Jennifer Eberbach

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional contract writer and columnist in Ann Arbor. She received her B.A. in art history and anthropology from the University of Michigan in 2003. After completing her M.A. degree in contemporary art history at Indiana University in 2006, she worked for art museums and galleries in Bloomington and Indianapolis. She began her writing career in Bloomington, by contributing a monthly fine arts column to a local arts and culture magazine, stringing for newspapers, and writing for the Indiana University School of Fine Arts (SoFA) Gallery, where she worked as the gallery’s public relations representative. Her first column article in Ann Arbor is featured in the Fall 2008 issue of the Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. She occasionally contributes on-the-spot articles to a blog featured on her professional website, www.jenthewriter.info.

Monday

September 22, 2008

Holding on to Michigan’s Next Generation

It is not easy to keep young people in one spot. Recent college graduates and young professionals have a tendency to split town when a good opportunity beckons. Many of the people that I grew up with in Ann Arbor, as well as my former classmates from the University of Michigan have felt compelled to move away when promising opportunities out of state come along. MLive business reported in June that “46 percent of those who graduated from a Michigan four-year public university last year left the state, even though 35 percent of those who departed had job offers here.”

Despite rough economic times in Michigan, some young professionals are trying to establish themselves and their careers in the state, even if they have to create their own opportunities. Many of the young professionals I know are starting their own small businesses, and taking creative, entrepreneurial approaches to planning their careers. This is proving to be an option for some young people who are tired of waiting for Michigan to give them their big break. I have felt the hard economic times in Michigan, but I hope to see more young entrepreneurs establish themselves here. Many of our state’s communities already have the qualities young people are looking for in a place to live, and many of us want to stay.

Like a large number of recent graduates, I chose a place to live before getting a permanent job. Choosing a community that suited my individual personality was a large part of the decision about where to move. Considering my professional options in town were important to me, however, I wanted to live in a community that I knew I would enjoy and connect with on a personal and social level. As my hometown, Ann Arbor has the incentive of being close to my family, however it also offers me access to the lifestyle I seek. The city has cutting-edge art and entertainment, a substantial fine arts scene, and unique community culture. Despite a difficult economy, Ann Arbor’s character drew me back to town.

Tuesday

September 23, 2008

Attraction to Place

Aside from thinking about the direction we want our careers to head, young professionals think about where we want to be when our big break happens. A city’s culture, pace of life and access to art, entertainment, and leisure time opportunities are major factors in many young people’s decisions about where we want to live. That is not to say that the career opportunities that a city offers aren’t important to young people, but we want to live in places that suit our lifestyle while we work on landing our dream jobs and starting our businesses.

Every community has its own unique character. People happenings, history, and daily experiences shape our connection with the places we live. The same thing can be said for distinct neighborhoods within cities. When I made the decision to move back to Ann Arbor, I had particular neighborhoods in mind that are located in districts of town that provide me with access to the things I like to do. However, I had to carefully consider the benefits and costs of living near certain districts. Living downtown means access to street festivals, businesses and restaurants, and convenient nightlife, but you pay for it. A lot of housing opportunities near downtown Ann Arbor are out of young people’s budgets. I know people working in Ann Arbor and living as far as Belleville. They can still access the city’s opportunities and culture, but pay significantly less than someone living in downtown Ann Arbor.

I ended up in a downtown studio apartment, in a building dubbed “the young professional down,” by tenants. It’s not the cheapest option, but the location provides me access to the urban, downtown lifestyle I seek. I am close to the types of attractions and entertainment that I enjoy in my spare time, everything seems to be within walking distance, and the unique, funky character of my neighborhood gives me the sense that I am a part of young, contemporary Ann Arbor culture. While many of my fellow Michigan born are opting for hip neighborhoods in Chicago or New York City, I am finding that Ann Arbor provides me with a lot of the same things my friends seek out in those cities, only on a smaller scale.

Wednesday

September 24, 2008

The Benefit of Creative Professionals

Ann Arbor is already a world-class art community. Locals and tourist have their fill of cultural events, museums, and collecting opportunities. The city’s diverse art scene and vibrant cultural life make Ann Arbor an attractive option for young creative professionals and artists. Independent movies theaters, art fairs, book festivals, and a lively street life give many creative types access to the lifestyle they seek. There are many different ways that artists can get involved with art happening in the city, beyond attending museum and gallery functions. Ann Arbor’s art scene runs the gambit from world-class museums to a strong base of local independent projects and artists collaborations.

