Metro EDGE invests $20,000 in local projects that will inspire, transform region
(Sacramento, Calif.) -- Metro EDGE announced today it will make investments totaling $20,000 in two unique local arts projects – Bright Underbelly and TBD Fest – as part of the group’s vision and commitment to strengthen and advance the cultural growth of the Capital Region. Bright Underbelly is a mural project that will wrap the underside of the Capital City Freeway W/X streets underpass. With Metro EDGE’s support, the mural will be started in Fall 2014. The newly reimagined TBD Fest will be a multi-day festival in West Sacramento’s Bridge District intended to celebrate local talent and creativity by showcasing music, art, design, food and ideas.
“There is an increased focus on what our region needs to attract and retain talent – our region’s future workforce, young professionals and business and civic leaders,” said Emilie Cameron, Chair of Metro EDGE and Sr. Public Relations Manager of 3fold Communications. “Created and curated by local young professionals, Bright Underbelly and TBD Fest are distinctive cultural assets that will help to brand and distinguish our region. Metro EDGE seized the opportunity to support these projects to establish flagship attractions for the region and to create a flourishing place for young professionals.”
A program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, Metro EDGE is dedicated to the vision of establishing a world-class destination through talent development, business and civic leadership, and engaged citizenry. The active and engaged young professional members of Metro EDGE are a powerful force encouraging innovation and the building of a stronger, more sustainable economy. In the past, members of Metro EDGE have been at the forefront of supporting efforts to revitalize the region’s urban core, build a downtown entertainment and sports complex, establish the iconic Farm-to-Fork movement, and solidify a regional identity. Today’s investments in Bright Underbelly and TBD Fest are two more examples that young professionals are on the frontline of altering the region’s cultural and economic landscape.
In collaboration with regional young professional and leadership programs across the region, Metro EDGE hosted the EMERGE Summit earlier this year, the state’s first-ever young professional summit of its size and scale. The all-day event convened more than 600 young professionals to participate in conversations shaping the Capital Region and encouraged attendees to realize they too are civic leaders guiding the next generation of economic and cultural development. Keynote speaker Peter Kageyama, entrepreneur and author of “For the Love Cities,” explained the value of emotional engagement between people and their place and how we as citizens can use this connection to open up new possibilities in community, social and economic development.
“We were inspired by the challenge to engage young professionals in city-making,” said Cameron. “At its core, Metro EDGE is dedicated to providing a platform for young professionals to participate directly in the conversations, decisions and projects that will make this place great. These investments in Bright Underbelly and TBD Fest are our ‘love notes’ to the Capital Region.”
"Sacramento, and the region that surrounds it, is thriving in part because of the vibrant young professional community here,” said James Beckwith, 2014 Metro Chamber Board Chair and President & CEO of Five Star Bank. “Watching Metro EDGE nurture, foster and support professional development for our young professional community has been extraordinary. It’s important we continue to create an inviting environment and work to ensure our future leaders start and grow their careers and businesses here.”
Bright Underbelly and TBD Fest are prime examples of projects with the potential to increase the Capital Region’s cachet and economic vitality. These are just two of many ideas the young, vibrant minds are working on to lead our region into the next economy.
Metro EDGE wants to bring these efforts to the forefront and encourages the community to share their own “love notes” on social media using #YearofYP. Join Metro EDGE and other business and civic leaders to celebrate five years of young professional leadership at EDGE 916 on September 16 at 5:30 p.m. at The Verge Center for the Arts. For more information about EDGE 916, visit https://www.metro-edge.org/events
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Metro EDGE is the 40-and-under program of the Sacramento Metro Chamber providing opportunities for Sacramento’s premiere young professionals to engage with a diverse network, develop critical business skills, give back by serving the local community, and empower themselves through education on issues affecting the Capital Region. For more information visit, https://www.metro-edge.org / http://fb.com/metroedge /@metroedge.
Note to reporters: For more information about Bright Underbelly (http://brightunderbelly.com/) contact Tre Borden at (203) 500-8679 or tre@treborden.com and for TBD Fest (http://www.tbdfest.com/) contact Clay Nutting at (916) 955-6336 or clayton530@gmail.com.
