April 16 as the group held its regular ‘Evening Buzz’ event and a first-of-its-kind professional development workshop.
The group hosts regular events in an effort to encourage young people to move, live, work and stay in the Ohio Valley.
Spencer Porter, founder and chair of Why Don’t You Stay Awhile, said she started the organization to help business owners like herself connect.
“I felt that by strengthening our relationships, sharing resources and learning together we could create stronger businesses for ourselves, while also bolstering our community at large,” Porter said. “Although Wheeling may not be the same city today as it was in the past, this is our town and we get to decide what it looks and feels like.”
Dozens of WDYSA members, area students, businesses and other young professionals filled Waterfront Hall’s music hall for the organization’s first professional development workshop. Participants learned how they can improve their LinkedIn profiles, curate a professional and engaging social media presence and heard from several speakers throughout the region.
After the workshop, the group hosted their monthly ‘Evening Buzz,’ a social event where young professionals network with their peers to build relationships. Kayla Young, a Democratic delegate representing district 56, was the night’s keynote speaker.
Young spoke of her prior work as a lobbyist at the Capitol advocating for stricter water regulations and renewable energy. She said that experience taught her she could be an elected official, too.
“The folks elected to serve you are no better than you are,” Young told the crowd. She encouraged individuals to get involved, organize and stay engaged in the conversation if they hope to see positive change. “Start talking to everyone around you, not just your friends. Real change begins with respect for others,” Young said.
On the heels of a raucous legislative session, Young spent some of her time speaking about what she described as the “worst year” she’s had in elected government. Young pointed to legislation she sees as harmful, like Senate Bill 154 that prohibits instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The bill also requires teachers out students to their parents if they choose to be referred to by a name not on their birth certificate or appear to be questioning their gender identity.
Not hanging on the negative for long, Young moved on to buried wins among the list of bills passed by the Legislature, including funding for birth to three programs, funding for rape kits and updates to the state’s sexual extortion laws. Young lauded the death of several bills, including a ban on local nondiscrimination ordinances and a bill that would have weakened immunization requirements for children in the state.
Participants also heard from local business owner Aaron Varlas, founder of screen printing and design business Dunnage, and Jim Ambrose, President of Tipping Point–an Ohio based development company who’s leading the way on projects like the 1400 Market Street and new Visitor’s Center–and the Wheeling University men’s rugby team.
Why Don’t You Stay Awhile holds monthly ‘Evening Buzz’ networking events free to members and students, or $10 for nonmembers. The group also has three more professional development workshops scheduled this year on June 11, September 17 and December 17. Workshops are free for members or $50 for nonmembers.
To become a member or to learn more about the organization, visit whydontyoustayawhile.org.