According to separate analysis of U.S. census data by the New York Times and the Brookings Institution, the population of young adults in Upstate New York has been declining at unprecedented levels. From 1990 to 2004 the number of 25-to-34-year-old residents in the 52-county Upstate region declined by more than 25 percent. In the Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton areas the population of young adults fell by more than 30 percent. In the Southern Tier the decline has been even more staggering. The rates of emigration were found to be highest among college graduates—termed “bright-flight.” What implications do these trends have on the well-being of Upstate communities? What affect will this have on the state’s future tax base? What can be done to mitigate this exodus of young people?
In 2009 students at the University of Rochester, Cornell University, and Syracuse University joined together to explore these questions through a program called “work/play/stay//mitigating bright flight: how to retain graduates in the upstate region.” On April 15 we invite you to join University of Rochester student and faculty participants in the program for an enlightening panel presentation, video, and discussion on the bright-flight issue and the potential solutions.
Read the full NY Times article HERE