Des Plaines, IL (January 4, 2021) -- In an effort to provide additional support for young professionals and increase the outreach efforts of the Vanguard Cabinet of Young Professionals, a new URISA work group for young professionals called the Coalition of Young Professionals launches in January 2021. This coalition will use social media and targeted university outreach to build relationships with young professionals, students and other emerging and young professionals in the geospatial community.
The Coalition of Young Professionals provides a new leadership development opportunity for our next generation of GIS leaders. This group is an opportunity for young professionals and students to be introduced to leaderships roles in URISA and to gain experience and build a network that will help them be successful future leaders.
The new, collaborative work group is housed under the Vanguard Cabinet’s Outreach Sub-committee. With guidance and direction from the Vanguard Cabinet, each coalition member will act as a liaison between their local, young professional and GIS communities and URISA. As a liaison, each member will independently establish relationships with academia in their areas and develop local young professional networking opportunities.
The work group format provides a platform for enthusiastic, motivated young professionals who are new to the organization to build skills and network with the URISA community. One or two young professionals from each region or chapter will volunteer to engage regularly with the Vanguard Cabinet’s social media campaigns, support other outreach initiatives, and attend quarterly meetings.
The Coalition members will work together to build a community of young professionals in GIS across URISA’s footprint, expand the Vanguard Cabinet’s outreach efforts, strengthen relationships between chapters, and promote URISA to colleges and universities.
If you would like to be involved or know someone in your chapter or region who would be a great fit for this program, please email the Vanguard Cabinet ( Email Contact) to sign-up or to learn additional details.
Wendy Nelson
URISA Executive Director