STANWOOD — Three months ago, a group of millennials gathered around a table in a Mexican restaurant and talked.
They learned that they share ideas and concerns for the future of Stanwood and Camano Island.
It’s a 20-minute drive north or south to get to major stores. There aren’t enough parks, trails or access to Port Susan and the Stillaguamish River. Events tend to cater to an older demographic. The city and island don’t have many places for families to hang out.
The Stanwood-Camano Millennials, a new planning team started by the city and the Stanwood and Camano chambers of commerce, has turned its focus toward those issues.
The group formed this summer as a way to help fill the gaps left in local organizations as baby boomers retire. For decades, they’ve taken on leadership roles, but now they’re aging out, city administrator Deborah Knight said.
“The baby boomers are moving on to the next phase of their life,” Knight said. “We need to make Stanwood a place where the next generation wants to stay.”
It’s a struggle to engage younger people, she said. Lack of involvement from those in their 20s or 30s is a common theme among community organizations. The group is focused most on involving people ages 19 to 39.
“Our age group right now, a lot of them have kids. Everyone’s got to be a two-income family, and by the end of your day and your commute, you’re tired,” Joanna Dobbs said. “You have to force yourself to make the time.”
Dobbs, 33, is the program coordinator for the resource center in Stanwood. She and her husband moved to Washington from Kentucky seven years ago.
She’s been with the millennials group since it started this summer.
“It’s whining if you complain about something and don’t do something to change it,” Dobbs said. “I don’t want to be a whiner.”
Megan Johnson, 30, lives on Camano Island with her husband and two kids. She sells real estate. The best part of the millennials group is meeting people her age who live nearby and share her interests, she said.
Between 20 and 30 people come to the meetings. The third gathering was Thursday. The group meets at a different location each month. The next meeting isn’t scheduled yet.
Asia Gray, 38, sees the group’s role as planning events or projects that appeal to millennials and Gen Xers. Events can be used as fundraisers, she said. For example, a music festival could raise money for parks.
Gray and her husband moved from Mukilteo to Camano Island two years ago. She’s the executive director for the local chambers of commerce. She noted that part of the challenge for the Stanwood-Camano Millennials is reaching their target age group and making sure those with demands on their time aren’t shut out.
Organizers are sharing information via Facebook and putting together a texting list for meeting reminders. There also is dinner and a children’s table at meetings so parents don’t have to plan for childcare.
At the most recent meeting, the group formed four committees: parks and trails; economic development; events; and “third places.” Third places are gathering spaces. An example the group wants to test would be setting up a climbing wall in the building that houses Stanwood Cinemas and the Amigo and Dragon Palace restaurants. Adults could have dinner while the kids climb.
The economic development committee is researching barriers, including the threat of flooding downtown. Meanwhile, the parks and trails committee has its eyes on Ovenell Park and Hamilton Landing. They want water access, Dobbs said.
The event committee is talking about Stanwood’s summer concert series. The program generally features music that appeals to an older crowd at concert times that suit retirees but not working families. Gray would like to bring in younger music and have concerts later in the evening.
New events are being added to festivals, such as a “fun run” during the 2017 Snow Goose Festival. An ugly sweater pub crawl in East Stanwood is planned for Dec. 10. The group also wants to start millennial mixers.
“There’s quite a few millennials in Stanwood, though you wouldn’t know it,” Johnson said.
The goal this year is to get more people involved. They shouldn’t be discouraged by the name, Gray said. Gen Xers are part of the team, as well.
“The older group is kind of wanting to enjoy their golden years and retire from the work it takes to do all of these events and fundraising,” Gray said. “It’s our generation’s time to step up.”
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
Join in
To join the Stanwood-Camano Millennials group, email scmillennials@gmail.com or go to facebook.com/StanwoodCamanoMillennials.
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