Local Habitat for Humanity YP group blazing national trail

Less than five years after Habitat for Humanity’s Young Professional’s effort launched in Cincinnati, a few dozen similar groups have popped up across the nation. The Habitat YP effort has grown so much nationally, that on Oct. 16 members will be heading to Austin, Texas for a Habitat Young Professionals Conference. “We’ll be sharing information, benchmarking and getting everyone in one place. We hope to establish a more formalized manner for starting these groups, so other (Habitat chapters) can access the resources to get this started,” said Habitat Development Director Marissa Woodly. The Cincinnati group was founded in 2005 by Advisory Board Chairman Ryan Derrow, client strategist at Empower Media, and other local YPs. Now, other Habitat chapters are catching on to what Cincinnati already knows: YPs have the energy, skills and dollars to keep this low-income home building organization strong. “A lot of larger companies are bringing YPS into Cincinnati. You’ve got people looking for things to get engaged in and ways to meet new people. So, why not tap into resources and engage the younger generation?” Woodly said. The Cincinnati group numbers 500 plus, including an advisory board, and is all-volunteer. Their efforts run the gamut, from organizing wine-tasting fundraisers and 5Ks to volunteering on builds. The Cincinnati group hit a milestone recently: in 2008 members sponsored the first YP home build in the country, in East Price Hill. And the organization can use that YP energy. With a 10-person staff, the organization will build 10 houses this year and 14 next. Interested? Find out more on the Habitat YP web site. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity Development Director Marissa Woodly