Nathan Wills has lived the script.

The Bay Village native went off to college at Denison University, landed a job in South Florida as a fundraiser for a private school and promptly returned home a year later to attend law school.

“Not having the support structure that my family provided, I missed that,” says Wills. “I wanted to be in Cleveland.”

Now the 33-year-old lawyer is on a crusade to make Northeast Ohio a place where young professionals want to live and make a difference in the first place. He’s the president of Cleveland ConneXion and one of the co-founders of Engage! Cleveland, an effort to create a professionally staffed organization that will serve, connect and empower young professionals who want to make a difference here.

1. How have groups like Engage! Cleveland achieved results in other cities, such as in Cincinnati and Minneapolis?

The key is having a good structure. That’s what Cleveland ConneXion lacked and what we think Engage! Cleveland is going to provide. That is, specifically, having a full-time staff. ... Their whole job is going to be attracting, retaining and engaging young people.

2. What has been the biggest obstacle in getting Engage! Cleveland started?

The time. It has been a very time-consuming process. It truly is a labor of love for everyone who is involved in it. We’re passionate about Cleveland. We want to continue to make Cleveland a great place that we all know it is to live, to have a family, to work.

3. Why now?

If you look around the country, this is becoming an issue that a lot of cities are dealing with. The baby boomer generation is getting older, and a lot of them are starting to retire. It is creating a changing tableau of society and creating some differences and opportunities for young people. I think some of the younger people are stepping up and saying, “Hey, we want to be involved. It’s our future, and we want to have a role in shaping that future.”

- Best Practices Toolbox - Young Professionals

- NEONow

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