Since it was first created four years ago, IGNITE has strived to open up opportunities for young professionals in Cayuga County as well as educate others about what the group is all about and what possibilities are available in the area that may otherwise get overlooked.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Terri Bridenbecker. right, executive director of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, introduces Laura Ruggio to other members of IGNITE Wednesday.
Terri Bridenbecker. right, executive director of the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce, introduces Laura Ruggio to other members of IGNITE Wednesday.
IGNITE, which stands for invest, grow, network, inspire, teach and empower, celebrated its fourth anniversary Wednesday Feb. 27 at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES with a public celebration that incorporated many of the group's goals and ideals. All proceeds raised from the event benefit Literacy Volunteers of Cayuga County.
Jessica Harkins, chairperson of the IGNITE steering committee, said that the celebration, the venue and the donation to Literacy Volunteers perfectly encompassed IGNITE.
“There (were) tours of the new BOCES,” Harkins said. “That ties in perfectly with the education aspect of what we do and we all wanted to do something that was open to the public to give us the opportunity to let more people know what IGNITE is about and what we do. And the Literacy Volunteers do a wonderful job and help educate people and that ties in to what we do.”
Harkins said that she had been a member of the group since it started, spending time off and on with IGNITE when it first started and for a year and a half she has been a regularly participating member in a growing group that counts more than 100 people from a variety of careers and backgrounds among its members.
From marketing and teaching to politics and city planning, IGNITE has attracted a wide variety of young professionals to its fold.
Many are residents of Auburn, which in many ways is the reason some are attracted to get involved in something like IGNITE.
“A lot of people are from Auburn,” Harkins said. “They are people that have gone to college and come back here to start their careers and work and they want to be more involved in their community and this gives them the opportunity to do those kinds of things.”
IGNITE is an interesting combination of social group, community group and networking place for people of various professions to meet and make connections. All the while, these various enterprises are balanced in fun ways.
“We do things like bowling nights,” Harkins said. “Or ice skating, things like that to get together and have fun and give people the opportunity to meet each other and network. But really that is a by-product of what we do. It is a place for social networking as well. These events and things are a great place to meet other people and make friends.”
As much as there is a focus on fun and networking, whether it be socially or on a business level, there is also a dedication on the part of all IGNITE members to help the Auburn community. Harkins said that this is an effort the group is taking a more active role in, beginning with their latest project, Educate 2008.
Harkins said that Educate 2008 encompassed three main goals. She said that these goals include educating people about what IGNITE is all about and letting the community as a whole know the group is here and what it has to offer. This includes doing other things like visiting local high schools and colleges to talk to students about what IGNITE is and to get feedback from these people as to what the group could do to reach out to more people.
And thirdly, the group seeks to encourage more young professionals to get involved and take an active role in their community.
This involves efforts like IGNITE the Vote, which encourages young people to take a more active role in the political process on both a local and national level regardless of party lines, as well as educational efforts and seminars that provide information on things like buying a house or 401K plans, to help young professionals have a greater understanding of how these kinds of things work.
“We'd like to see our membership double and triple,” Harkins said. “We also want people to see that your community is more than just where you live. It is what you do and the things you do with your friends and it is the work that you put into your community as well as where you work and live. It is what you make of it.”
Jessica Harkins, chairperson of the IGNITE steering committee, said that the celebration, the venue and the donation to Literacy Volunteers perfectly encompassed IGNITE.
“There (were) tours of the new BOCES,” Harkins said. “That ties in perfectly with the education aspect of what we do and we all wanted to do something that was open to the public to give us the opportunity to let more people know what IGNITE is about and what we do. And the Literacy Volunteers do a wonderful job and help educate people and that ties in to what we do.”
Harkins said that she had been a member of the group since it started, spending time off and on with IGNITE when it first started and for a year and a half she has been a regularly participating member in a growing group that counts more than 100 people from a variety of careers and backgrounds among its members.
From marketing and teaching to politics and city planning, IGNITE has attracted a wide variety of young professionals to its fold.
Many are residents of Auburn, which in many ways is the reason some are attracted to get involved in something like IGNITE.
“A lot of people are from Auburn,” Harkins said. “They are people that have gone to college and come back here to start their careers and work and they want to be more involved in their community and this gives them the opportunity to do those kinds of things.”
IGNITE is an interesting combination of social group, community group and networking place for people of various professions to meet and make connections. All the while, these various enterprises are balanced in fun ways.
“We do things like bowling nights,” Harkins said. “Or ice skating, things like that to get together and have fun and give people the opportunity to meet each other and network. But really that is a by-product of what we do. It is a place for social networking as well. These events and things are a great place to meet other people and make friends.”
As much as there is a focus on fun and networking, whether it be socially or on a business level, there is also a dedication on the part of all IGNITE members to help the Auburn community. Harkins said that this is an effort the group is taking a more active role in, beginning with their latest project, Educate 2008.
Harkins said that Educate 2008 encompassed three main goals. She said that these goals include educating people about what IGNITE is all about and letting the community as a whole know the group is here and what it has to offer. This includes doing other things like visiting local high schools and colleges to talk to students about what IGNITE is and to get feedback from these people as to what the group could do to reach out to more people.
And thirdly, the group seeks to encourage more young professionals to get involved and take an active role in their community.
This involves efforts like IGNITE the Vote, which encourages young people to take a more active role in the political process on both a local and national level regardless of party lines, as well as educational efforts and seminars that provide information on things like buying a house or 401K plans, to help young professionals have a greater understanding of how these kinds of things work.
“We'd like to see our membership double and triple,” Harkins said. “We also want people to see that your community is more than just where you live. It is what you do and the things you do with your friends and it is the work that you put into your community as well as where you work and live. It is what you make of it.”
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