YRichmond: A play on words, or a “Y” taking a stand for the region’s Young talent? We say both! Because, by connecting interns and newly hired associates to the region and to one another, the YRichmond program recruits and retains the best new talent for Richmond’s workforce.
Here’s how it works. Each summer, interns and newly hired graduates accept positions at companies across the area. YRichmond partners with these companies to introduce their newcomers to Richmond and to one another through a variety of programming. By the end of their experience, young people don’t ask, “Why Richmond?” They ask, “Why not Richmond?”
The newest addition to the Greater Richmond Chamber’s palette of leadership programs, YRichmond joins HYPE, Mentor Richmond, and RVA Leadership Lab in encouraging professionals to, among other things, own their Richmond experience and make this region their long-term home.
The YRichmond experience spans a ten week period and more than 25 events, all planned by the YRichmond Steering Committee, a fantastic, well-connected group of young professionals who volunteer their time to create a summer packed with both social and professional development events.
YRichmond Steering Committee
In addition, YRichmond events are designed to provide as much exposure to the RVA lifestyle as possible. A recent quote from Richmond Magazine summarizes exactly what YRichmond is working to accomplish: “Richmond is the city we live in. RVA is the lifestyle we live.”
In other words, the RVA lifestyle encompasses all the creativity, history and entrepreneurial culture that makes Richmond unique. YRichmond’s goal is to make this lifestyle more accessible to young professionals who have yet to decide where they are going to build their careers. YRichmond believes that once interns and young associates get a taste of this “lifestyle,” Richmond will become their permanent residence.
With this in mind, YRichmond events introduce participants to community leaders such as Federal Reserve President Jeff Lacker and Mark Fernandes from The Luck Companies. John Sarvay of Floricane will plug them into the community’s non-profit scene, and Tim Miller, Jakob Helmboldt and Craig Dodson will get them excited about the 2015 World Cycling Championships, which will generate $135 million and put Richmond on the map as a top international cycling city. Who wouldn’t want to live in Richmond and say “I was a part of that?!”
Interns from 2011
Interns also will learn about the open source branding of Richmond by the RVA Creates team, and insights on how to budget for success from David Gallagher of Dominion Payroll Services. Participants even will be invited to a four course, sit-down dinner where the etiquette staff at University of Richmond will teach them the do’s and don’ts when dining out.
Socially, YRichmond participants enjoy summer concerts down at Brown’s Island, hit speeds in excess of 50mph at G-force’s indoor go-karting facility, cheer on Richmond’s Flying Squirrels, and even reap the benefits of yoga by stretching out into some down-dog!
Participants will emerge from the program with a fresh perspective on Richmond, one that will hopefully lead them to accept full-time employment, establish roots in the region and engage in the broader community.
Interns from 2011
For more information about the program or how to participate please feel free to contact me at Caitlin.kilcoin@grcc.com 804-783-9312.
Check out YRichmond’s website
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