Makin’ It Happen wants to give a shout out to our partners at Stay Work Play New Hampshire for recognizing some of New Hampshire’s incredible ‘Rising Stars’! Specifically, we want to thank Stay Work Play for bringing diversity to the forefront here in the Granite State. This year three of the six Rising Stars Awards winners to be honored by Stay Work Play NH next month are young people of color. You can read about more about these amazing individuals in this Union Leader article.
Stay Work Play New Hampshire is an organization created in 2009 “to further the 55% Initiative, support and advance several recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force for the Recruitment and Retention of a Young Workforce for New Hampshire and serve as an independent organization to run a website and associated marketing effort regarding what New Hampshire can offer to the 20 and 30 year old demographic in terms of staying, working, and playing here. New Hampshire is a great state in which to live, ranking very highly in terms of health, safety, low taxes, personal income, and livability. Most individuals who attend college here or visit from another state recall positive experiences vacationing or exploring New Hampshire. They also want to stay or return here later in life. But currently, only about half of the state’s college graduates actually do stay”.
The Rising Star Awards bring a focus on to young people and the organizations they are a part of that support them. This year’s awardees include:
- Civic Leader of the Year: Hooksett resident Martin Toe, Grassroots Organizer Intern for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and Co-Founder of Change for Concord
- College Student of the Year: Barrington resident Juliana Good, senior at University of NH
- High School Student of the Year: Londonderry resident Erin Strike, senior at Londonderry High School
- Intern of the Year: Auburn resident Madison Olsen, intern with Hinsdale School District
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Manchester resident Shaquwan’Da Allen, owner of Rootz Natural Hair Shop
- Young Professional of the Year: Lebanon resident Patrick Ho, Chief Resident, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and President of the New Hampshire Psychiatric Society
If you are interested in attending the virtual celebration you can go to www.stayworkplay.org to register.
