My husband and I returned to Des Moines in 2000 after spending seven years in Denver, Colo. We were tired of the traffic, the fast-paced life and the competition to keep up with the Joneses. Like many people our age, we thought Des Moines would be an ideal place to start a family. After all, we both grew up in Iowa and previously lived and worked in the Des Moines metro area, so we knew what to expect in terms of values, education and the sense of being a part of our community.

After several months back in Iowa, we both commented that Des Moines had not changed a bit and everything had pretty much remained the same. Though that might sound like a compliment, in some respects that wasn’t a good thing at all. Court Avenue looked as it did seven years earlier, downtown housing was still almost non-existent and homeless men and women still lived in tents along the city’s rivers. An Arena Football League team had come and gone, shoppers still traveled to Minneapolis and Kansas City, the Science Center of Iowa was in sore need of an upgrade, and every time we turned around another story was being written or televised about the need to attract and keep young professionals in our city. Admittedly, my husband and I shared some concerns as to whether moving back to Des Moines was the right decision.

But then about two years ago, something interesting started to happen. The Waterstreet Brownstones and other housing projects got under way, and it was announced that a new Science Center was being built downtown, along with a new library. Jordan Creek Town Center was going to open in West Des Moines, the Grow Iowa Values Fund was successfully recruiting exciting new businesses to our area, a new arena was going to be built with the hopes of attracting conventions, concerts and sporting events to boost our economy, and Principal Financial Group Inc. was planning to build a Riverwalk to revitalize one of our city’s most treasured locations.

Our city leaders are taking action and delivering on their promise to make Des Moines a better place to live, work and play, and these are exciting times in our city. But more can be done and Doug Reichardt’s personal invitation to young professionals such as me to share in the United Way of Central Iowa’s Emerging Leadership Initiative (ELI) is one more step in the right direction. I encourage all young people to visit the United Way Web site (www.unitedwaydm.org) to learn more about how you can take part in revitalizing and enriching our community. Having attended one ELI event already, I have no doubt that Reichardt and his colleagues are fully committed to this initiative and truly believe in the ideas, enthusiasm and leadership young people can bring to the table.

The ELI has already generated several interesting projects and ideas, but it could certainly use more, and I hope more young leaders will consider participating in this unique initiative. I consider the ELI to be one of the most innovative and exciting opportunities that young professionals such as me will ever get the chance to participate in, not just in this city, but anywhere across the United States. First and foremost, through participation in the United Way, you will have a personal hand in improving the lives of others in need in our community. This isn’t a program that only the well-established community leaders can take part in. This is something leaders of all ages can devote their time and energy to, and I am looking forward to all of the great things I know this group can accomplish. If we are to lead our community in years to come, why wait when such a golden opportunity has been placed before us?

Susan Hertzberg is a state/federal compliance analyst with Principal Financial Group Inc. and a member of the United Way of Central Iowa Emerging Leadership Initiative.