Sunday, July 19, 2009

Do relocations influence a community?

The Dallas Morning News featured an excellent story today on corporate relocated executives and their influence on community. For Next Stop, Reloville: Life Inside America's New Rootless Professional Class, by Peter Kilborn http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-reloville_19met.ART.Central.Edition1.4bc88d8.html

This is an exceptional concept that many non-profit organizations have pondered. Do our neighbors that only live here 2-5 years really engage in the community? Do they make an investment in any community? This is not a question on these families as neighbors, students or taxpayers....it is a deeper question regarding the long-term commitment this profile makes in a community - especially related to charitable giving. It is completely understandable that these families have a lack of "roots" and their giving may be focused on alma maters, corporate driven causes, their children's organizations, etc. (most likely any discretionary income is spent on movers, decorating, kids sports uniforms and address labels!)
The question is....how do nonprofit organizations and civic groups engage this group of citizens that are highly educated, well traveled, affluent and most likely missing "roots?"
We welcome any ideas and feedback!
Thanks to Sam Hodges at The Dallas Morning News for bringing this book to light.

No comments:

Post a Comment