Sustainability is focus of Millennial Mayors Congress meeting
Sherri Begin Welch
The Millennial Mayors Congress chose sustainability as its first area of focus for its second meeting. The group's executive committee will convene in the next month to explore specific goals communities could work toward to improve sustainability, said Sharon Carney, special project director overseeing the congress for the Michigan Suburbs Alliance and a millennial herself. Members of the millennial generation are considered to be those born between 1977 and 2002. Goals of the alliance might include decreasing consumption or diversifying energy sources to include the use of more renewable energy, Carney said. The congress hopes to adopt a resolution with municipal commitments to the goals set by the end of the year, she said. Each municipality will then make decisions about how they will work towards those sustainability goals. The Michigan Suburbs Alliance late last year convened the Millennial Mayors Congress, a group of local mayors or township supervisors, and one millennial delegate from each municipality — age 18 to early 30s — as a way to collectively address issues and opportunities in the region. The Michigan Suburbs Alliance believes that by giving millennials a voice in decisions made about the region, they will help create the places and opportunities that attract other millennials. Thus far, 22 cities and townships in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties have joined the congress. Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley serves as chair of the congress' executive committee.