With a city hosting as many young professionals as Louisville, there’s a great deal of opportunities available to develop one’s connections in the city. From laid back events to suit-and-tie affairs, there are countless chances to network as a young adult and build on developing careers.
As one of the more established networks for young Louisvillians launching their professional careers, Y-PAL (Young Professionals Association of Louisville) has year-round events sponsored by a host of Louisville businesses. Arising out of a movement to unit Louisville’s younger demographic, today Y-PAL works closely with Metro Government, Greater Louisville Inc., and Leadership Louisville Center. Beyond just hosting a variety of events and networks, Y-PAL also organizes the Emerging Leaders Program, a program that spans over three months and features a variety of events and training sessions supporting young professionals. With a large pool of young, ambitious adults, it’s no surprise Y-PAL is one of the most recognizable organizations for young adults in the city of Louisville.
Crane House Young Professionals
The Asia Institute Crane House hosts its own young professional association, bringing together Louisvillians between the ages of 20-40 who have a similar interest in Asian culture. Targeted towards highly motivated individuals with interests in government, foreign policy, business, and culture, the Young Professionals hosts meetups around the Crane House’s signature events–such as the well known Chinese New Year dinner–as well as put on their own social events. The Crane House Young Professionals focus on building those necessary connections in the professional community while also having a good time.
Greater Louisville International Professionals
With a similar international focus, the Greater Louisville International Professionals is a an initiative of Greater Louisville, Inc. This worldly group describes its mission as “attracting and retaining international talent by showcasing Louisville as a welcoming and inclusive city of possibilities.” GLIP has a lot to offer, ranging from general memberships, to mentoring, to ambassador programs, and more. Louisville has quickly developed into an international city, both economically and culturally, and it’s important for young people to take advantage of that. Whether you are looking to represent your native country or are simply interested in broadening your world view, GLIP is a great young professional group to pursue.
While catering towards a variety of people–and representing just about any hobby or interest–MeetUp is a powerful social network that can be very beneficial if you find the right circle of members. Similar to ‘groups’ on Facebook where individuals join based on their common interests, MeetUp is used to coordinate social events among special interest groups. Some groups have an athletic slant–such as outdoor groups and cyclists–but others are more business focused–such as computer programming or foreign languages. MeetUp caters towards ‘niche’ communities in the city. While some MeetUp groups are certainly more active than others, it may be worth checking out if you have a specific area of interest and are looking for others in the city to connect with.
Alumni Associations
For many graduates, one of college’s most lasting legacies are the connections made while attending. Universities draw together groups of ambitious young adults ready to make an impact on the world. Naturally, therefore, alumni associations can be some of the best opportunities to maintain the networks you build while in school. For graduates of University of Louisville and Bellarmine University, staying in the city can have the added advantage of staying close to alumni associations. Both Louisville college campuses host a variety of alumni events and can be a good way to transition from student to professional life.
For lovers of food and drink, the Original Makers Club is a higher profile ‘club’ celebrating what local businesses, restaurants, bars, and entertainers have to offer. If you’re feeling exceptionally proud of your Kentucky heritage, you’ll find company with other like-minded young professionals at many of the club’s annual events. ‘Members’ of the club include some of the most popular boutiques and restaurants in town. For those wishing for a more laid-back chance to network and meet other Louisvillians, this may be the right fit. Tickets can be purchased online to the club’s upcoming southern-style parties.
