Young Professionals Tri-Cities (YPTri)

I thought that this month it would be best to briefly discuss a great non-profit group in the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia areas.  I think it's probably applicable in one way or another to a lot of the readers of our company newsletter and subsequent sites that these postings are being pulled to.
The Young Professionals Tri-Cities (YPTri) group was founded in the late summer of 2010 by three YPs in the greater Tri-Cities who just weren't very excited about how things were going for YPs in the region.  Haize Colvin-Lewis (T. C. Lewis & Co.), Samara Litvack (ETSU and Positive Approach Events & Consulting), and Cory Lewis (T. C. Lewis & Co.) mapped out a straight-forward, lofty plan that entails connecting YPs in Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol and the surrounding areas both socially and professionally.  The hope is to improve the quality of life for regional YPs through unique social, professional, and philanthropic opportunities, while strengthening the local economy and workforce by encouraging YPs to remain in the Tri-Cities region.  All this would in turn, unify the greater Tri-Cities are by empowering its progressive, innovative thinkers who will invest in the area, strengthen the economy, and care for the community.  They defined YPs as 20- to 40-somethings in the area that share common goals and interests in the group's focus, but all who consider themselves young at heart are welcome.
Well, it's less than eight months later, and the group has already accomplished a lot of what it set out to do.  There have been monthly "socials" held since the group's inception with numbers exponentially growing for attendance each time.  The group has solidified great relationships with local business owners, potential entrepreneurs, economic development groups, other non-profits, and the local municipalities.  They have reached out to areas for members that now include Erwin, Elizabethton, Greenville, Jonesborough, Kingsport, Bristol, Abingdon, and Johnson City.  And, YPTri has played host to one major event (Pie Wars: The Clash of the Slices) that put local pizza joints in direct competition for best in Tri-Cities that subsequently raised over $11,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City.  It's now slated to be an annual event to battle for the coveted "Pizza Cup."  The group has won Community Supporter of the Year, been featured in ETSU Today Magazine, and is playing a major role in what will be known as the JC Vision Project and in bringing a Northeast State campus to downtown Johnson City.
The point of my writing about this group this month is more of a sales pitch than anything else.  You should get invovled if you're reading this and have an interest in having a voice and actively participating in the growth and expansion of the Tri-Cities.  A board is being developed to work toward obtaining 501(c)(3) status with the state of Tennessee, to actively work on a business plan for investors and to ensure stability, and to head up some major projects that are in the works to change the face of what it means to be a YP in our region.  Entrepreneurs are going to have the ability to start-up, survive, and thrive in our region, so get on board! The "socials" are always held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, so the next one is March 17th at Main Street Pizza Company in downtown Johnson City, and the group will be provided with some specials that are just for the YPs in attendance, including some special things going on for St. Patrick's Day!