Seven Days: Networking Young Professionals

This week's edition of Seven Days offers all the tech news that can fit in one weekly - including tackling online food culture in its food writing section. The high-tech furor is in anticipation of this weekend's Tech Jam 3.0, and it's presented by a paper that has long been a leader in using social media.

The enthusiastic technology focus this week shouldn't overshadow the insights into tech applications presented in last week's cover story on "Friending Politics." While that story offers young professionals' take on engaging Vermont politicians as the title implies, it also highlights ways that they are using online resources to establish themselves as something more than Vermont's perpetually shrinking demographic. 

High speed Internet is often cast as a way for young people to remain in contact with the world outside of rural Vermont, presumably reducing a sense of isolation, but what about connecting within the state? The Seven Days article offers examples of how 20- and 30-somethings are using online tools to meet each other and help shape what Vermont offers to younger residents. For example:

• Events ranging from kickball to cocktails extend online invitations.
• Newly formed young professional groups (and the story identifies four of them) use Facebook as a quick, free way to get an online presence.
• Information of interest to young professionals is made available online (such as the previously linked poll).
• Some groups interviewed intend to use online communications and organizing strategies to become advocates for 20-something to 30-something year olds, similar to the age-based representation by AARP.

Vermont's demographic trends still reflect years of 20 - 39 year olds steadily exiting the state for opportunities elsewhere. But now, the same young people who are connected to the world by the Internet are using its tools to build their own community right here in Vermont.