Kingman Young Professionals Connect to Community
Young professionals in Kingman have expressed that they feel disconnected from their community, especially for those who relocated to Kingman during Covid-19. Outside of meeting people through work, connecting to other young professionals in the area has been a challenge. Not being familiar with Kingman, many have yet to discover outdoor hiking and biking trails, local dining favorites, downtown boutiques, or how to get involved in local clubs. This is creating high turn-over rates for many local employers as young professionals are leaving due to the inability to connect with their new community outside of the workplace.
Historic Downtown Kingman, Arizona
Local First Arizona, in partnership with Mohave County District 1 Office of Supervisor Lingenfelter, the City of Kingman, and the Kingman Chamber of Commerce recognized this opportunity to bring together young professionals in Kingman and to create a group with a focus on creating opportunities for young leaders to build relationships and better connect within the community. For the past couple of months, a small group of driven Kingman young professionals met to formalize what this might look like in action. In the short term, the group decided to focus on planning monthly events with a variety of activities to bring young professionals together (outdoor recreation, social hours, services projects, and more). Long-term, the group would like to continue with networking events, but also highlight local industry opportunities and expand to also engage in topics that young professionals in the community have highlighted as being most important to them.
On Friday, May 7 young professionals (ages 18-40) living or working in Kingman gathered for the first Kingman Young Professionals Happy Hour, sponsored by Mohave District 1 Office and hosted by the Powerhouse Visitor Center. Attendees enjoyed complimentary drinks and appetizers and had a chance to talk to and learn more about other young professionals in Kingman who are also looking to better connect with one another and their community. The City of Kingman also provided tours of the facility that allowed the group to discover and explore the rich history of Kingman at the Route 66 Museum and the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum.
If you are looking to make a stronger connection to place in your own community or are looking for innovative ways to attract new locals, reach out to Local First Arizona!