In turn, creative professionals and artists contribute to the production and longevity of Ann Arbor’s culture life. By making their art, performing their talents, and keeping the energy of downtown life high, they help sustain the city’s uniqueness. I believe that they are a true benefit to society and make a positive impact on a city’s economic health. The arts generate tourism in our state, just as Michigan’s beautiful natural features and historical sites do. Beyond attracting visitors from out of state, Michigan’s arts and culture make our communities more interesting and entertaining places to live. There is room for Michigan to grow as a destination for the arts and culture community.

The art world doesn’t offer the highest number of permanent career opportunities for young professionals and artists, but Ann Arbor provides many other opportunities they are drawn to. As long as the creative output in Ann Arbor remains high, many young artists will still have an incentive to stay here and work other jobs, whether their opportunities to get involved in the art scene are the kind they get paid for, or not. Many artists are used to having day jobs to supplement their careers. However, if these young people are unable to find financial stability in the long-run, they are likely to seek opportunities elsewhere. In my opinion, one way to foster economic growth is to move toward self-sustaining creative communities in our cities. By keeping young, creative professionals in town for the long haul, the next generation of Ann Arbor’s cultural life will be in secure hands.

Thursday

September 25, 2008

Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs

Michigan is a tough place to find a job for young people, however, the state could benefit from encouraging young entrepreneurs and professionals with self-started personalities to remain in or relocate to Michigan. Like job seekers their age, young entrepreneurs are concerned with choosing a place to live that will foster their professional and personal growth, however, unlike their counterparts, they are seeking a client base rather than an employer. Michigan’s competitive, trying employment market doesn’t impede them from achieving their goals, and is less of a deterrent to moving here.

For many of my friends, prolonged job searches are trying to the patience. We are tied to our communities, and are turning toward creating our own opportunities in order to stay in town. I have seen many people my age decide to shift gears and take their careers in their own hands, by opening boutiques, starting catering businesses, or utilizing their skills as freelance specialists, consultants, and independent contractors. There are benefits to working for yourself. In today’s job market, I’ve found that there is a surplus of talent in Ann Arbor. Not only are there a lot of people looking for a job right now, but they are highly qualified, competitive candidates. Starting a business allows young entrepreneurs to move away from the battle for jobs in Michigan, and to continue to develop the professional skills that will propel them into the future.

As an independent professional writer, I see potential in building a writing career in Ann Arbor, finding a client base, and finding outlets for my creativity, despite a tough economy. I was attracted to Ann Arbor because the city has many publications to pursue, as well as small and large businesses that use independent contractors. The city’s strong art and entertainment happenings supply me things to write about that allow me to utilize my background in the fine arts. I hope that independent contract writing will allow me to adapt to the ever-changing needs of businesses, non-profit organizations, and publications, whether the economic improves or declines, so that I can stay in Michigan indefinitely.

Friday

September 26, 2008

In Conclusion – Why Not Michigan?

Young entrepreneurs have the power to shape Michigan’s industries. Young people working in certain fields can help our state corner markets, especially technology, information, science, and creative industries, which will be critical in the decades that we young people are inheriting. Our state cannot count on the sustainability of the industries that supported Michigan’s previous generations. A fresh workforce can move our economy in new directions and bring new types of businesses to Michigan’s communities.

Recently, a scene in an up-coming Hollywood film, Youth in Revolt, was filmed in my neighborhood. As I watched a car explode outside of a false sausage shop, I started wondering, ‘why can’t more films be shot in Michigan?’ We have diverse urban, suburban, natural, and unusual locations that seem Hollywood film friendly. We have beautiful concert halls, historical architecture, dunes, and natural landmarks. It seems valuable to promote Michigan as an attractive destination for young professionals working in the film industry. Even if they aren’t the ones backed by millions of dollars, they are the ones winning film festivals and getting a lot of hits of YouTube. If young filmmakers, production staff, writers, and editors have an incentive to live in Michigan, our state could have the beginnings of an in-state film industry.

In 2004, Governer Jennifer Granholm addressed students at Grand Valley State University in a forum that supported her Cool Cities Initiative. She said, “If we want [young people] to stay in Michigan to live, work, and raise families, we have to find out what they want and then help create the Michigan they want to call home.” I agree that it will take the creation of stronger, youth friendly communities. However, I would add that we should not get too hung up on what our state is lacking. We should not overlook what makes Michigan home to the young professionals who already live here. I would like to see the growth and success of things that I already love about my state–its culture, art, history, and engagement in the pulse of contemporary life.