A recent report released by thedailybeast.com revealed that the city of Orlando is the worst city in the United States of America for young people. The article states that due to record unemployment and debt young people have dangerously weakened career projections.
The report is in stark contrast to the rosy outlook Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer gave during his State of Downtown address a couple of days ago. During his speech Dyer revealed plans to build Central Station, the city’s first “transit-oriented, mixed-use development” according to an article recently posted here on West Orlando News.
Dyer said that Central Station will generate hundreds of new jobs for the area and will promote economic activity for Orange Avenue and beyond.
He also said that the city will launch a new program called “Why I Love Orlando” in an effort to further brand the city and to remind people why they love Orlando so much.
Over the past few years the mayor has laid out plenty of development plans for the city. Some time ago there was the Amway Center and this year the city was finally able to break ground on Sunrail and the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. The Orlando Magic will eventually build a new sports and entertainment center close to the new Amway Center and let’s not forget the Creative Village, a technological hub that hopes to develop into a mini silicon valley down the road.
According to the mayor things are looking great for the city of Orlando but that’s not the case for the city’s young residents.
I came to Orlando five years ago with hopes of starting a new life and creating my own legacy. Originally from Bessemer, Alabama I realized that for me I needed to migrate to a city with the same slow/medium pace as Birmingham but with better career prospects and a rosier economic outlook. I think that the city of Orlando more chose me than I chose it but five short years later I’m still here and I do love my new city.
I’ve started a family here, started a career here, and started to make a reasonable difference in the community in which I live. I love the people of the city because everyone has a different story, a different background, and a different reason for being here.
Many have their motives for loving Orlando but mine ties into opportunity, challenge, and impact.
But others have a different outlook and frankly I can’t blame them. The city’s unemployment rate for individuals between the ages of 20 to 24 is a staggering 23.7 percent. The percentage of young folk with college degrees is only 12 percent and the price of even sniffing college is rising.
The report also revealed that individuals between the ages of 18-24 make up 24 percent of the population and 23 percent of those between 20 and 24 are unemployed.
If you’re young and you see those numbers and you thought about moving to Orlando why in the world wouldn’t you change your mind?
If you heard the mayor’s speech about the economic outlook regarding downtown development you have to wonder where was his speech for the unemployed? Where was his talk to the younger population, those who will eventually age and make up the economic foundation of the city? Why did he choose to blatantly ignore the plight of the afflicted and the troubles of the jobless?
Better yet, why are we not seeing more talk about aiding the younger generation from those who serve us locally, statewide, and federally? The quandary of the young continues to be ignored, is palpable and only hurts the city.
The pulse; the very heartbeat of the city of Orlando is with its younger residents. Walk downtown on the weekend and the city is filled with the youthful exuberance of, well, young people. Take a stroll through Lake Eola on a Sunday afternoon and the farmers market is packed with youngsters.
The Occupy Orlando movement is being led by none other than young people and their impact is so significant that the Orlando Police Department has tried to shut their operation down twice.
Equality Florida, an organization that works to end discrimination against those within the LGBT community, is very active in the city and has a heavy youthful presence. The Urban League Young Professionals, a group geared toward serving the economic and social needs of young people in the city, is another organization making an impact locally and the Orange County Young Democrats, a group that has a specific purpose to serve the needs of young people in Orlando politically, has made a significant impact on Orlando.
These are all movements that have deeply affected the city and all are being led by young people.
Any politician not speaking to young people fails to realize the impact, the ability, and the knowledge of each and every young person within the city of Orlando.
What the Daily Beast failed to mention is that, though Orlando’s younger population may struggle now we have no problem fighting for what’s important to us and being resilient in the face of adversity.
Our fight is strong, our will is firm, and our determination is indestructible. The report may say one thing but, our disposition says another. Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.
-JH
