Retaining youth: Group strives to keep young adults from leaving this area

And becoming the future of other communities.

Barton said that the number of people in their 20s and 30s who are choosing to leave Union County disturbs her. She is not alone.

• What is it that keeps people in their 20s and 30s here?

• What is it that causes them to move elsewhere?

“If we don’t begin to ask and answer some of these questions, what will become of our community as our current leaders, businesses and resources begin to fade away?’’ wrote Mike Surber, a Connetta Project board member in a statement in a flyer about the new organization.

Surber, Barton and other Connetta Project leaders will be focusing much of their initial efforts on EOU students and recent graduates.

“We want to help get the community and the university more connected,’’ Barton said.

One way Connetta Project leaders hope to do this is via an internship program involving EOU. Through it additional internships for EOU students with local businesses would be set up. Preliminary plans for launching this program will soon be made.

Members of the Connetta Project will later be developing programs aimed at involving local high school students and recent graduates. The focus will not be as intense as it will for those in their 20s and 30s. Barton explained that members of the Connetta Project understand the need youths have after high school to leave their home town and explore new venues.

The Connetta Project conducted its first social, attended by 50 to 60 people, at the La Fiesta restaurant June 24. Its next social is Thursday at White House Coffee, 1702 Fourth St., from 6 to 9 p.m. and is open to everyone.

At the June 24 social the following mission statement was selected for the Connetta Project, one titled: Connect, Cultivate and Create. A portion of the statement says the project is to “Nurture connections and create an atmosphere of excitement to bridge the gap between younger and older generations in the Grande Ronde Valley.’’

The Connetta Project derives its name from an Italian word which means to connect, Barton said.

Events are being planned to draw people interested in the Connetta Project together and raise funds for it. They include:

• A Pub Crawl: this will be a fundraising event in which groups will visit a series of restaurants and other businesses during one evening.

• A dodge ball tournament in which the focus will be on bringing EOU and other organizations together.

• a wine and cheese social put on by Connetta and EOU. It will be in the Ackerman garden, which is dedicated to the memory of the late Dick Stenard, who served as Eastern’s dean of student affairs. People who operate vineyards will be invited to present wine to be tasted. Local musical entertainment will be provided.

Plans are being made for a monthly publication that the Connetta Project describes as a “printed/online zine.’’ It will cover La Grande culture, lifestyle, the arts and local events. Submissions of photos, illustrations, articles and creative writing will be accepted. It will be available at coffee shops, restaurants and other local businesses. The zine will also be available online.

Barton and Surber are two members of the Connetta Project’s five-member board. The board’s members also include Wade Foster of the La Grande office of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Hood River; Brian Kausler of Comcast Spotlight; and Sharon Richardson of the La Grande ReMax Real Estate Team.

People with questions about the Connetta Project should send e-mails to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it