Pittsburgh has long been associated with innovation, starting from its origins during the industrial revolution and onward. The city has remained a powerful player when it comes to innovation, especially when it means allowing for new and exciting ventures that the city has never partaken in.
With major tech companies that most Pittsburghers have noticed, such as Google, Uber and the potential to have Amazon (a bitter blow), the city is very much part of an innovative movement that isn’t to go unrecognized.
And whom might you ask is leading this? Based on the economic and political climate of the day, baby boomers it’s time to step aside – millenials are about to have their moment.
A brief note on millenials, this is the age group that comes before Baby Boomers, and also comes before Generation Z; millenials are those who have been born between the years of 1981 and 1996, rough between the ages of 22 and 36.
According to KDKA 2, more millennials than ever before are holding Official Positions, with names such as Chardae Jones (age 29, Mayor of Braddock Borough), who previously was a financial analyst. In addition to Jones, names such as U.S. Representative Connor Lamb (age 34) and Mayor of Bellevue Emily Marburger (age 30) are shaking up Western Pennsylvania in a way that has never been seen before.
In addition to politics, local neighborhood initiatives are something that are important to Lauren Byrne, who holds the position as the Executive Director of Lawrenceville United, a resident-drive, non-profit organization helping to elevate the standard of living for those in the neighborhood.
For Byrne, she told 90.5 WESA (Pittsburgh NPR), that millennials are passionate about influencing their communities, along with bringing a new mindset to the historic city.
Being that the western part of the state is predominantly still politically conservative, these bright minds are helping to bring new ideas and perspectives that haven’t been showcased before in the region.
This content was provided by a local, independent contributor to Made in PGH, a lifestyle blog.